Genetics

How to Argue with a Racist smashes race myths that plague society – New Scientist News

By Layal Liverpool

Guy Smallman/Getty

I am black and mixed-race, but it remains unclear to me whether these are social identities or biological classifications. Luckily, I can turn to Adam Rutherfords latest book, How to Argue with aRacist, to reveal the current scientific understanding of race, ancestry and genetics. It also tells us how to argue effectively against the idea that certain populations of people are biologically inferior.

From the beginning, Rutherford is clear that although he uses the term race frequently, he does so only because the word is widely used: it isnt scientifically valid, yet it exists so must be addressed. Race is a social construct. This does not mean it is invalid or unimportant, writes Rutherford.

How to Argue with a Racists strongest suit is to encourage a general conversation about race, informed by the latest science on the reality and origins of racism. Researching ethnicity has often been career death, but Rutherford says scientists shouldnt shy away from the field. Nor should writers, to judge by his mission.

For many, race is a cry for identity and belonging. In 2018, when groups of neo-Nazis in the US chugged milk to supposedly demonstrate their superior, genetically encoded ability toprocess lactose, they were trying to assert their white identity, writes Rutherford.

He rather undermines such anassertion by revealing that thegene mutations that enable lactose processing arent unique to people of European descent. They also exist today in Kazakhs, Ethiopians, Tutsi, Khoisan and in many places where dairy farming took off as part of agriculture.

Chugging milk is a theatrical gesture, but as Rutherford points out, we increasingly turn to ancestry and genetic testing toreaffirm our human tendency to seek meaning and identity.

I can relate to this. My surname, Liverpool, comes from an ancestor on my fathers side, forcibly shipped from West Africa to the Caribbean via Liverpool, UK, during the transatlantic slave trade. But as Rutherford points out, the number of children produced by sex between enslaved peoples, and between the enslaved and their owners, makes it virtually impossible for a genetic test to establish an African country of origin for the descendants of slaves.

Instead of arguing against thelogic of marrying identity toancestry, Rutherford elegantly uses a bit of mathematics to showhow our whole way of thinking about ancestry is wrong.

He assumes generational time is 25 years and that the number ofancestors for each person in every generation has doubled. Sowe each have two parents, fourgrandparents, eight great-grandparents, and so on. In 500years, or 20 generations, that is 1,048,576 ancestors. Go back 1000 years, and each of us has more than a trillion ancestors: 10 times more people than ever existed.

The notion of a family tree isnt the most scientifically accurate metaphor, he writes, because trees only ever branch, but family trees contain loops, with the same person appearing at multiple positions in the tree, for example, as a result of first cousins having children. Understanding that we are all more closely related to one another than we think is a pretty strong argument against racism.

Is any of this enough to convince hard-liners? Maybe not.As Rutherford writes: Thecommercial genetic testsremain scientifically unconvincing. Regardless, the utility of consumer genetic testing is now a major and significant part of white supremacy discourse.

But in many ways How to Argue with a Racist isnt really about arguing with hard-liners. Its target is the surprisingly prevalent set of racist beliefs, from men of certain groups having larger or smaller penises than average to people from different racial groups being more or less intelligent than average. The way we generally speak about races does not align with what we know about those innate differences between people and populations, says Rutherford.

For example, the largest study of penis size, including more than 15,000 men, found no evidence that the organs length or girth correlates with any particular population, racial category or ethnicity, while intelligence is a complex trait influenced by a score of genes and their interaction with our environment.

Rutherford hunts widely to account for the persistence of suchracist ideas. But in the end, hefaces down the biggest issue atthe core of many of these raciststereotypes: is race truly abiological classification?We are constantly told that it is asocial construct, but scientists muddy the waters by appearing tocontradict this as they perhaps carelessly mention both race and ethnicity in their research papers.

Rutherford is clear that the majority of geneticists think genetic differences between ethnic groups are meaningless interms of behaviour or innateabilities. But he also acknowledges the contradiction because scientific papers are still published in which genes for complex traits like intelligence seem stratified along racial lines.

