Category Archives: Human Genetics

Scientists generally agree that evolutionary biology was born in 1859 with the publication of Charles Darwins On the Origin of Species. The idea that species can mutate (i.e., change over time) was not new. Decades earlier, Darwins grandfather, Erasmus, had proposed something similar, designing a ladder-like diagram to show how humans evolved from single-celled organisms. Darwin went a step further, suggesting that natural selection was the mechanism by which species adapted to their environments.

But theres more to the story, admits Steve Dorus, associate professor of biology at Syracuse University. Darwin surmised that natural selection wasnt just about survival. He argued that some of the most dramatic differences between species were reproductive traits like ornaments and armaments, says Dorus, referring to peacock tails and beetle horns, respectively. These traits came about because they were subjected to a type of selection associated with reproductive competition.

Darwin called his new theory sexual selection, which he outlined in his 1871 tour-de-force, The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex. Whereas Origin sidestepped human evolution, Descent tackled it head-on. The thought of males vying for access to females, who, in turn, desired the biggest, most attractive mates, brought evolution into sharp focus. Natural selection and sexual selection explain how species have evolved over time, Dorus adds.

Analyzing the origins of biodiversity is at the heart of the Center for Reproductive Evolution (CRE) in the College of Arts and Sciences. Housed in the biology department, the CRE explores patterns and processes of sexual selection, including their underlying molecular mechanisms and genomic consequences.

The center was co-founded by Dorus, Weeden Professor Scott Pitnick and Professor Emeritus John Belote in 2016. A shared interest in the study of reproductionalong with a recognition of the potential synergism of combining our research efforts, Pitnick sayspersuaded everyone to join forces. The 2019 appointment of Assistant Professor Yasir Ahmed-Braimah has brought additional expertise in genomics and bioinformatics.

Our philosophy is grounded in interdisciplinary science, says Dorus, who, like his colleagues, studies diverse biological systems, including flies, beetles, mammals, birds and fish. The Center for Reproductive Evolution offers complementary approaches to fundamental questions about sexual and ecological selection, diversification and speciation, and evolutionary genetics and genomics.

The teams workhorse is the common fruit fly. Formally known as Drosophila, this small, ubiquitous creature is one of the oldest, most effective genetic model organisms. That they are easy and inexpensive to culture in a lab environment is a boon to the CRE.

And thanks to new and emerging technologies (along with funding from agencies like the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation), the CRE is helping rewrite the rules of biological research. The center is collecting, storing, analyzing and disseminating information like never before, Dorus says. What was once impossible is now commonplace.

The CRE is part of the Universitys Big Data and Data Analytics research group. Established in 2018, the group develops and applies data analysis methodologies to various fields, including genomicsthe study of an organisms genes. Working at the nexus of evolutionary biology, genomics and computer science means dealing with copious amounts of data, says Dorus, who helped found the group with Pitnick and several others, including Professor Chilukuri Mohan, an artificial intelligence expert in the College of Engineering and Computer Science.

In addition to resolving behavioral, morphological and physiological mechanisms of reproduction, the CRE excels at genetic mapping and characterizationdetermining the location and function of genes that confer specific phenotypes. Such research explains why individuals of a species often have similar, but rarely identical characteristics. (Think eye color, skin tone or face shape in humans.) Genetic mapping also provides insights into complex evolutionary processes stretching back millions of years.

Ahmed-Braimah is part of a new wave of Syracuse scientists fluent in omics-based technologies and advanced algorithms. (Omics refers to subdisciplines like genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics.) Technology is rewriting the rules of biological research, says Ahmed-Braimah, the Big Data group's first biology hire. Whereas we used to have lots of theory and little data, were now inundated by data.

To appreciate the science of the CRE is to understand the complex relationship between sperm and the female reproductive tract (FRT). Only since the 1950s have scientists confirmed that the FRT plays a key role in sperm maturation, a process in which sperm cells become competent to fertilize eggs. Sometimes sperm are not compatible with the FRT where they reside, leading to what is known as idiopathic infertility. Its a major human health burden, says Dorus, adding that the disease strikes about 30% of infertile couples worldwide.

Technology is rewriting the rules of biological research. Whereas we used to have lots of theory and little data, were now inundated by data.

Caitlin McDonough-Goldstein G20, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Vienna, became interested in idiopathic infertility while a student at Syracuse. Under Dorus and Pitnicks supervision, she tested thousands of tissue samples from Drosophila FRTs. Analyzing the flies gene expression and protein production helped McDonough-Goldstein understand the FRTs molecular nature. It also made her realize how changes after mating can regulate reproductive events and ensure fertility.

McDonough-Goldsteins work serves as a blueprint for other studies of ejaculate-by-female interactions. For instance, it has informed those by former CRE postdoctoral researcher Erin McCullough, now an assistant professor of biology at Clark University in Massachusetts, and former Syracuse Ph.D. student Emma Whittington G19, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Oslos Natural History Museum.

Whittington, in fact, discovered that female-derived proteins contribute to sperm composition in the FRT. Although the precise ramifications of her findings are still being evaluated, they suggest that males and females contribute to sperm production. The development of sperm transcends the male and female reproductive tracts, requiring sophisticated molecular continuity and cooperation between the sexes, says Dorus, adding that Whittingtons findings were the subject of a recent cover story in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Zeeshan Syed, a fourth year CRE postdoctoral researcher, revels in laboratory and computational biological research. Witness his involvement with the CREs Drosophila Evolutionary Phenomics (DEP) project, which considers the evolution of biodiversity on an unrivaled scale.

