HUNTSVILLE – By tracing the history of disease diagnosis from ancient times to modern genetic technologies, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology is hosting a free, public event illustrating how scientific and technological advancements have made the once-invisible visible.
“Tiny Genes, Big Effects: Hope for Rare Disease” explores how genomic science is transforming the diagnosis of rare diseases.
The event is Sept. 23, from 5 to 7 p.m. at The Belle at Stovehouse, 3414 Governors Drive.
Admission to the event is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is requested. To register, visit donate.hudsonalpha.org/
The evening begins with a networking and happy hour from 5 to 6 p.m., followed by a TED talk-style, visually immersive learning experience from 6 to 7 p.m.
Subjects include how tiny changes in DNA can lead to rare and often devastating diseases, and how cutting-edge technology is transforming medical care and offering hope for families.
Featured speakers will include HudsonAlpha Faculty Investigator Dr. Greg Cooper, Research Faculty Investigator Dr. Susan Hiatt, and Certified Genetic Counselor Whitley Kelley.
Cooper’s and Hiatt’s work focuses on using cutting-edge techniques to identify DNA changes that cause rare neurodevelopmental diseases, providing much-needed answers to individual patients and critical information for future clinical and research programs.
Kelley is a genetic counselor for HudsonAlpha’s pediatric genomics research projects and The Smith Family Clinic for Genomic Medicine. Her special interests include developing innovative ways to apply genetic counseling and education to enhance the patient’s experience in a clinical setting.
“Tiny Genes, Big Effects: Hope for Rare Disease” is sponsored in part by Acadia Pharmaceuticals and Loretta Spencer, whose contributions enable HudsonAlpha to continue providing free public engagement events.
The event is a part of HudsonAlpha’s series of public events designed to connect the community with the latest breakthroughs in genomics research.
