HudsonAlpha heads to the "Hill"
HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) - HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology genomic scientists head to Capitol Hill to teach politicians a lesson or two. About genes. It's a quick course called "Genomics 101".
The very essence of the course is taught locally at its Research Park facility, but now it's moved to within the Beltline. Legislators and staff members from the U.S. House and Senate and rare disease advocates will hear perhaps more about genomic science than they ever imagined. The lesson is set for Wednesday at 10:30.
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."
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