Syed is part of a team of researchers quantifying about 25 complex traits in 150 different species of fruit flies. The traits include body dimensions, sex-specific lifespan, patterns of reproductive aging, sperm and egg morphology, courtship and remating behavior, to name a few. Its work thats 50 million years in the making, he says.

Involving colleagues from Cornell and Stanford universities, the DEP project aims to sequence the full genomes of all 150 species. Its hard to imagine a bigger Big Data project than this one, says Ahmed-Braimah, adding that such initiatives are a dream for scientists of his ilk.

Still, the DEP project is an exercise in logistics, what with maintaining live cultures of many different species and running myriad experiments to measure their diverse traits. One of Syeds jobs is to organize the activities of a small fleet of undergraduates. (Some 30 biology majors have logged more than a thousand hours on the project over the past four years.) Hes also responsible for providing individualized training in fluorescence microscopy and morphometric analysis, the latter of which is used to measure the length of fly sperm.

If you want to conduct big data science, you need to be prepared to lead a diverse team of researchers, Syed says. Working with professors Pitnick, Ahmed-Braimah, Dorus and Belote on the DEP project has been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, turning me into a well-rounded, highly integrative biologist.

Pitnick, for one, thrives on working with young researchers. Our undergraduates are curious, insightful and creative, he says. Many of them improve our research in meaningful ways, and nearly all of them co-author multiple publications.

Case in point: Pitnick protg Amaar Asif 22 was among a handful of undergraduates who co-authored a major paper for the peer-reviewed Cells. The lead author was Pitnick, who, while measuring fly sperm, uncovered a novel developmental mechanism enabling flies with small testes to produce unusually long sperm. For Asif, the chance to contribute to such a discovery was transformative.

Our undergraduates are curious, insightful and creative. Many of them improve our research in meaningful ways, and nearly all of them co-author multiple publications.

Theres so much we dont know about this mechanism, and there are very few science papers to reference it, says Asif, who earned bachelors degrees in biology and neuroscience. Its uncharted territory.

An ongoing priority for the CRE is to understand the evolutionary link between sperm and FRT length. Pitnick laid the foundation in the 1990s, when he found that sperm in some species of Drosophila can grow up to two and half inches in length20 times longer than the fly itself and a thousand times longer than average human sperm. Pitnick also realized that as sperm became larger and fewer in number, the females got less of them per copulation. As few as a couple dozen sperm per mating, in some cases, he points out. This caused the flies to mate more often.

The takeaway here is that big, high-investment sperm have a better chance of penetrating the limited storage space of the FRT. Making giant sperm isnt easyit takes a lot of energy, Pitnick continues. Our research demonstrates that female choice and male competition require considerable investment on both sides. Thus, CRE strives to figure out how genetic and molecular mechanisms work together in an evolutionary sense.

The CRE helps us make sense of biodiversity and our place in it, not to mention the problems facing humanity, like disease and climate change.

Of course, tasks that used to take years to complete, like assembling an organisms genome, can now be accomplished in days or weeks. And with breakthrough studies of cellular and molecular mechanisms, scientists like Ahmed-Braimah can interrogate trait evolution with unrivaled speed and clarity. His current research into the changes that female Drosophila undergo after matingchanges that influence feeding behavior, metabolism, immune function and egg productionis incumbent on a slew of materials and methods.

Because functional genomics research provides a vast readout of cellular and molecular processes, we can access an immense amount of information. This helps us develop testable hypotheses more quickly, says Ahmed-Braimah, a computational and evolutionary genomicist.

Pitnick agrees, lauding the incredible variation that stems from natural and sexual selection in terms of the traits themselves, their underlying genetics and their interactions. This variation helps us make sense of biodiversity and our place in it, not to mention the problems facing humanity, like disease and climate change, he concludes. Perhaps part of the solution is found in a fly buzzing around your overripened fruit.

This story was published on September 20, 2022.

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Sex, Selection and Biodiversity - Syracuse.edu - Syracuse University

Before noon on a recent Saturday, dozens of families were walking through University of Chicagos science quad, enjoying the institutions first South Side Science Festival.

A sea of the baby blue T-shirts with the word scientist on the back, walked among those with yellow tees, indicating those helping with the event. Tents housed everything from 3D printouts of CT scans of Jurassic mammal teeth and jaws, to fun with lasers by way of microwaves to immunology workshops. The number of beats per minute involved with using CPR dummies was also on the quad.

But it was the tent that offered liquid nitrogen ice cream with toppings that kept 4 -year-old Kaden Longworth engrossed.

We dont venture out of Hyde Park all that often, so the fact that its right here was so convenient, Longworth said.

And for 7-year-old Kamari Allen, it was the tent with butterflies she could sit in, that resulted in a squeal of delight.

Doctoral student Paula Fernandez, center right, teaches children about butterfly ecology inside a butterfly sanctuary at the South Side Science Festival at the University of Chicago on Sept. 17, 2022. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

The all-day, all ages event highlighted the importance of STEM education, careers in science and understanding how science impacts daily life. The festival was created to connect South Side community members with science education resources. More than 60 booths with hands-on demonstrations and experiments were on site, as were panel discussions on climate change, health and society, and a career panel where attendees could interact one on one with faculty, research scientists, engineers and medical professionals. About 200 U. of C. student volunteers, many science majors, were on hand to show off why they think science is so cool.