Race science is pseudoscience, but genetics and evolutionary research are inextricably tied up with race, and are often used by racists to justify themselves. Rutherford accepts that the field ofhuman genetics has a dark history, founded by racists in a time of racism, but also argues that genetics has demonstrated the scientific falsity of race.

He writes that scientists reluctance to express views concerning the politics that mightemerge from human genetics is a position perhaps worth reconsidering. After all, he argues, those who misuse science for ideological ends show no such restraint, and embrace modern tech to spread their messages.

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How to Argue with a Racist smashes race myths that plague society - New Scientist News

Genetics

Terrace Global Announces Genetics Supply Agreement With Apollo Green for Acquisition of Genetics and Importation Into the European Union – Business…

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Terrace Global Inc. (Terrace Global or the Company) (TSXV:TRCE) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a genetics supply agreement (the Genetics Supply Agreement) with Apollo Green Inc. (Apollo Green) whereby the parties have entered into an exclusive relationship with respect to the acquisition and importation of high-THC genetics for the Companys medical cannabis operations in Portugal.

Terrace Global has commenced the process to acquire the requisite starting materials for the first phase of its greenhouse facilities in Portugal, which will be comprised of approximately 65,000 square feet of greenhouse facilities, a 5,000 square feet of E.U. GMP processing and drying facility and a 3,300 square feet administrative building.

Pursuant to the Genetics Supply Agreement, Terrace Global will be acquiring the following genetics: Chem Stallion (15-25% THC, 0.5-0.1% CBD), Twisted Grape (15-25% THC, 0.5-0.1% CBD) and Apollo Skunk (15-25% THC, 0.5-0.1% CBD). These genetics will add to Terrace Globals existing inventory of high CBD genetics which were acquired from Colorado and used in its outdoor cultivation in Uruguay.

We are pleased to be working with Apollo Green to develop our genetics inventory with a view to focusing on high-THC strains that we expect to be well received by the European Union medical cannabis market participants. Apollo Green has an extensive library of genetics that include a diverse set of market leading strains and cross-breeds, commented Francisco Ortiz von Bismarck, Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Being able to source these genetics is an important milestone in the development of European operations. Without quality genetics, there is no pathway to success in the burgeoning E.U. medical cannabis industry.

Apollo Green has been accumulating an extensive library of high-THC genetics and has benefited from its relationship with Ed Rosenthal. Mr. Rosenthal is a Global Advisor to Apollo Green and is a leading cannabis horticulture authority, author, educator, social activist and legalization pioneer.

Terrace Global is building a world-class cultivation facility in one of the most attractive countries from a regulatory and climate perspective. We will be working closely with the Company to see how these genetics perform by leveraging our extensive cultivation expertise, commented Tyler LeBlanc, Chief Executive Officer of Apollo Green. This is a meaningful partnership for us as we seek to grow our genetics and plantlet business globally. Terrace Global is the ideal partner given its extensive experience and international footprint in Uruguay, Portugal and Spain.

The Genetics Supply Agreement is subject to various conditions precedent, including the issuance of the applicable export and import permits from the regulatory authorities in Canada and Portugal.

About Terrace Global

Terrace Global is a multi-country operator (MCO) led by experienced cannabis entrepreneurs focused on the development and acquisition of international cannabis assets. Terrace Globals focus is on federally legal jurisdictions with existing domestic demand, low cost inputs and approved for exportation. Terrace Globals existing asset platform consists of: (1) a 33.75% indirect equity interest in one of the currently two recreational cannabis operations in Uruguay; (2) 100% of Oransur, S.A., a Uruguayan company producing high CBD hemp in Uruguay; (3) 100% of Terra Nova Produo e Comercializao de Produtos Natuis e Farmacuticos, Lda, a Portuguese company with a pre-license issued by INFARMED for the cultivation, importation, and exportation of medical cannabis in Portugal; and (4) 100% of Pharmabinoide S.L., a Spanish company producing and commercializing hemp in Spain. MariMed Inc. (OTCQX:MRMD), a multi-state cannabis operator in the U.S., dedicated to improving the health and wellness of people through the use of cannabinoids and cannabis products, owns approximately 6% of Terrace Global.

About Apollo Green

Apollo Green was among the first wave of Canadian businesses to submit an application to Health Canada for a cannabis cultivation and sales license. In July 2019, Apollo Green was granted three licenses for standard cultivation, standard processing and federal medical sales. Apollo Green currently supplies premium genetic solutions and superior plantlets to Cannabis producers globally, specializing in reducing risk, space, costs, and time to its B2B customers, in a state of the art fully operational facility about 20 minutes east of downtown Ottawa.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements about the Companys future plans and intentions. Wherever possible, words such as may, will, should, could, expect, plan, intend, anticipate, believe, estimate, predict or potential or the negative or other variations of these words, or similar words or phrases, have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect managements current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof.

Forward-looking statements involve significant risk, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

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Terrace Global Announces Genetics Supply Agreement With Apollo Green for Acquisition of Genetics and Importation Into the European Union - Business...

Genetics

How Genetic Testing with 23andMe Can Improve Your Health – Yahoo Finance

Survey finds 23andMe Health + Ancestry results motivate customers to make positive lifestyle changes.

NEW YORK, Jan. 30, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- At-home DNA testing service 23andMe is more than just a tool to discover ancestry - it also offers insight into how genes can impact overall health and wellness. 23andMe offers a wealth of reports that provide genetic health information that can help customers be more proactive about their health. Recently, 23andMe Genetics Trends Expert, Madeline Lynch, and customer Michelle Martinez, teamed with YourUpdateTV to discuss.

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/VAKAywAd4VY

A recent survey of 23andMe's Health + Ancestry Service customers found that more than three-quarters reported that after receiving their personalized genetic reports they made at least one positive change in their health behavior. Designed by 23andMe and M/A/R/C Research, researchers asked 23andMe Health + Ancestry customers about the overall impact of their 23andMe experience, regardless of their results.

51 percent of respondents reporting they've set future goals to be healthier. Changes included eating healthier, getting more sleep, and exercising more, among others. Of those who responded to the survey:

For more information and to get started, visit 23andMe.com

Madeline Lynch: Madeline Lynch is the Genetics Trends Expert at 23andMe. She serves as a subject matter expert and company spokesperson for media engagements, the analyst community, online communities, and the general public at large. Her responsibilities on the customer care team include providing input on prioritization and resolution of customer-facing issues and working directly with cross-functional teams to influence and support development of new and existing communications materials and messaging from the perspective of the customer. She holds a BA from University of California, Davis.

About Michelle Martinez: Michelle Martinez is a 51-year-old lab assistant from Arlington, Texas. Michelle was inspired to order a 23andMe Health + Ancestry kit to help prepare for any potential genetic health risks, due to several serious health risks running in her family. When she opened her Genetic Weight wellness report, she saw that she is genetically predisposed to weigh less than average. She thought, "I've been denying my genetics and just falling into bad habits. I'm not being my best self." That report, along with the knowledge of lifestyle and environmental factors that affect one's health, inspired Michelle to make better lifestyle decisions like eating healthier. She has since lost more than 50 pounds and gained confidence in being in her own skin. She believes that her weight loss journey is one of patience and acceptance with and of herself -- no matter her size.

About 23andMe: 23andMe, Inc. is the leading consumer genetics and research company. Founded in 2006, the mission of the company is to help people access, understand and benefit from the human genome. The company was named by TIME as a "Genius Company" in 2018 and featured as Fast Company's #2 Most Innovative Health Company in 2018. 23andMe has millions of customers worldwide, with more than 80 percent of customers consented to participate in research. 23andMe, Inc. is located in Sunnyvale, CA. More information is available at http://www.23andMe.com.

About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content, produced by award-winning video communications firm, D S Simon Media (http://www.dssimon.com). It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology.

SOURCE 23andMe

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How Genetic Testing with 23andMe Can Improve Your Health - Yahoo Finance

Genetics

Top geneticist should resign over his teams laboratory fraud – The Guardian

A row over scientific fraud at the highest level of British academia has led to calls for one of the countrys leading geneticists and highest-paid university chiefs to leave his posts.

David Latchman, professor of genetics at University College London and master of Birkbeck, University of London a post that earns him 380,000 a year has angered senior academics by presiding over a laboratory that published fraudulent research, mostly on genetics and heart disease, for more than a decade. The number of fabricated results and the length of time over which the deception took place made the case one of the worst instances of research fraud uncovered in a British university.

Latchman blames junior lab staff for falsifying data, and two investigations at UCL, the first in 2015, found no evidence that he intended to commit, or was aware of, the fraud. A disciplinary hearing in 2018 concluded that there were insufficient grounds for dismissal or for any formal action against him.

But the investigations were deeply critical of Latchman. Both found that his failure to run the lab properly, and his position as author on many of the doctored papers, amounted to recklessness, and upheld an allegation of research misconduct against him.

The outcome of the case has riled a number of senior academics, who believe Latchman has taken responsibility neither for the fraud nor for the waste of grant money that happened on his watch. Many of the fraudulent papers covered projects funded by the British Heart Foundation.

He should be fired by UCL because he was leading a lab that published systematically fraudulent science

Professor John Hardy, a fellow of the Royal Society at UCL, and winner of the $3m Breakthrough prize for his work on Alzheimers, told the Observer he wanted to go public because he was angry about the situation. Some minion carries the can. This is how it is, all the time. The powerful get away with it, he said.

As the senior author, he has to take responsibility, Hardy said. He should be fired from UCL and Birkbeck. He should be fired by UCL because he was leading a lab that published systematically fraudulent science. And at Birkbeck, he sets the tone. He shouldnt be in that position.

Before opening its formal investigations, UCL convened two screening panels to review 60 papers from Latchmans lab dating back to 1997. Fraud had been alleged in all of them by a pseudonymous whistleblower, Clare Francis. One panel, chaired by Hardy, looked at a subset of the papers and found that images had been doctored in eight of them. The panel could only examine fraud where the images had been altered, he said.

In one paper, six images had been flipped or copied and relabelled as new. In a statement retracting the study, one of the authors, Anastasis Stephanou, now at the European University in Cyprus, said he regretted the inappropriate figure manipulations of which the co-authors were completely unaware. Dr Stephanou did not respond to a request for comment.

The second screening panel uncovered six more fraudulent papers. In one, an image of rat tissue appeared to be passed off as human. Another paper contained clear evidence of cloning, where parts of an image are copied and pasted.

The formal investigations that followed upheld allegations of misconduct against Latchman and two other scientists, whose names were redacted from the final reports that UCL released under the Freedom of Information Act last year. One member of Hardys panel was Professor Gudrun Moore, a geneticist at UCL. She said: The outcome of this has shown, at the very least, that he is a very poor leader of a scientific team, and under his leadership, paper after paper was published with incorrect data.

I was surprised that he did not resign. Things go wrong in science all the time but the facts and the data have to be sacred. If we are not telling our young researchers that, what are we telling them? That if you dont get the outcome you want, you can just make it up?

Two senior scientists familiar with the case, who spoke on condition of anonymity, were dismayed at its outcome. One said Latchman should consider standing down a move that would send a clear signal to the scientific community about the seriousness of research fraud. They said scientists around the world had asked what UCL and Birkbeck planned to do about the papers well before 2014, a situation that was very embarrassing.Another said: I expected him to come out and say I am deeply sorry, I behaved inappropriately, and at least admit that he had some responsibility.

In a statement, Birkbeck said the investigations had nothing to do with Professor Latchmans leadership of the college.

Latchman no longer has a lab and has stopped supervising research, but he is still a part-time professor of human genetics at UCL, and master of Birkbeck. To date, six of the papers have been withdrawn and two more corrected. PubPeer, an online forum used by academics, has raised questions over dozens of studies carried out by Latchmans group.

The investigations led the Wellcome Trust to tell Latchman he would need to provide evidence of research-integrity training before applying for personal funding in future. Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, medical director at the British Heart Foundation, said he was extremely concerned by the findings of UCLs investigations, adding that the British Heart Foundation was no longer funding the scientists involved. The charity is reviewing the need for further action.

A spokesman for Latchman said the academic had rejected the misconduct claim at the UCL disciplinary hearing, and that his lab management was not inadequate. The fraud was, he went on, confined to one sub-group of the lab and would have been apparent only to reviewers actively looking for such deception.

There have been many instances of frauds by individual lab workers, but in no cases has this led to the head of the laboratory having to resign, except in an instance where they were directly involved in the fraud themselves, the statement said. Attempts by individual academics at UCL to promote allegations of fraudulent behaviour against the hearings conclusions are unbecoming and a breach of confidentiality and good practice.

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Top geneticist should resign over his teams laboratory fraud - The Guardian

Genetics

OPINION: Jewish or not, this week could save you a lot of heartache – Atlanta Journal Constitution

Monday marks the beginning of the first Jewish Genetic Screening Awareness Week.

And, this being February, there are at least a dozen other awareness efforts just as there were in January and will be come March and the nine months that follow. February is, of course, the month in which we raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, Teen Dating Violence and screen for eating disorders, among a long list of other things.

Now comes Feb. 3-7, the week JScreen hopes will get us to focus on genetic screening and more specifically the need for people here and across the country to take charge of their health and any children they hope to have in the future. To kick things off, the Georgia Legislature is expected to pass a proclamation to highlight the effort midweek.

JScreen, you might recall, is a national nonprofit public health initiative dedicated to preventing Jewish genetic diseases. But the goal is to prevent diseases common in other ethnic groups as well, said Karen Arnovitz Grinzaid, an assistant professor of human genetics at Emory University and JScreens executive director.

The nonprofit, based at Emory University, began in 2010 as a pilot project in Atlanta and has since evolved into a national initiative offering affordable, accessible and comprehensive genetic screening.

RELATED |DeKalb couples personal tragedy becomes crusade for genetic testing

Since its national launch in 2013, Grinzaid said, JScreen has helped thousands, testing people from every state across the country and offering services remotely.

That means once you register for a genetic screen kit atjscreen.org, JScreen will mail the kit to your home. All you have to do is spit in a tube and mail the saliva sample to the lab. A genetic counselor will then report the results either by phone or secure video conference.

For people with health insurance, the cost, regardless of coverage, is $149 and includes the testing and follow-up genetic counseling. The self-pay price is $349.

While the focus is on the Jewish community, screening is encouraged for anyone planning to have a family, Grinzaid said.

JScreen screens for over 200 diseases. For most of these diseases, both parents must carry the same recessive gene in order for their children to be at risk.

So why an awareness week?

Were always trying to raise awareness, but by dedicating a week and calling this out, we can save lives, Grinzaid said. So many people dont hear about genetic screening until they show up pregnant in their doctors office. At that point, if they are a high-risk couple, they dont have as many options to help them plan ahead for a healthy baby. Genetic screening is something people should ideally do before they get pregnant.

Unlike other awareness campaigns, JScreens promises to be very purposeful, focusing each day on a specific theme in hopes that more people will take advantage of screening.

RELATED |A mother and her daughters bare all to help prevent breast cancer

On Monday, organizers will be laser focused on Tay-Sachs, a rare, inherited disorder that destroys nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

On Tuesday, theyll turn their focus to college students. While having a baby may be the farthest thing from any students mind, discounted screenings will be provided at colleges and universities across the country so students will have access to important information they need for future family planning.

BRCA awareness will follow on Wednesday. Ashkenazi Jews are at 10 times greater risk to have a mutation in a BRCA gene, increasing their risk for breast, ovarian, prostate and pancreatic cancer.

Then on Thursday, Jews with Sephardi and Mizrahi ancestry, such as Persians, Syrians and Bukharians, are encouraged to be screened.

