Matt Weiser, a graduate student in Terry’s lab, is first author on the paper, entitled “Novel Distal eQTL Analysis Demonstrates Effect of Population Genetic Architecture on Detecting and Interpreting Associations.” Standard eQTL mapping methods carry significant multiple testing burdens, limiting their ability to detect eQTL distal to the affected gene. The article describes a novel … Read more

Shawn and Eric Miska at the University of Cambridge are senior authors on the paper, and Shawn’s former postdoc, Aisa Sakaguchi, and former graduate student, Matt Simon, as co-first authors with Peter Sarkies from Dr. Miska’s lab. This study establishes a role for small RNAs in promoting transgenerational fertility via an endogenous temperature-sensitive silencing process … Read more

Fernando will serve a three-year term beginning January 1, 2015. See the official announcement on the GSA web site. The GSA is the professional membership organization for scientific researchers and educators in the field of genetics, with over 5,000 members. Society members work to advance knowledge in the basic mechanisms of inheritance, from the molecular … Read more

Yun Li, Karen Mohlke, and Chuck Perou are among the top 1% most cited world researchers in their subject fields for 2014. Thomson Reuters has listed Yun and Karen among the most highly cited in Molecular Biology & Genetics and Chuck in Clinical Medicine. To see the complete list and the methodology used for selection, … Read more

Evans and Perou are quoted regarding the risks of reporting germline mutations in numerous genes implicated in rare forms of hereditary predispositions to breast cancer. Chuck points out that there are probably 10 – 100 genes in addition to BRCA1 and BRCA2 that may contribute to breast cancer susceptibility. Both he and Jim argue for … Read more

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

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. … Read more

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 … Read more