The article discusses three reports on DNA variants in the human genome that affect gene regulation epigenetically, via sequence-specific binding-affinity of transcription factors.

Dr. Sharpless succeeds H. Shelton “Shelley” Earp, MD, as center director effective January 1, 2014. William Roper, MD, MPH, Dean of the School of Medicine, Vice Chancellor for Medical Affairs, and CEO of University of North Carolina Health Care System, announces the appointment of Norman “Ned” Sharpless, MD, as director of the University of North … Continued

In collaboration with groups at three other institutions, they identified different miRNAs that are critical “regulatory hubs” in the immune response to the parasites Leishmania major and Schistosoma mansoni. Samir and Praveen share first authorship with Isobel Okoye at the National Institute for Medical Research in London. In addition to the London group, other collaborators … Continued

Chuck has been honored with the 2013 Hyman L. Battle Distinguished Cancer Research Award in recognition of his accomplishments in cancer research. The Battle Distinguished Cancer Research Award, established in 2007 by the Battle Foundation of Rocky Mount, N.C., recognizes exceptional cancer research at the UNC School of Medicine and comes with a $25,000 prize. … Continued

A research article highlights a method for prioritizing variants in miRNAs by their functional significance. Two Thematic Reviews are included in a special section of the Journal of Lipid Research. The new research findings include the observation that a variant in the promoter of the miRNA let-7 may contribute to human height variation. One of … Continued

The article by Jim Evans discusses the importance of the involvement of knowledgeable health care providers in communicating complex genomic information to patients and research subjects. Jim Evans has published a Viewpoint article in JAMA, with coauthors Amy L. McGuire, JD, PhD, and Laurence B. McCullough, PhD, at the Baylor College of Medicine, on “The … Continued

Triangle Business Journal on Tuesday unveiled 29 finalists for its 2013 Health Care Heroes Awards. Chuck and colleagues have also recently published an article in The Oncologist The Health Care Heroes finalists were honored at an awards dinner on March 21 at the Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel. “Our winners this year represent another class … Continued

Karen Mohlke is corresponding author on a paper reporting low-frequency variants in three new genes associated with abnormal insulin production or processing. Karen Mohlke is corresponding author on a paper reporting low-frequency variants in three new genes associated with abnormal insulin production or processing. This work, which was done in collaboration with investigators from Finland … Continued

Ned Sharpless and colleagues have developed a mouse model that makes it possible to visualize tumor growth by means of a “knocked-in” p16 gene linked to a luciferase reporter. This work is described in a paper in the January 17, 2013, issue of Cell. Ned was interviewed about the study on “The State of Things” … Continued

An investigation into diabetes-related outcomes in a rat model, with senior author William Valdar, PhD, assistant professor of genetics at UNC, and first author Leah Solberg Woods, PhD, from the Medical College of Wisconsin, has made the editor’s pick in this month’s Physiological Genomics, a journal of the American Physiological Society. The article is titled, … Continued