Coriell’s Stefan Zajic, PhD, a principal research scientist in the Coriell Personalized Medicine Collaboration (CPMC), will present this month at Start Talking Science, an annual event in Philadelphia which allows members of the local scientific community to share their scientific passions with the general public.
Started 10 years ago, the CPMC is a long term, first-of-its-kind research initiative to discover how a person’s genomic data can be used in conjunction with their family and personal medical histories to best predict various health risks and how well certain drugs may work for them. Zajic will be discussing the CPMC as a whole and the important discoveries made by Coriell scientists.
Zajic’s current research will be in the Start Talking Science spotlight as an example of the CPMC’s potential. Zajic and his team, using data from the ongoing study, have identified a new link between a certain gene variant and a higher risk for stroke. On top of that, they’ve discovered that daily aspirin use appears to reduce the risk for those with the variant. This finding is particularly illustrative of the CPMC’s mission as the overall risk is drawn from both genetics and behavior (the taking of the aspirin).
“Communicating scientific discoveries to the public can be overlooked in our work as scientists,” Zajic said. “Each year, Start Talking Science provides an opportunity to bridge that gap. Personalized medicine’s potential grows year after year and it’s important we’re all informed and involved in the conversation around it.”
In previous years, scientists from area hospitals and universities presented on fascinating topics such as dark matter and an investigation into the way nature produces optimal vein networks in animals.
All are welcome to attend. The event will be held from 6 until 8 p.m. on Sept. 28 at the Chemical Heritage Foundation at 315 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Admission is free.
About Coriell Institute
The Coriell Institute for Medical Research is a global leader in understanding how our personal genomes affect our health. Coriell is recognized as one of the world's leading biobanks, distributing biological samples and offering research and biobanking services to scientists in 70 countries around the globe. A pioneer in genomics, Coriell is examining the utility of using personal genetic information in clinical care through the Coriell Personalized Medicine Collaborative (CPMC) research study (cpmc.coriell.org). The institute is also unlocking the promise of induced pluripotent stem cells and their role in disease research and drug discovery.For more information, visit coriell.org and catalog.coriell.org or follow @Coriell_Science on Twitter.
About Start Talking Science
Start Talking Science (STS) is a free public event where STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) researchers present nontechnical posters to the community. They aim to increase the public awareness of—and interest in—cutting-edge, local research in order to make STEM more accessible. They hope to foster insightful conversations and connections while strengthening the communication skills of researchers.
