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Institute of Metabolic Disease at Baylor Research Institute
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Jiahuan Ding, Ph.D., M.D.
Director of Molecular Genetics and Research
Associate Professor of Biomedical Studies, Baylor University
Contact Information:
Phone: 214-820-4731
Education:
M.D. Henan Medical University
Ph.D. Peking Union Medical College
Research Interests:
• Gene regulation and cell differentiation
• Novel approaches for molecular diagnostics and gene therapy
Current Research:
The molecular research laboratory currently focuses on the identification of the molecular mechanisms of fatty acid beta oxidation disorders and cardiomyopathy. In addition, the laboratory focuses on the development of novel diagnostic and treatment strategies, including gene therapy and adult stem cell study for tissue repair.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is estimated to affect 1 in 500 persons with variable clinical and pathologic presentations from a lifelong asymptomatic course to sudden cardiac death (SCD). Currently, mutations are at least ten genes encoding various components of the cardiac sarcomere have been identified in patients with HCM. There is a great clinical need for rapid, accurate genetic diagnosis for effective medical treatment. Collaborating with Paul Grayburn, M.D., director of Cardiology Research at the Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital, a mutation screening service for HCM is available through the Institute of Metabolic Disease as a research test.
Preliminary research data focuses on the utilization of a novel technique known as ultrasound targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD) to deliver drugs or genes to specific tissues show great promise as a new possible approach to gene therapy. Collaborating with Dr. Grayburn, a program has been launched to evaluate this gene therapy.
Other research projects include the gene chip microarray project. This project focuses on the use of a technique known as multiple mutation analysis on a single gene chip. A gene chip covering every known mutation of MCAD gene as well as some other mutations causing fatty acid beta oxidation disorders has been created and tested. This unique diagnostic approach might offer mutation screening for both research and clinical practice.
Other disease genes under study in human and in rat/mouse include VEGF, HRE, and insulin.
Representative Publications:
Roe, C.R. and Ding, J.H.: Mitochondrial Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorders. The Metabolic and Molecular Bases of Inherited Diseases, 8th edition, Chapter 101, pp2297-2326, McGraw-Hill, 2001.
Yang, B., Ding. J., Zhou, C., Dimachkie, M., Sweetman, L., Dasouki, M., Wilkinson, J. and Roe, C. Identification of a Novel Mutation in Patients with Medium-Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency. Molecular Genetics and Metabolism 69 (3): 259-262, 2000. |
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