The Scripps Research Institute: November 2009
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Scripps Translational Science Institute Works Toward Individualized Medicine: One Nucleotide, One Sensor at a Time The genetic information that makes us unique also contributes to our health. Scripps Translational Science Institute (STSI) is striving to translate the latest advances in genomics into the clinical setting. The Genome in the Clinical Setting: An Individualized Medicine Springboard Scripps Health, one of the major participants in STSI, was the first site to implement systematic genotyping for patients undergoing coronary stenting to evaluate genotype impact on platelet function and clinical outcome. Patients are now routinely evaluated for genetic mutations that may correlate with clinical response to the anti-clotting drug clopidogrel treatment. Recognizing these mutations will help guide potential changes in dosage or drug for individual patients. Good Health and Preventive Medicine Instead of focusing solely on disease, STSI focuses on disease prevention over a lifetime, or “healthspan.” For its Wellderly study, STSI has collected DNA from more than 750 healthy elderly people (aged 80 years and older) who have no history of chronic illness or need for medications. By genotyping and sequencing these remarkable individuals, precise mechanisms that promote healthspan may be identified. Another preventive medicine project, the Scripps Genomic Health Initiative (a joint venture between Scripps Health, Navigenics, Affymetrix and Microsoft) aims to determine whether personal genomic testing can improve health by motivating people to make positive lifestyle changes (e.g., improving exercise and nutrition or avoiding substance use or abuse) or to seek medical evaluation for potential illness. Nearly 5,000 participants have now received a genome-wide scan of more than 1 million markers, with a comprehensive analysis of their individual genetic predispositions for health conditions and a description of steps to prevent, delay, detect, or diagnose such conditions in their early stages. STSI is also providing participants with extensive ancestry information based on genomic markers. Ultimately, follow-up assessments will evaluate the psychological outcomes of individualized genetic knowledge. Wireless Medicine: The Next Frontier Although pills and bandages that sense your health and send a message to your doctor may sound like an idea from a science fiction movie, biosensors exist now but have not yet been validated for clinical use. An outgrowth of STSI, the West Wireless Health Institute (a partnership between Scripps Health, the Gary and Mary West Foundation, and Qualcomm) was established to develop and implement noninvasive wireless sensors that allow for remote real-time monitoring of physiologic metrics (e.g., vital signs, blood glucose). The effort represents an opportunity to combine biologic data from genomic and physiologic data via wireless sensors. Grooming the Next Generation STSI is committed to supporting up-and-coming scientists. In conjunction with the Kellogg School at The Scripps Research Institute, STSI offers a master’s degree in clinical investigation and a graduate course in translational research for Scripps Health physicians-in-training and predoctoral scientists interested in pursuing careers in molecular medicine. Innovative research is also supported via pilot/methodological study awards. To date, STSI has funded 15 projects in the fields of autism, cancer, cardiology, and osteoporosis, to name just a few. Data generated from these pilot projects have been used in subsequent NIH proposals. |