One booth had fifth year Tong Lan and third year Shannon Lu showcasing extracting strawberry DNA from the succulent fruit with dish soap, salt, water, and rubbing alcohol. After one student pulled out a long strand of viscous fluid red DNA with an Ewww, Lan and Lus faces light up.

Youre not the first person to say that, Lu, a chemistry major, said, laughing while mentioning strawberries have eight copies of each type of chromosome within.

Our lab does a lot of things with DNA, trying to make different engineered proteins, with this demonstration we can show people how you can take the DNA out of fruit so hopefully it will be fun and inspire the children to be a part of this, Lan said.

Shaz Rasul, executive director of student civic engagement initiatives and interim director of the University Community Service Center, said the idea of a science fest came from junior UChicago faculty. Encouraged by his office to talk to community stakeholders to get a sense of what people wanted/needed/were interested in, he said the faculty spent the good part of a year listening before starting work on it in the middle of spring.

This started during the lockdown in 2020, said Sarah King, Neubauer Family assistant professor at UChicago. Im good friends with Hannes Bernien (assistant professor of molecular engineering) and Maanasa Raghavan (Neubauer Family assistant professor of human genetics), all three of us were talking on Zoom about ways that we can interface more with our local community and get them excited, curious about science, as a way to improve our relationship with the community and also help general science education and science literacy in the general population.

Having seen the impact of Europes Long Night of Sciences, as a spring festival where universities and research institutions in Germany open their doors to the public to learn about what academics and researchers are working on, the trio wanted to do something similar.

You can go to a science concert, go to a science-based comedy thing, King said. And it is intentionally for all ages ... not just school-aged kids, but also for young adults who are in the formative years of thinking about their relationship with the world, and how science fits into that. And its their parents who are making complicated decisions about something in medicine or what car to buy, or what type of heating system to put on their house, which at the end of the day, those are all questions that are related back to science, and how you think about the world.

Those are questions that we as scientists think a lot about, and we want to help people think about those questions. But most importantly, also talk to our community about what are the things youre thinking about? What are your problems? Its a two-way street helping our research be more relevant to people and then having people have a better understanding of science in their daily lives.

Students surround a patient simulator while listening to its heartbeat during the South Side Science Festival at the University of Chicago on Sept. 17, 2022. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

The South Side Science Festival, co-organized by UChicagos physical science division, the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, and the biological sciences division, also served as an aid in science communication, Rasul said.

If we want the sciences to be inclusive, we have to be able to talk about them so that people at all stages in their development can connect, he said. Theres a lot of energy around the sciences right now and a lot of its around new technologies like quantum science and biotech or clean energy. Theres a real hope that if we do things differently, that all of the advancements in these new technologies can be inclusive from the start.

And we can involve communities in that whole process. Research says that people want to feel a connection to the sciences they want to meet the scientist, they want to understand how you become a scientist. Its especially important to us that we try to make those invisible pathways really visible because we want more diversity in the sciences. You need to have a connection in order to want to take a chance in it.

King hopes the South Side Science Festival becomes an annual event, connecting it to local community colleges and high schools. Shes particularly interested in the 15 to 25 age group, which is where she said people become too cool for science or think that science isnt for them.

Understanding the sciences starts with fun and excitement, said Bernien. I think thats what we are here to create.

drockett@chicagotribune.com

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University of Chicago South Side Science Fest created to show off the fun, myriad pathways into field. - Chicago Tribune

Investigating the phenotypic and genetic associations between personality traits and suicidal behavior across major mental health diagnoses.

Kalman JL, Yoshida T, Andlauer TFM, Schulte EC, Adorjan K, Alda M, Ardau R, Aubry JM, Brosch K, Budde M, Chillotti C, Czerski PM, DePaulo RJ, Forstner A, Goes FS, Grigoroiu-Serbanescu M, Grof P, Grotegerd D, Hahn T, Heilbronner M, Hasler R, Heilbronner U, Heilmann-Heimbach S, Kapelski P, Kato T, Kohshour MO, Meinert S, Meller T, Nenadi I, Nthen MM, Novak T, Opel N, Pawlak J, Pfarr JK, Potash JB, Reich-Erkelenz D, Repple J, Richard-Lepouriel H, Rietschel M, Ringwald KG, Rouleau G, Schaupp S, Senner F, Severino G, Squassina A, Stein F, Stopkova P, Streit F, Thiel K, Thomas-Odenthal F, Turecki G, Twarowska-Hauser J, Winter A, Zandi PP, Kelsoe JR; Consortium on Lithium Genetics (ConLiGen), PsyCourse, Falkai P, Dannlowski U, Kircher T, Schulze TG, Papiol S. Kalman JL, et al. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2022 Feb 10. doi: 10.1007/s00406-021-01366-5. Online ahead of print. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2022. PMID: 35146571

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The genetics of human personality - PubMed

Redesigning care, with your safety top of mind.In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, GBMC Health Partners will continue to offer telehealth video visits for anyone who prefers that option. Please call your provider or login to MyChart to schedule an in-person or telehealth video visit today! If you have an existing appointment that you'd like to reschedule, please do so directly from your MyChart account.

* Please expect delays as our staff endeavor to assist all patients with their needs and questions. Do not send multiple MyChart messages or walk in to GBMC Health Partners locations without an appointment. We understand that patients are eager for access to care, and we are doing everything possible to respond to each patient as quickly as possible.

The following practices are experiencing issues with their phone lines due to a service interruption with an outside vendor:

If you need to reach your medical provider, please use the MyChart patient portal at gbmc.org/mychart. MyChart can be used for secure messaging with a provider, prescription refills, accessing test results, and more!

If you have tried using MyChart and still have an urgent need, please call 443-849-8556 for assistance. If this is a true medical emergency, please dial 911.

GBMC will be sending out additional communications to keep you informed as we work to address the vendor's service disruption.

We will continue to offer telehealth video visits for anyone who prefers that option. However, we want to reassure you that we are taking the necessary steps to protect your safety when you need to come to the hospital, a primary care office, or one of our specialty practices.

Some of the measures GBMC Health Partners is taking to protect patients include:

All doctoral-level staff members of the Institute are accredited in their respective specialties and sub-specialties by the American Boards of Medical Genetics, Obstetrics & Gynecology, and/or Pediatrics. Genetic counselors are accredited by the American Board of Genetic Counseling.

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Genetics - The Harvey Institute for Human Genetics - GBMC HealthCare in ...

Genetics is the study of inheritancefrom someones brown eyes to their inability to eat dairy. Taken together with genomicsthe study of the entire genome of an organismresearchers get better at understanding overall human health, and how to fight diseases.

Genetics and genomics will pave the way for innovations in health and better understanding of human origins. Theres just no question that 30 years ago, if you would have told me how far genomics would be in 2022, I would have just said, youre out of your mind, theres no way, said Eric Green, director of the National Human Genome Research Institute at the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Back then, I have to admit, I think most of us never thought half the things that are happening now would have happened in our lifetime, let alone within our career. As costs of genetic testing and sequencing go down, the application of genomics across the life sciences will become ubiquitous.

The Degrees of the Future 2022 top Genetics programs are:

How did Gizmodo determine this years honorees? Check out the methodology or return to the full Degrees of the Future 2022 list.

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Degrees of the Future 2022: Genetics - Gizmodo

Media Contacts Julie Kiefer

Associate Director, Science Communications, University of Utah HealthEmail: julie.kiefer@hsc.utah.eduPhone: 801-587-1293

Aug 08, 2022 10:00 AM

A University of Utah Health-led multi-institutional research center that studies the inner workings and vulnerabilities of HIV, the human immunodeficieny virus that causes AIDS, recently received a five-year, $28 million grant renewal from the National Institutes of Health.

Since its founding in 2007, the CHEETAH Center for Structural Biology of HIV Infection Restriction and Viral Dynamics has published more than 300 research papers that have led to a better understanding of HIV and its potential treatments.

Wesley Sundquist, Ph.D., the centers director and professor and chair of the Department of Biochemistry at U of U Health, is leading 20 research teams from 12 institutions. With the grant renewal, the researchers will focus on:

The outstanding science stemming from this program is changing an understanding of HIV/AIDS, other viral diseases, and cellular biology, enabling the development of novel therapeutics such as lenacapavir and D-peptide inhibitors, says Rachel Hess, M.D., associate vice president for research at U of U Health, referring to two investigational drugs with roots in CHEETAH.

From deep understanding to investigational drugs

Just a half-century ago, HIV infection almost inevitably led to serious illness and death. Todays antiretroviral therapies can suppress the virus and prevent symptoms, but improvement is still needed. If these drugs arent taken daily, the virus can rebound and acquire drug resistance. The medicines can also cause difficult side effects. The underpinnings for two new investigational drugs that could help circumvent these issues are based on years of research by CHEETAH scientists.

Research from Sundquist; Christopher Hill, D.Phil, distinguished biochemistry professor at U of U Health; and other CHEETAH Center labs on the HIV capsida structure they found is vital for different steps of the HIV life cyclelaid the groundwork that led the pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences to identify the capsid inhibitor, lenacapavir. This investigational drug is now in phase 3 clinical trials and is already showing great promise as a potent, long-acting treatment.

Taking a different approach, Michael Kay, M.D., Ph.D., CHEETAH investigator and biochemistry professor, and Debra Eckert, Ph.D., biochemistry research assistant professor, used synthetic chemistry to design a D-peptide inhibitor called CPT31 that jams HIVs infection machinery. The molecule is now in phase 1 clinical trials sponsored by Navigen, Inc.

Often people forget that drug development builds from basic research, Sundquist says. These are two more cases where that has happened, and it is very satisfying.

Learning lessons from HIV

CHEETAH continues to bring an understanding of HIV, related viruses, and host biology in new directions through collaborations between its scientists, who come from a variety of disciplines. "The CHEETAH Center is doing exciting, interdisciplinary science in a collaborative environment that allows us to accomplish projects that wouldn't otherwise be possible in any single lab," says Pamela Bjorkman, Ph.D., a professor of biology and biological engineering at Caltech.

NelsElde, Ph.D., professor of human genetics at U of U Health, turns to evolution for inspiration, noting that many animals are not as susceptible as humans to disease caused by HIV. He is collaborating with fellow CHEETAH scientists to explore whether a gene found in mice and squirrel monkeys that prevents HIV from exiting cells after replicating could become the basis for anew type of antiviral.

