Genetic Diseases
When the human genome was decoded in 2003 it paved the way for the understanding of some diseases being caused by faulty or malfunctioning genes.
Researching which genes are responsible for disease and/or health,is an exciting new area of medical research. Advances in gene based diagnostics and treatments have the potential to eliminate disease for patients today and also to help protect future generations.
Scientists at the Centenary Institute are working on two forms of genetic diseases research - diagnostics and treatments.
Diagnostics
Having already developed genetic tests for some forms of genetic heart disease, researchers in our Agnes Ginges Molecular Cardiology lab are working to further improve the diagnosis of patients with genetic heart disease.
As a result of this work, diagnoses will be able to take place earlier providing a greater therapeutic window for initiation of prevention and treatment strategies.
The work will also be used to identify people at a higher risk of developing complications of heart disease, such as heart failure and sudden death, thereby enabling targeted, personalised therapy and increasing survival.
The Liver Cell Biology lab are using information gained from the human genome project to understand the development of liver injury with the eventual aim of developing novel diagnostic and prognostic tests. Using functional genomics technologies that enables the lab to examine the whole human genome (over 25,000 genes) in a single experiment they have pioneered the use of both gene arrays and the use of antibody arrays in understanding liver disease development
Treatments
The focus of the Gene and Stem Cell Therapy group at Centenary Institute is on improving gene delivery in order to prevent the emergence of disease.
The safe introduction of healthy genes into patients with genetic disorders could effectively cure inherited genetic disorders such as some cancers, haemophilia and immunodeficiency disorders as well as infectious diseases such as HIV.
The Mycobacterial lab have demonstrated how variations within a single gene affect susceptibility to tuberculosis. The work will be used to develop new therapies.
For more information on the work Centenary Institute's researchers are doing on genetic diseases, visit:
