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Oregon Health & Science Univ
Molecular & Medical Genetics
Mail Code: L103
3181 SW Sam Jackson
Park Road
Portland, OR 97239
503-494-7703
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 The field of genetics is leading a dramatic change in medicine. The approach to disease diagnosis and treatment has been changed by completion of the human genome project, along with new techniques permitting analysis of individual genomic variation, gene transfer, improved identification of chromosomal, metabolic and molecular disorders, as well as construction of disease models. Examples of the changes include effective risk assessment for a patient to develop disease, such as breast cancer, tailoring of pharmacologic regimens to the individual, small molecular therapy for inherited disorders, and gene therapy. With the recognition of the interaction of life style and inheritance, along with the epigenetic effects influencing almost all disease, genetics is fundamental in the practice of medicine. The scope of impact has led attention to privacy and the rights of the individual with medical geneticists in the forefront of the studies.
The areas of research and teaching in the department include molecular genetics, molecular biology, somatic cell genetics, cytogenetics, molecular cytogenetics, population genetics, biochemical genetics, and stem cell function. Examples of ongoing projects include genome stability in cancer and inherited diseases, gene therapy, human genomics, and epigenetics in cancer. Clinical activities include children with defects, cancer genetics and practical genetics.
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SEMINARS & EVENTS
You may view Molecular & Medical Genetics and other events on the School of Medicine calendar.
School of Medicine Calendar
Welcome Dr. Stephen Moore
The Department of Molecular & Medical Genetics welcomes Stephen Moore, Ph.D. to OHSU! Dr. Moore has been appointed as Assistant Director of the Cytogenetics Laboratory. Dr. Moore comes to us from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where he completed a fellowship in Clinical Cytogenetics in July 2009, and is ABMG-certified as a Clinical Cytogeneticist. Dr. Moore has experience in both Clinical and Research Cytogenetics and has been licensed since 1995 by the NCA as a Clinical Laboratory Specialist in Cytogenetics, CLSp(CG). His graduate training focused on molecular genetics (M.S.) and environmental toxicology (Ph.D.) relating to cancer and radiation biology, after which he completed a fellowship in radiation biology and cytogenetics with the UK Medical Research Council. Dr. Moore will also be engaged in fellowship training in the Molecular Diagnostics Center at OHSU in preparation to sit the Clinical Molecular Genetics Board examination in 2011.
Sue Richards, Ph.D. is recognized for her work with a federal task force
 Sue Richards, PhD, Professor, Department of Molecular & Medical Genetics, was formally recognized for her work with the Evaluation of Genomic Applications in Practice and Prevention Working Group facilitated by the federal Department of Health & Human Services. Dr. Richards’ work is part of an independent panel that provide service to public health nationally and specifically to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, and to the Office of Public Health Genomics. In a letter from the directors of the centers and office, Dr. Richards was recognized for her work helping to establish a foundation for the development of a sustainable and much needed process for the evidence-based evaluation of genetic tests.
Annual Dean's Award
Susan Hayflick, MD, Professor and Interim Chair, Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, was honored with the Dean's Award at the recent School of Medicine Alumni Association Awards Banquet. This award recognizes exceptional service to the School of Medicine and is presented Annually by the Dean. Dr. Hayflick was recognized as an exceptional scientist, active lecturer, prolific publisher and a valued citizen of the OHSU School of Medicine community. Dr. Hayflick’s work has led to the identification of the gene defect responsible for two completely separate brain degeneration disorders. Dr. Hayflick has shown dedication to improving the climate for faculty in the School of Medicine, encouraging women in leadership roles.
Dr. Mushui Dai Receives Medical Research Foundation of Oregon (MRF) Grant
Mushui Dai, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, received approval for funding of his Medical Research Foundation Seed Grant titled, “Role of Ribosomal Proteins S27a and S14 in Regulating the MDM2-p53 Pathway.”
Student Research Forum Award
Molecular and Medical Genetics Graduate Student, Brenda Polster, wins 1st place in the Neuroscience II oral session at the 26th Annual OHSU Student Research Forum for her presentation titled, "Transcriptional Regulation of PANK2: a Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation Gene."
Rinn JL, Wang JK, Allen N, Brugmann SA, Mikels AJ, Liu H, Ridky TW, Stadler HS, Nusse R, Helms JA, and Chang HY. A dermal HOX transcriptional program regulates site-specific epidermal fate. Genes Dev. 22 (3): 303-7, 2008. Gregory A, Westaway SK, Holm IE, Kotzbauer PT, Hogarth P, Sonek S, Coryell JC, Nguyen TM, Nardocci N, Zorzi G, Todriguez D, Desguerre I, Bertini E, Simonati A, Levinson B, Dias C, Barbot C, Carrilho I, Santos M, Malik I, Gitschier J and Hayflick SJ. Neurodegeneration associated with genetic defects in phospholipase A2. Neurology 2008 In Press Arnold, H.K, X. Zhang, C.J. Daniel, D. Tibbitts, J. Escamilla-Powers, A. Farrell, S. Tokarz, C. Morgan, and R. C. Sears. The Axin1 Scaffold Protein Promotes Formation of a Degradation Complex for c-Myc. EMBO J. 2009 Jan. 8 [Epub ahead of print] Khouangsathiene S, Pearson C, Street S, Ferguson B, Dubay C. MonkeySNP: a web portal for non-human primate single nucleotide polymorphisms. Bioinformatics. 2008 Nov 15;24(22):2645-6 Newell, A.H., Hemphill, A., Akkari, Y., Hejna, J., Moses, R.E., and Olson, S.B., Loss of Homologous Recombination or Non-homologous End Joining Leads to Radial Formation Following DNA Interstrand Crosslink Damage, Cytogenetic and Genome Res., 121:174-80 (2008), E-pub Aug, 2008.
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