Nature has done seemingly countless billions of experiments that got us to where we are today, Elde says. Can we learn from whats happened and borrow and deploy them in ways that are useful?

By contrast, Owen Pornillos, Ph.D., a CHEETAH investigator from the University of Virginia who received his doctorate from the U, takes advantage of his biochemistry expertise to take a different approach. In a collaborative project with several CHEETAH Center members, he is removing the virus from the complex environment of the host cell and bringing it to the test tube. By adding back specific ingredients a few at a time, the team is identifying key virus and host cell components that are essential for early stages of viral infection and replication. Combining this approach with new microscope technologies is allowing them to visualize these steps with unprecedented clarity.

CHEETAH is committed to doing excellent science and is always planning for where we envision the field will be five years from now, Pornillos says. Its exciting to be a part of it.

These diverse tactics are providing valuable insights into virology and biology, and uncovering targets for new types of therapeutic intervention.

# # #

Research News iii

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U of U Health-Led Research Awarded $28 Million to Explore HIV's Inner Workings and Vulnerabilities - University of Utah Health Care

2018 was a historic year for initial public offerings (IPOs) on the stock market. In fact, there are many successful companies that had their IPO in 2018. And as an investor, there is much to learn from and reflect on. Therefore, lets take a closer look at some of the standout IPOs that made their public debuts in 2018.

2018 was full of newsworthy events around the globe. In the United States, there was marijuana reform, gun control protests and a partial government shutdown in December.

There were many monumental moments in other parts of the world as well. In sports, there was the Winter Olympics in February and the World Cup in July. Meghan Markle became the first woman of color to join the British Royal Family. Cuba ended the 59-year reign of Castro leadership, announcing Miguel Diaz-Canel as its new President. And North and South Korea vowed to formally end the Korean War.

However, the stock market had one of its worst years in over a decade. Specifically, the S&P 500 was down 6.2%. The Dow fell 5.6% and the Nasdaq dropped 4%. But there were many companies that had their IPO in 2018 nonetheless. And some have brought in massive returns since their offering dates. For example, five of the best IPOs in 2018 include:

Each of these stocks is flourishing on the market since making its public debut in 2018. And this comes despite the recent stock market downturn, recession fears and high inflation. Thats why I consider them a few of the best companies that had their IPO in 2018. Therefore, lets dig into their stock performances a little further.

Americold provides supply chain services and infrastructure for food service providers, retailers, producers and direct-to-consumer. In addition, Americold has 249 facilities around the globe.

COLD stock made its debut on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on January 19, 2018 for $724.8 million at $17 per share. In just four years time, its now trading around $30 a share with an all-time high closing of $39.21 in July of 2021. Since its offering date, Americold stock is up more than 70%.

BJs is a popular membership-only warehouse club chain that operates on the East Coast of the United States with plans to expand in the near future. Its main competitors includeCostco (Nasdaq: COST) and Sams Club, which is owned and operated by Walmart (NYSE: WMT).

While BJs is much smaller, it has become a stock market darling since its debut. The IPO came on June 28, 2018 for $733.13 million at $17 a share. The stock is now trading around $70 for an increase of more than 300% since its IPO. Furthermore, its one of the few companies that is up year-to-date (YTD) at close to 7% despite the bear market. BJs is clearly one of the best companies that had their IPO in 2018 based on performance alone.

Moderna is a pioneer in delivering transformative medicines and vaccines via mRNA science. And as you may know, it produces one of the most prominent COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots. Moderna has played a major role in the fight against COVID-19 and will continue to do so moving forward.

Before the pandemic, Moderna went public on December 7, 2018 for $23.00 a share. Its now trading for more than $170! Thats an increase of close to 630% since its IPO.

Nio is an electric vehicle company out of China. Its currently producing six EV car models, home charging equipment, battery swaps and mobile charging services. The ES6, a five-seater mid-size SUV, seems to be its flagship model with close to half of its sales in a record-breaking June.

Nio launched on the NYSE for $6.26 per share on September 12, 2018. Its now trading just below $20 a share, though it hit an all-time high of $66.90 in January of 2021. As you can see, Nio has the potential as one of the best companies that had their IPO in 2018.

Twist Bioscience is a biotech company in San Francisco that manufactures synthetic DNA and DNA products for various industries. These DNA tools help research in human genetics, drug discovery, infectious diseases, animal health and more.

The Twist Bioscience IPO hit the market on October 30, 2018 for $14 per share. In 2022, TWST stock is pushing $50. However, it was trading close to $200 per share in 2021 before a drastic decline that winter.

While 2018 wasnt the best of years in terms of the overall stock market, many businesses shined in their debuts. The five stocks above continue to impress in difficult circumstances as volatility continues to rise.

As the market fights to recover, its important that you continue to do your due diligence and expand your research even further. Consider signing up for one of the best investment newsletters. These daily e-letters give readers stock insights, chart analysis and trends that may help you make better investment decisions.

Its also wise to learn more about the IPO process before investing in new offerings. This step-by-step guide breaks down everything you need to know.

You may have missed out on the massive returns of some of the best companies that had their IPO in 2018. However, you can position yourself to take advantage of future gains by staying on top of the market and scouring news feeds, analyzing chart patterns and doing extensive research.

Corey Mann is the Content Manager of Investment U. He has more than 10 years of experience as a journalist and content creator. Since 2012, Coreys work has been featured in major publications such as The Virginian-Pilot, The Washington Post, CNN, MSNBC and more. When Corey isnt focusing on Investment U, he enjoys traveling with his wife, going to Yankees games and spending time with his family.

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Revisiting Companies That Had Their IPO in 2018 - Investment U

This interview took place on August 4, 2022. As scientists are still learning about this virus, this information could have shifted and changed. Please do your due diligence when it comes to information about any viral disease.

On August 5, 2022, the United States government declared monkeypox a public health emergency.

As someone who (sadly) lives on the internet, ever since monkeypox was announced Ive been seeing different peoples thoughts, opinions, and fears when it comes to this disease. Generally speaking, theres been a lot of good information and threads on the virus; however, theres also been a lot of fear-based misinformation that, even if well-intentioned, can ultimately cause more harm than good.

Its for this reason that I connected with Emma Crowley. Emma is a public health professional and rare disease advocate with over a decade of paired experience and advocacy. In addition to public health, Emma has previously worked in human genetics, clinical trials, and global health. Her broad experience has allowed her to speak to physician groups, pharmaceutical companies, and the Food and Drug Administration. She is skilled at breaking down complicated scientific concepts into accessible content.

Emma: Monkeypox is a pustule virus that is related to smallpox and to chickenpox, and what they have in common is those little bumps all over your skin.

Emma: Before this outbreak, there were two different clades [of this virus]. One that was found in the Congo is called the Congo Basin clade, and then the other one is called the West African clade.

Traditionally the one found in the Congo was more transmissible and more deadly. The West African one was less transmissible and less deadly. At this point, we believe the virus were seeing now is genetically different than those two, but we believe its come from or has mutated from the West African one. Its existed in those regions since the 1970s, and we know that it transmits from animals to humans. It lives in monkeys, of course, but also in rodents, squirrels, moles, and things like that. Its remained quiet for decades, but in the past 10-15 years there has been some growth.

Emma: When it comes to it possibly being a sexually transmitted infection (STI), it can be spread by sexual contact, but it doesnt mean its exclusively an STI. It can live on surfaces, which is called a fomite, but touching a table or trying on clothes at a store likely wont give it to you. You do need likely close contact sharing bed linens or cups, but obviously, youre close with that individual. Sex can be part of that transmission, but its not exclusive.

Scientists are still looking into if there is a bodily fluid transfer that makes it more transmissible in the men who have sex with men, or MSM, community. But it does seem unusual that a majority of cases have been men who have sex with men when according to statistics, we should be seeing more women and children exposed. It could be because of superspreader events, Or, ever since the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the MSM community has really developed close ties to their local health departments and have really close health relationships with people that they have sex with. So it could just be that they were the ones who brought it to our attention first.

The isolation period is long: about three to four weeks. You are contagious until your lesions drop; they kinda scab over and drop and are replaced with new skin. You are contagious until that new skin has formed.

Because its in the pox virus family, the smallpox vaccine is protective. I do believe that the CDC is still recommending people who are high risk in the gay community, in the MSM community to get a vaccine anyway, but its very interesting when you look at the data because you can see that as smallpox vaccines decline which, in the United States, we stopped vaccinating for smallpox in 1973 and we declared officially eradicated from the world in 1980 monkeypox has increased because theres an unvaccinated population. This has allowed the virus to spread.

Also, the mortality rate for the African clades is about 1-10%, but were seeing very few deaths for how many cases there are. Its not always presenting the same way as those pustules. People are also getting rashes, or they may look like a bunch of little pimples and bumps instead of the traditional pox that you think of. Its also making it difficult for doctors to feel comfortable with diagnosing, so the word from the CDC is if you see something just test it, which is probably the right thing to do at this point.

Its kind of unfortunate, but its really important for at-risk communities to decrease their sexual partners. This isnt just for transmission, but it also buys time for public health officials to vaccinate as many people as possible.

The vaccines that people are using are called Jynneos. It comes from a company called Bavarian Nordic and they produce it in Copenhagen, and it was really only approved for people with the monkeypox virus, or if you were on assignment for a specific job in an African nation that sees it more often. Part of the difficulty is that weve never needed this many, but whats important is that its safe for individuals who are HIV positive. So it doesnt pose a big risk, there are very few side effects, and its a great safe vaccine. You do need two doses, and if you are exposed, it is recommended that you get vaccinated within four days. If you do, you may be able to stop the onset of illness, and if you stop the onset, you stop the transmission.

There is still some research going on to see if you can spread [the virus] asymptomatically, but thats still being researched.

The ACAM2000 was left over from our old-school smallpox vaccine. It was developed for smallpox and we just happened to have a bunch on hand in case there was biological terrorism, but the rate of people having adverse reactions was relatively high, like a couple per thousand, and its a live virus that has the ability to replicate, whereas Jynneos does not. So youre exposing yourself to a tiny amount of the live virus, which for those who are immunocompromised (such as those who are HIV positive) isnt safe.

Hopefully, thatll just be a backup. It looks like the federal government is working to procure as many doses as possible and will be implementing the Defense Production Act to engage other pharmaceutical companies to support them in their production, so hopefully, we get ahead of it but its unfortunate how widespread it got so quickly.

Doctors are still learning about this. Were all learning in real-time, but I would recommend people contact their local health departments. We can make sure to get you in contact with the resources that you need and ensure that you have some funding so you can stay home and isolate, yourself because the isolation period is long: about three to four weeks. You are contagious until your lesions drop; they kinda scab over and drop and are replaced with new skin. You are contagious until that new skin has formed.

