Primate Models of Chronic Diseases, led by Jay R. Kaplan, Ph.D., professor and section head of Pathology-Comparative Medicine, and director of the Wake Forest University Primate Center. The Primate Center will work closely with the Research Academy to integrate primate research into the educational fabric, offering early investigators exposure to this kind of research. The center will also continue to support innovative research opportunities through pilot research initiatives and collaborative symposiums, and by offering technical expertise on primate-related research. Genomics & Personalized Medicine, led by Eugene R. Bleecker, M.D., director of the Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine Research, professor of genomics and personalized medicine, of translational science, of pediatrics, and of public health sciences, and Thomas H. Davis Professor of Medicine in the Internal Medicine Section on Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy and Immunologic Diseases. The Genomics & Personalized Medicine Center will provide expertise for mapping disease-related genes responsible for patient phenotypes, with a focus on respiratory diseases, cancer, and diabetes, established by analysis of criteria such as clinical evaluations, induced phenotypes, biomedical imaging, and biomarkers. The center will also provide a key role in support of investigators, providing educational programs, clinical genomics trials aimed at predicting patient response to therapy, personalizing therapy, and designing preemptive and new strategies.

Population Science & Research Design, led by Gregory Burke, M.D., director of the Division of Public Health Sciences and professor of public health sciences. The Population Science & Research Design Center will build upon the extensive expertise of the Division of Public Health Sciences and will provide proficiency and support in the areas of statistical methods and design, population genetics and multi-center study coordination, working closely with the Clinical & Translational Research Facilitation Program to help implement evidence-based approaches to address local clinical health care needs.

Source: Wake Forest University Translational Science Institute