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Gene editing and cardiac disease modelling for the interpretation of genetic variants of uncertain significance in congenital heart diseaseGenomic sequencing in congenital heart disease (CHD) patients often discovers novel genetic variants, which are classified as variants of uncertain significance (VUS). Functional analysis of each VUS is required in specialised laboratories, to determine whether the VUS is disease causative or not, leading to lengthy diagnostic delays.
Research
Preclinical efficacy of azacitidine and venetoclax for infant KMT2A-rearranged acute lymphoblastic leukemia reveals a new therapeutic strategyInfants with KMT2A-rearranged B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have a dismal prognosis. Survival outcomes have remained static in recent decades despite treatment intensification and novel therapies are urgently required.
Research
CRISPR single base editing, neuronal disease modelling and functional genomics for genetic variant analysis: pipeline validation using Kleefstra syndrome EHMT1 haploinsufficiencyOver 400 million people worldwide are living with a rare disease. Next Generation Sequencing identifies potential disease causative genetic variants. However, many are identified as variants of uncertain significance and require functional laboratory validation to determine pathogenicity, and this creates major diagnostic delays.
Research
Medical Comorbidities in MECP2 Duplication Syndrome: Results from the International MECP2 Duplication DatabaseSince the discovery of MECP2 duplication syndrome (MDS) in 1999, efforts to characterise this disorder have been limited by a lack of large datasets, with small case series often favouring the reporting of certain conditions over others. This study is the largest to date, featuring 134 males and 20 females, ascertained from the international MECP2 Duplication Database (MDBase).
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Elucidating the interaction of CF airway epithelial cells and rhinovirus: Using the host-pathogen relationship to identify future therapeutic strategiesA better understanding of the innate immune responses by CF airway epithelial cells is needed to identify why viral infections are more severe in CF
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Association of maternal prenatal smoking GFI1-locus and cardio-metabolic phenotypes in 18,212 adultsEpigenetic changes at the GFI1 were linked to smoking exposure in-utero/in-adulthood and robustly associated with cardio-metabolic risk factors
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The rare and undiagnosed diseases diagnostic service – application of massively parallel sequencing in a state-wide clinical serviceThe Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases Diagnostic Service refers to a genomic diagnostic platform operating within the Genetic Services of Western Australia
News & Events
McCusker Charitable Foundation grant in support of the Undiagnosed Diseases ProgramThe Kids Research Institute Australia congratulates Prof Gareth Baynam and Dr Timo Lassmann on their grant over three years from the McCusker Charitable Foundation.
Research
Innovation in Informatics to Improve Clinical Care and Drug Accessibility for Rare Diseases in ChinaIn China, there are severe unmet medical needs of people living with rare diseases. Relatedly, there is a dearth of data to inform rare diseases policy. This is historically partially due to the lack of informatics infrastructure, including standards and terminology, data sharing mechanisms and network; and concerns over patient privacy protection.
Research
Reference exome data for Australian Aboriginal populations to support health-based researchOur data set provides a useful reference point for genomic studies on Aboriginal Australians