Its important that we stay properly informed about Monkeypox so we know how to both protect ourselves and our community. Make sure you stay up to date with the latest news from the CDC as they help advise the country through this public health crisis. Youre not alone, and together were going to get through this.

More here:
Monkeypox Myth Busting: Here's What You Need to Know - The Mighty

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine received a five-year, $5.5 million-plus grant from the National Cancer Institute for research on liver cancer risk factors and prevention, with the goal of reducing the burden of liver cancer in patients with metabolic dysfunction.

The population of people with metabolic dysfunction, including diabetes and obesity, is growing at an epidemic proportion, particularly in Texas, saidDr. Hashem El-Serag, principal investigator of the study and chair of theMargaret M. and Albert B. Department of Medicineand professor in the section ofgastroenterology and hepatologyat Baylor. Consequently, Texas now leads the nation in incidence and mortality rates of liver cancer. This study is a major step toward better understanding and prevention of liver cancer in our community.

The study will consist of three independent but conceptually related research projects led by a multidisciplinary team at Baylor with collaborators from Harvard University, including experts in basic science, epidemiology, human genetics and metabolic dysfunction. The research will use data from metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) patients in theTexas Hepatocellular Carcinoma Consortium, a large multisite prospective cohort study funded by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) to reduce the burden and mortality of liver cancer in Texas. The first project will analyze the role of genetic, metabolic and lifestyle factors in the development of liver cancer. Researchers will identify genetic and metabolic biomarkers that when combined with lifestyle factors such as obesity and alcohol use, can assist in risk stratification.

We want to move this disease into the era of precision medicine, using genetic, metabolic, lifestyle and demographic risk factors to create an index that predicts overall disease risk, said El-Serag, a member of theDan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Centerat Baylor.

The second project will examine whether medications currently in use for diabetes treatment, including metformin, statins and glitazones, are associated with a reduced risk of developing liver cancer and could act as preventative treatments. The researchers, led byDr. Fasiha Kanwal, professor of medicine and section chief of gastroenterology and hepatology at Baylor, also will examine the genetic factors that contribute to differences in response to prevention medication.

The third project will examine the long-term benefits, harms and costs of different liver cancer prevention measures among patients with metabolic dysfunction. Researchers will compare the benefits of different levels of screening and surveillance and assess which patients could benefit from preventative treatments.

The grant also will fund a data and analysis core to support data management and statistical analyses and a biospecimen and biomarker development core that will assist in collection and analysis of DNA samples.

This work is funded by the National Cancer Institute, a part of the National Institutes of Health (P01CA263025).

See the original post here:
Baylor receives NCI grant to study liver cancer risk and prevention - Baylor College of Medicine News

Relay Therapeutics, Inc.

Appointment of Sekar Kathiresan, M.D., CEO of Verve Therapeutics, to board of directors

Disclosed three new programs from a growing breast cancer portfolio and a regulatory update on RLY-4008 at June 27th analyst and investor event

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 04, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Relay Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: RLAY), a clinical-stage precision medicine company transforming the drug discovery process by combining leading-edge computational and experimental technologies, today reported second quarter 2022 financial results and recent corporate highlights.

We are excited to welcome Dr. Sekar Kathiresan to our board of directors and look forward to his contributions based on his experiences as a leading academic physician and founder and CEO of an innovative biotechnology company, said Sanjiv Patel, M.D., Relay Therapeutics president and chief executive officer. Over the next 12 months, we will continue to build upon our achievements this year and deliver upon the next anticipated milestones for RLY-4008 and our growing breast cancer portfolio.

Recent Corporate Highlights

Continued to enroll patients across both dose escalation cohorts of the first-in-human trial for RLY-2608, a pan-mutant and isoform-selective PI3K inhibitor, assessing it as a single agent for patients with unresectable or metastatic solid tumors with PI3K mutation and evaluating RLY-2608 in combination with fulvestrant for patients with HR+, HER2, PI3K-mutated, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer

At June 27th analyst and investor event, disclosed:

Three new programs as part of a growing HR+/HER2- breast cancer franchise: selective CDK2 inhibitor, ER degrader and chemically distinct pan mutant-PI3K inhibitor (RLY-5836)

Based on discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), alignment on the design of a single arm trial for the selective FGFR2 inhibitor RLY-4008 in pan-FGFR (FGFRi) treatment-nave FGFR2-fusion cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) to potentially support an accelerated approval path

Interim data from the once daily (QD) dosing schedule of RLY-4008 shared with the FDA demonstrated confirmed partial responses in 8 out of 13 (62%) FGFRi-nave FGFR2-fusion CCA patients, including all four of the patients treated at the registrational trial dose of 70 mg QD

Within the breast cancer franchise, anticipate disclosing initial clinical data of pan-mutant PI3K inhibitor RLY-2608 in the first half of 2023, clinical start for the selective CDK2 inhibitor in the fourth quarter of 2023 or first quarter of 2024, and development candidate nomination for ER degrader in 2023

Story continues

Within the tumor agnostic portfolio, anticipate disclosing additional data updates for RLY-4008 in the second half of 2022 and 2023, and the initiation of the combination trial of SHP2 inhibitor GDC-1971 (RLY-1971) with atezolizumab in the second half of 2022

Appointment of New Board Member

Dr. Kathiresan joins Relay Therapeutics board of directors, bringing a unique perspective based on his broad experience as a clinician, academic and company founder. Dr. Kathiresan is co-founder and CEO of Verve Therapeutics. He is a cardiologist and scientist who has focused his career on understanding the inherited basis for heart attack and leveraging those insights to improve the care of cardiovascular disease. Based on his groundbreaking discoveries in human genetic mutations that confer resistance to cardiovascular disease, Dr. Kathiresan co-founded Verve Therapeutics with a vision to create a pipeline of single-course, gene editing therapies focused on addressing the root causes of this highly prevalent and life-threatening disease.

Prior to joining Verve, Dr. Kathiresans roles included director of the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Center for Genomic Medicine, director of the Cardiovascular Disease Initiative at the Broad Institute and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. There, Dr. Kathiresans research laboratory focused on understanding the inherited basis for blood lipids and myocardial infarction. For his research contributions, he has been recognized by the American Heart Association with its highest scientific honor a Distinguished Scientist Award and by the American Society of Human Genetics with the 2018 Curt Stern Award.

Dr. Kathiresan received a B.A. in history from the University of Pennsylvania and received an M.D. from Harvard Medical School. He completed his clinical training in internal medicine and cardiology at MGH and his postdoctoral research training in human genetics at the Framingham Heart Study and the Broad Institute.

Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments: As of June 30, 2022, cash, cash equivalents and investments totaled approximately $838 million compared to $958 million as of December 31, 2021. Relay Therapeutics expects its current cash, cash equivalents and investments will be sufficient to fund its current operating plan into at least 2025.

R&D Expenses: Research and development expenses were $60.5 million for the second quarter of 2022, as compared to $45.1 million for the second quarter of 2021. The increase was primarily due to $3.4 million of additional employee related costs, $8.0 million related to clinical trial expenses and $3.4 million related to preclinical programs.

G&A Expenses: General and administrative expenses were $17.5 million for second quarter of 2022, as compared to $14.4 million for the second quarter of 2021. The increase was primarily due to $3.0 million of additional employee related costs, including an increase in stock-based compensation of $1.0 million.

Net Loss: Net loss was $76.8 million for the second quarter of 2022, or a net loss per share of $0.71, as compared to a net loss of $193.4 million for the second quarter of 2021, or a net loss per share of $2.10. Net loss for the second quarter of 2021 included one-time expenses of $134.9 million associated with the acquisition of ZebiAI Therapeutics, Inc.

About Relay Therapeutics

Relay Therapeutics (Nasdaq: RLAY) is a clinical-stage precision medicines company transforming the drug discovery process by combining leading-edge computational and experimental technologies with the goal of bringing life-changing therapies to patients. As the first of a new breed of biotech created at the intersection of disparate technologies, Relay Therapeutics aims to push the boundaries of whats possible in drug discovery. Its Dynamo platform integrates an array of leading-edge computational and experimental approaches designed to drug protein targets that have previously been intractable. Relay Therapeutics initial focus is on enhancing small molecule therapeutic discovery in targeted oncology and genetic disease indications. For more information, please visit http://www.relaytx.com or follow us on Twitter.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including, without limitation, implied and express statements regarding Relay Therapeutics strategy, business plans and focus; the progress and timing of updates on the clinical development of the programs across Relay Therapeutics portfolio, including the timing of clinical data updates for RLY-4008 and RLY-2608, and clinical trial initiation and development candidate nomination for other programs; expected therapeutic benefits of its programs; whether preclinical or early clinical results of Relay Therapeutics product candidates will be predictive of future clinical trials; Relay Therapeutics expectations relating to its current and future interactions with the FDA, including its belief regarding a potential accelerated approval path for RLY-4008; expectations regarding Relay Therapeutics operating plan, use of capital, expenses and other financial results during 2022 and in the future; and Relay Therapeutics cash runway projection. The words may, might, will, could, would, should, plan, anticipate, intend, believe, expect, estimate, seek, predict, future, project, potential, continue, target and similar words or expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words.

Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and important factors that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, including, without limitation, risks associated with: the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on countries or regions in which Relay Therapeutics has operations or does business, as well as on the timing and anticipated results of its clinical trials, strategy and future operations; the delay of any current or planned clinical trials or the development ofRelay Therapeuticsdrug candidates;the risk that the results of its clinical trials may not be predictive of future results in connection with future clinical trials;Relay Therapeutics ability to successfully demonstrate the safety and efficacy of its drug candidates; the timing and outcome of its planned interactions with regulatory authorities; and obtaining, maintaining and protecting its intellectual property. These and other risks and uncertainties are described in greater detail in the section entitled Risk Factors in Relay Therapeutics most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as any subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent Relay Therapeutics' views only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. Relay Therapeutics explicitly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements. No representations or warranties (expressed or implied) are made about the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements.

Contact:Caroline Glen617-370-8837cglen@relaytx.com

Media:Dan Budwick1AB973-271-6085dan@1abmedia.com

Relay Therapeutics, Inc.Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss(In thousands, except share and per share data)(Unaudited)

Three Months EndedJune30,

Six Months EndedJune30,

2022

2021

2022

2021

Revenue:

License and other revenue

$

365

$

844

$

784

$

1,796

Total revenue

365

844

784

1,796

Operating expenses:

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Relay Therapeutics Reports Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results and Corporate Highlights - Yahoo Finance