TGen Talks TGen

This month, TGen Talks explores polygenic risk scores with Dr. David Duggan, an associate professor in the Quantitative Medicine and Systems Biology Division at TGen. A polygenic risk score is a number that indicates the combined effect of many genetic variants on a person's risk of developing a certain trait or disease. Each genetic variant adds a small amount to the overall risk. When these small effects are added together, they help predict the likelihood of developing the trait or disease.
    

Think of the human genome as a deck of cards, where each card represents a different genetic variant. The value of each card represents the risk contribution of that variant. For example, an Ace might represent a high-risk variant (4 points), while a 2 might represent a low-risk variant (1 point). Let's assume all contributions are positive for simplicity, although in reality, some variants might reduce risk.
    Imagine drawing 10 cards from the deck randomly. These 10 cards represent the genetic variants you inherited from your parents. Each card has a point value (risk contribution). Adding up the points of the 10 cards gives you your polygenic risk score. This score indicates your genetic predisposition to the trait or disease. You can then compare this score against population averages or thresholds to determine if you are at higher or lower risk for the trait or disease.
    

In this analogy, each card represents a genetic variant, and its point value represents its contribution to your overall genetic risk for a specific trait or disease. The polygenic risk score is the sum of these contributions, much like summing the values of drawn cards to get a total score. This information can help you and your doctor make informed health decisions, such as focusing on preventive measures. Dr. Duggan notes that lifestyle factors also play a significant role in disease risk, sometimes reducing genetic risk by up to 50%.


Whether you’re a healthcare professional, a genetics enthusiast, or just curious about the future of personalized medicine, this month’s TGen Talks is worth the listen.

Glioblastoma. It’s the most aggressive and least treatable type of brain cancer. Research into treatment has been slow, mostly because of the difficulty in accessing and treating a tumor that exists behind the blood-brain barrier.

A new two year fellowship into Glioblastoma Multiforme, or GBM, aims to better drug therapies to fight the cancer while developing better tests to determine which drugs are working on an individual patient's tumor and which are not. 

The fellowship, established by Shawn Lane and the Lori Lane Foundation together with Chris and Florence Spyrow, honors Lori Lane and Andrew Spyrow, whose lives were cut short by GBM.

This month on TGen Talks, Valerie De Luca, Ph.D., the inaugural Lori Lane/Andrew Spyrow Fellow at TGen discusses her work toward improving our understanding of molecular markers associated with tumor vulnerability to specific drugs.

In this episode of TGen Talks, we explore the overlooked yet vital world of skin cancer prevention and treatment. Our skin, the body's largest organ, often takes a back seat in discussions about cancer. Join us as we delve into this crucial topic with our guest, Dr. Aleksandar Sekulic. 
    Dr. Sekulic wears two hats: that of a clinician and a researcher. He shares how his interactions with patients inform his research, leading to groundbreaking advancements in skin cancer treatment. From pioneering clinical trials to developing targeted therapies and immunotherapies, Dr. Sekulic sheds light on the complexities of skin cancer and the importance of bridging the gap between medicine and research.
    Discover the different types of skin cancer, from melanoma to basal cell carcinoma, we’ll explore the various facets of this disease, its impact, and the latest advancements transforming the landscape of skin cancer care. Learn about the challenges posed by complex skin cancers, such as locally advanced and metastatic basal cell carcinoma, and the innovative treatments being developed to address them.
    Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of this often-underestimated aspect of healthcare as our host, Karie Dozer, works to uncover the latest insights and advancements in skin cancer research and treatment with Dr. Aleksandar Sekulic.

Cancer continues to be the second most common cause of death in the United States, with a total of nearly 2 million diagnoses every year.
  In this episode of TGen Talks, recorded in front of a live studio audience, we take a look at how genomic information is leading to better and earlier diagnoses and treatments for all kinds of cancer and how the collaboration between City of Hope Cancer Center Phoenix and TGen is proving to be a mighty weapon in the fight against cancer right here in Arizona.
  Joining the podcast this month are TGen President and Research Director, Dr. Jeffrey Trent, and City of Hope Cancer Center Phoenix Chief Clinical Officer, Dr. Alan Bryce.

Alzheimer’s disease affects an estimated six million Americans. Diagnosing and treating the disease is challenging, and for families taking care of a loved one with Alzheimer’s, it’s even more difficult. Detecting and addressing the disease early on is crucial due to its progressive nature. However, Alzheimer’s symptoms can resemble those of other non-progressive conditions. 

In a recent Cells publication, a team of scientists describe using machine learning models to identify changes in RNA molecules of plasma extracellular vesicles (EVs) that may hold potential for identifying Alzheimer’s disease (AD) at its earliest stages. This is one of the first studies to show changes in the RNA molecules of plasma EVs that precede neurodegeneration and provides evidence that some of the hidden pathology taking place early in the disease is reflected in plasma EVs, where it can be accessed in a minimally invasive manner and used for biomarker development. 

On this edition of TGen Talks, study co-author and TGen Neurogenomics Division staff scientist Joanna Palade, Ph.D., discusses their findings, and how what sound like magic or a fortune teller's promise, is the goal of the scientists working to develop a simple test; one that wouldn't simply indicate whether your symptoms might progress to an Alzheimer's diagnosis, but could also estimate the timeframe for when it might occur.

Paul J. Luna, president and CEO of Helios Education Foundation, sits down with TGen Talks to discuss the transformational power of education, in particular, how internships help prepare students for future success. Helios Education Foundation supports postsecondary attainment for all students, especially low-income and underrepresented communities, in Arizona and Florida.

Earlier this month, Helios committed funding to extend the TGen Bioscience Leadership Academy (TBLA) through 2028 (see related story). TBLA spun out of TGen’s Helios Scholars Program in 2018, with a focus on supporting high-school students interested in careers in biomedical research and medicine.

In addition to the Helios-funded programs at TGen, Luna discusses Helios’ focus on helping students achieve educational success beyond high school and the importance of opening the programs to all students, regardless of background. And how rewarding it is to help students find a track to success, whatever that success may be.

Students should allow themselves to dream big, he says. Be willing to apply, be willing to say, I want to be part of that unique cohort of talented students who are going to learn and evolve and build a network and maybe, one day, find the cure for Alzheimer’s or cancer.