CHGPM Welcomes New Faculty!
The Center for Human Genomics and Precision Medicine is excited to welcome its newest faculty:
Jeremy Kratz, Bryn Webb, Jessica Lang, and April Hall
About Dr. Jeremy Kratz:
Jeremy Kratz, MD Assistant Professor Dept of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology
His laboratory is focused on the translation of patient-derived organoid models of primary liver and pancreatic cancers to overcome mechanisms of molecular heterogeneity in conferring clinically significant resistance. Using a combination of mechanistic studies in organoids and animal models, we aim to develop novel therapeutic strategies that predict mechanisms of resistance at the level of transcriptional regulation.
About Dr. Bryn Webb:
Bryn Webb, MD Associate Professor (CHS) Dept of Pediatrics, Genetics & Metabolism
About Dr. Jessica Lang:
Jessica Lang, PhD Assistant Professor Dept of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine hired into CHGPM on September 1st.
Dr. Lang gained expertise in translational genomics as a K99-funded senior postdoctoral fellow at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) with longstanding interests in epigenetic (dys)regulation in cancer. Her work has focused on how somatic mutations in SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex subunits contribute to therapeutic vulnerabilities in ovarian cancer. Her current work on the efficiency of a super-enhancer targeting drug in ovarian cancer has led to new questions on the role of super-enhancers in the ~20% of all cancers that bear mutations in SWI/SNF subunits.
Her overarching research mission is to address clinically relevant research questions that will improve the health of ovarian cancer patients.
About Dr. April Hall:
Dr. April Hall, PhD MS CGC will now hold the position of Assistant Professor (CHS) in the Department of Pediatrics, Genetics and Metabolism.
April Hall has a PhD in Molecular and Human Genetics and a MS degree in Genetic Counseling. April was hired in 2015 as a genetic counselor within the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Genetics and provided clinical services with a focus on general genetics, neuromuscular disorders, and inpatient genetic counseling. In 2018, she joined the Center for Human Genomics and Precision Medicine and became the Associate Director of Research for the Masters of Genetic Counseling Studies Program. She will continue to serve in those roles. Additionally, she will serve as the clinical research manager to implement and coordinate CHGPM-related clinical research including the Undiagnosed Genetic Disease Clinic & Program and rapid sequencing for critically ill newborns.
CHGPM Announces New Clinic
CHGPM recently opened its first patient clinic, the UW Undiagnosed Genetic Disease Clinic, which is for people with undiagnosed genetic diseases, creating a vital local hub in a global community of experts dedicated to solving medical mysteries with state of the art technologies for people whose conditions remain undiagnosed despite an extensive prior clinical workup.
Click below to see what the community has been saying:
CHGPM Announcement
We are excited to announce that, effective June 1, 2021, Muhammed Murtaza, MBBS, PhD has accepted the position of Associate Director for the Center for Human Genomics and Precision Medicine. As Associate Director, Dr. Murtaza will chair the Center’s internal advisory committee, oversee Center informatics infrastructure, and maintain Center relationships with stakeholders and partners. He also will work together with Center Director Dr. Stephen Meyn on strategic planning and initiatives, as well as faculty recruiting and educational activities.
Dr. Murtaza is an Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery’s Division of Surgical Oncology. His research group is based in the Center for Human Genomics Medicine where he leads the Center’s Novel Diagnostics Program. Dr. Murtaza’s research focuses on developing novel computational and molecular methods and applications for minimally invasive cancer genomics and diagnostics, including the use of circulating tumor DNR (ctDNA) analyses for cell-free genomics-based diagnostic tests.
Dr. Murtaza earned a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (equivalent to U.S. MD) at Aga Khan University Medical College in Karachi, Pakistan, and a PhD in Medical Science from the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute at the University of Cambridge. Before he was recruited to UW-Madison in 2020 he was an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, and faculty member and co-director of the Center for Noninvasive Diagnostics in the Translational Genomics Research Institute in Phoenix.
The CHGPM is an interdisciplinary research center whose mission includes growing and nurturing the University’s human genomics and precision medicine community; catalyzing research, clinical and educational activities; and sharing the benefits of precision medicine with all Wisconsinites.
Dr. Murtaza can be contacted at murtaza@surgery.wisc.edu
STUDY FINDS ANALYZING DNA IN URINE COULD HELP DETECT CANCER
A study published this week in Science Translational Medicine describes how urinalysis could potentially be used to detect some forms of cancer. This study was led by Dr. Muhammed Murtaza, associate professor of surgery and Center for Human Genomics and Precision Medicine occupant. The work was performed while Murtaza was at the Translational Genomics Research Institute in Arizona.
See the study here: