The Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics, University of Miami

The Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics and the recently renamed John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genetics (HIHG) were established at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine to discover the genetic influences on human health and apply this knowledge to the practice of medicine through improved diagnostics, treatments, and medications. The Institute is committed to collaborative pan-institutional initiatives, ensuring that resources, skills, and ideas forthcoming from novel genetic and genomic approaches will be made available to the entire medical community.

One of the five centers of the HIHG is the Center for Genomic Medicine (CGM). It is the locus for all translational work and also houses the HIHG Biorepository. One of the primary tasks of the CGM is to advance the use of genetics in mainstream medicine. Areas of emphasis include: 1) establishing a diagnostic research laboratory for large scale genotyping or biomarker testing for research, 2) genetic risk assessment trials using family history, biomarkers, susceptibility genes, and combinations, 3) gene based therapeutics, such as stem cell, RNA silencing and vectors, and 4) developing and applying models for practical implementation of genomic medicine.

For more information about the John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genetics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, please visit:  www.hihg.org.

For additional information please call Marcia Levitt or Susan Blanton at 305-243-6177.