Huntsville, Ala. — Leading genomics scientists from the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology have been invited to conduct an educational session on genomic science on Capitol Hill Wednesday, June 22 at 10:30 am. “Genomics 101” will be held in the Rayburn House Office building. Legislators, professional and personal staff from the House and Senate, media and rare disease advocates are expected at the informational session, which is open to the public.
Dr. Neil Lamb, vice president for educational outreach; and Dr. Howard Jacob, executive vice president for genomic medicine at HudsonAlpha, will discuss genomics– the science of exploring the entire DNA sequence of an organism– and its applications in human health and global sustainability.
“The Precision Medicine Initiative, the cancer moonshot, and bills such as 21st Century Cures all rely on continued advancement of genomic medicine. HudsonAlpha is a world leader in genomic science and its applications to human health, as well as genomics education. This session is an opportunity for us to set the stage for collaborative discussions about genomics and the issues surrounding this new branch of science and medicine,” said Dr. Lamb.
“Think of your genome as your human blueprint,” said Dr. Jacob. “That blueprint can inform your healthcare and the decisions you make whether you are ill with a rare undiagnosed disease, or simply seeking more information about the best medications for you, or what medical conditions you are more likely to develop throughout your life. I truly believe that if we practice healthcare using genomics, we will as a society will ultimately be healthier.”
The session is hosted by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) and Center Forward. Former Rep. Bud Cramer (D-AL) will moderate the event.
About HudsonAlpha: HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology is a nonprofit institute dedicated to innovating in the field of genomic technology and sciences across a spectrum of biological challenges. Founded in 2008, its mission is four-fold: sparking scientific discoveries that can impact human health and well-being; bringing genomic medicine into clinical care; fostering life sciences entrepreneurship and business growth; and encouraging the creation of a genomics-literate workforce and society. The HudsonAlpha biotechnology campus consists of 152 acres nestled within Cummings Research Park, the nation’s second largest research park. Designed to be a hothouse of biotech economic development, HudsonAlpha’s state-of-the-art facilities co-locate nonprofit scientific researchers with entrepreneurs and educators. The relationships formed on the HudsonAlpha campus encourage collaborations that produce advances in medicine and agriculture. Under the leadership of Dr. Richard M. Myers, a key collaborator on the Human Genome Project, HudsonAlpha has become a national and international leader in genetics and genomics research and biotech education, and includes 32 diverse biotech companies on campus. To learn more about HudsonAlpha, visit: http://hudsonalpha.org/.
