Human Molecular Genetics Program

Many of the most devastating and intractable diseases are caused by genetic defects. Errors or variations in single genes (monogenic diseases) or in multiple genes (polygenic diseases) can predispose to the disease process. The contribution of the Human Genome Project to our knowledge of gene sequences and structure has been immense. However, the availability of this tremendous knowledge base generates new challenges: to elucidate the function and regulation of genes, to establish how genetic errors cause disease, and most importantly, to translate these advances into innovative and effective therapies. The Human Molecular Genetics Program is a center of translational genetic medicine, with innovative basic science generating new routes to therapy for inherited diseases. Central research themes include the regulation of gene expression, chromatin structure and modification in differentiated cells and stem cells, novel therapeutic approaches to neuromuscular disease and signaling mechanisms in cancer.

We are also a dynamic program in Northwestern University's Genetics and Genomics Cluster.

Current Investigators in the Human Molecular Genetics Program include:

Christine DiDonato, Ph.D. 

Ann Harris, Ph.D. (Program Director) 

Laura Herzing, Ph.D. 

Michael Kluppel, Ph.D.  

Shih-Hsing Leir, Ph.D. 

Christopher Payne, Ph.D.  

Affiliated members of the Human Molecular Genetics Program include:

Brad Angle, M.D.

Joel Charrow, M.D.

Pedram Germai, M.D.

Nina L. Gotteiner, M.D.

Elfriede Pahl, M.D.

Kimberly Watts, M.D.

For more information about the Human Molecular Genetics program, please see this story from the Fall 2008 issue of InTouch.
 

We encourage inquiries from any members of the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and Northwestern communities who wish to discuss Human Molecular Genetics related projects. Please contact the relevant investigator or Brian Corstange (Program Assistant) at b-corstange@northwestern.edu

For more information about Human and Molecular Genetics contact:

Brian Corstange
Program Assistant
Program in Human and Molecular Genetics
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Research Center
225 E. Chicago Avenue, no. 211
Chicago, IL 60611

b-corstange@northwestern.edu
773-755-6525
773-755-6345 fax