Sage News
S.A.G.E. meeting filled with excitement
February 22, 2010 --The fall 2009 Society for the Advancement of Genetic Exploration (SAGE)
meeting was held on Tuesday November 3, 2009. The evening was filled with excitement with over 100 individuals in attendance, a new record for SAGE. The new partnership between the Department of Human Genetics and the Leonardo Center brought a new dimension to the evening with 17 Leonardo board members and staff present. Also in attendance were the Bonneville Cycling Club (BCC) officers and ride coordinators, and members of the genetics science community, The Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation and Gene Tree.
Our Keynote speakers, Dr. Ray Gesteland and Dr. Jennifer Logan, delivered a great presentation on personalized medicine and lead a very interesting and timely discussion on the subject...and what it means to us as individuals and the future of health care. After the presentation the attendees met at Health Science Education Building for a lovely gourmet salmon dinner catered by Mountain Thyme. The table conversation was a-buzz with interest on the subject of personalized medicine and was only interrupted by several award presentations: Dr. Mark Leppert and Dr. Mario Capecchi were recognized by SAGE Chair, Carol Fay. "We thank these two great men who have contributed so much not only to the University of Utah and the Department of Human Genetics and our SAGE organization but to science, genetic research and the future of medicine." Dr's Leppert and Capecchi were presented with gifts of appreciation.
Following Carol's remarks she introduced Dr. Lynn Jorde, the department's new Chair. "Dr. Leppert and Dr. Capecchi are leaving the department in very capable hands. Dr. Lynn Jorde is a remarkable geneticist and educator and will be most valuable to this department and to the university in the future." The final awards of the evening were presented to the officers and coordinators of Bonneville Cycling Club, 2009 Little Red Riding Hood. Proceeds from the event benefited the Department of Human Genetics. The ride was an enormous undertaking for BCC, whose all volunteer club coordinated this hugely successful ride for 2700 women. Twenty women representing genetics researchers formed the GENE TEAM and Rode for Research. "Fundraising is always challenging and the need for financial support for genetic research is greater than ever. We thank this fine organization for their commitment to fundraising for Human Genetics," stated Carol in closing.
The next SAGE is scheduled for spring 2010.
Dr. Mark Leppert, Department of Human Genetics, Chair recognized Kori and Rick McIntyre for their outstanding support to research at the recent SAGE meeting.
The McIntyre are parents of a six year old boy who suffers from Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Carson was diagnosed with DMD at age three and their lives changed forever in that moment. They were to learn that Carson would not be able to play as other children can and he would be confined to a wheelchair in his early teens and most likely lose his battle to DMD in his late teens.
DMD is one of more than 40 types of muscular dystrophy that predominantly affect boys (90% of the time) approximately one boy in 3,500 worldwide. DMD is the number one killer in children today with approximately 20,000 cases reported each year.
Since so little is known about this deadly disease the standard course of treatment was to provide
patient comfort and enjoy what little time they had. That news did not sit well with the McIntyre's! They sought out the best doctors and research scientists in the country, and they found a DMD expert right here in the Department of Human Genetics at the University of Utah.
Dr. Kevin Flanigan met with the McIntyre's and shared the fateful news about their young son's future and the bleak picture of research funding. The McIntyre's picked up the gauntlet and put every available resource to task to insure funding for DMD research. To date the McIntyre's have raised over $150,000 and have vowed to continue until a cure is found and every boy saved from this horrible disease. We salute the McIntyre's and their valiant, proactive efforts in support of research.