Finally on Friday, interfaith couples will be the focus. While there are a number of diseases that are commonly found in people with Jewish background, Grinzaid said these diseases also occur in the general population, making screening important for interfaith couples as well.

Thats not all.

Beyond carrier screening, Grinzaid said that JScreen is running the PEACH BRCA study for people with Jewish background who are at risk for carrying a BRCA mutation based on their ancestry. Knowing ones BRCA status can be life-saving.

Were piloting BRCA testing in metro Atlanta, she said. Participation in the study is free, but you must be at least 25 or older, male or female, and have at least one Jewish grandparent and no personal or close family history of related cancers.

Of the 500 available slots, only 100 are left. People interested in learning more about the PEACH BRCA study can log on here:jscreen.org/brca.

Once the study is complete, JScreen will launch a cancer genetic testing program nationally.

For information about any of these programs or to register for a screening kit,log onto jscreen.org.

Sure, the focus for now is on this week, but you can get screened any time and you should. Genetic testing is just that important.

Find Gracie on Facebook (www.facebook.com/graciestaplesajc/) and Twitter (@GStaples_AJC) or email her at gstaples@ajc.com.

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OPINION: Jewish or not, this week could save you a lot of heartache - Atlanta Journal Constitution

Genetics

EMA Validates Seattle Genetics’ Marketing Authorization Application for Tucatinib for Patients with Locally Advanced or Metastatic HER2-Positive…

Today, we achieved a significant milestone towards our goal of making tucatinib available to patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer, including those with brain metastases, around the world, said Roger Dansey, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at Seattle Genetics. We look forward to working with the EMA throughout the review process. If approved, tucatinib has the potential to be a clinically meaningful advance for patients in this disease setting.

The MAA is based on data from the pivotal HER2CLIMB clinical trial, which compared tucatinib in combination with trastuzumab and capecitabine to trastuzumab and capecitabine alone in patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer. Patients had previously received trastuzumab, pertuzumab and T-DM1 (ado-trastuzumab emtansine). Patients had received a median of four prior lines of therapy overall and three in the metastatic setting. Forty-seven percent of the patients enrolled in the trial had brain metastases at the time of enrollment. Results of the pivotal HER2CLIMB trial were presented during an oral presentation at the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) and simultaneously published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

The New Drug Application (NDA) for tucatinib was submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on December 23, 2019 under the Real-Time Oncology Review Pilot Program. The review of the tucatinib NDA is also being conducted under Project Orbis, an initiative of the FDA Oncology Center of Excellence. Project Orbis provides a framework for concurrent submission and review of oncology drugs among participating international partners. Tucatinib was recently granted Breakthrough Therapy designation by the FDA in combination with trastuzumab and capecitabine, for the treatment of patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer, including patients with brain metastases, who have been treated with trastuzumab, pertuzumab, and T-DM1. This designation was based on data from the HER2CLIMB trial.

About HER2CLIMB

HER2CLIMB is a multinational randomized (2:1), double-blind, placebo-controlled, active comparator, pivotal clinical trial comparing tucatinib in combination with trastuzumab and capecitabine compared with trastuzumab and capecitabine alone in patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer who were previously treated with trastuzumab, pertuzumab and T-DM1. The primary endpoint of the trial was progression-free survival (PFS) per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) v1.1 as determined by blinded independent central review (BICR) in the first 480 patients enrolled in the trial. HER2CLIMB enrolled a total of 612 patients to support the analyses of key secondary endpoints, including overall survival, PFS per BICR in patients with brain metastases at baseline and confirmed objective response rate (ORR). Safety data were evaluated throughout the study.

About HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

Patients with HER2-positive breast cancer have tumors with high levels of a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), which promotes the aggressive spread of cancer cells. An estimated 271,270 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2019.1 Between 15 and 20 percent of breast cancer cases worldwide are HER2-positive.2 Historically, HER2-positive breast cancer tends to be more aggressive and more likely to recur than HER2-negative breast cancer.2, 3, 4 In patients with metastatic breast cancer, the most common site of first metastasis is in bone, followed by lung, brain, and liver.5, 6 Up to 50 percent of metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer patients develop brain metastases over time.2, 7 Despite recent treatment advances, there is still a significant need for new therapies that can impact metastatic disease, especially brain metastases. There are currently no approved therapies demonstrating progression-free survival or overall survival benefit for the treatment of patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer after progression on T-DM1.8, 9, 10

About Tucatinib

Tucatinib is an investigational, orally bioavailable, potent tyrosine kinase inhibitor that is highly selective for HER2 without significant inhibition of EGFR. Inhibition of EGFR has been associated with significant toxicities, including skin rash and diarrhea. Tucatinib has shown activity as a single agent and in combination with both chemotherapy and other HER2 targeted agents such as trastuzumab.1,2 Studies of tucatinib in these combinations have shown activity both systemically and in brain metastases. HER2 is a growth factor receptor that is overexpressed in multiple cancers, including breast, colorectal and gastric cancers. HER2 mediates cell growth, differentiation and survival. Tucatinib has been granted orphan drug designation by the FDA for the treatment of breast cancer patients with brain metastases.

In addition to HER2CLIMB, tucatinib is being evaluated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center phase 3 trial of tucatinib in combination with T-DM1 compared to T-DM1 alone, in patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer, including those with brain metastases, who have had prior treatment with a taxane and trastuzumab. The primary endpoint is PFS per RECIST criteria. Secondary endpoints include overall survival, objective response rate and duration of response. This global trial is expected to enroll approximately 460 patients. More information about the phase 3 trial, including enrolling centers, is available at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Tucatinib is also being evaluated in a multi-center, open-label, single-arm phase 2 clinical trial known as MOUNTAINEER, which is evaluating tucatinib in combination with trastuzumab in patients with HER2-positive, RAS wildtype metastatic or unresectable colorectal cancer. The primary endpoint of the trial is ORR by RECIST criteria. PFS, duration of response, overall survival and safety and tolerability of the combination regimen are secondary objectives. Results for 26 patients were evaluated in an analysis and presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2019 Congress. Enrollment is ongoing. More information about the MOUNTAINEER trial, including enrolling centers, is available at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov.

About Seattle Genetics

Seattle Genetics, Inc. is a global biotechnology company that discovers, develops and commercializes transformative medicines targeting cancer to make a meaningful difference in peoples lives. ADCETRIS (brentuximab vedotin) and PADCEVTM (enfortumab vedotin-ejfv) use the companys industry-leading antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology. ADCETRIS is approved in certain CD30-expressing lymphomas, and PADCEV is approved in certain metastatic urothelial cancers. In addition, investigational agent tucatinib, a small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is in late-stage development for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, and in clinical development for metastatic colorectal cancer. The company is headquartered in Bothell, Washington, and has offices in California, Switzerland and the European Union. For more information on our robust pipeline, visit http://www.seattlegenetics.com and follow @SeattleGenetics on Twitter.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain of the statements made in this press release are forward looking, such as those, among others, relating to the therapeutic potential of tucatinib, including its possible efficacy, safety and therapeutic uses; anticipated development activities including ongoing and future clinical trials; and the potential to obtain regulatory approvals of tucatinib in the United States, the European Union and in countries participating in Project Orbis. Actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected or implied in these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such a difference include the difficulty and uncertainty of pharmaceutical product development, the risk of adverse events or safety signals, the possibility of disappointing results in ongoing or future clinical trials despite earlier promising clinical results, the possibility that data from the HER2CLIMB trial may not be sufficient to support approval of tucatinib in the United States, the European Union or in other countries participating in Project Orbis or that other adverse regulatory actions could occur. More information about the risks and uncertainties faced by Seattle Genetics is contained under the caption Risk Factors included in the companys Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Seattle Genetics disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

References:

1. American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts and Figures 2018-2019.

2. Loibl S, Gianni L (2017). HER2-positive breast cancer. The Lancet 389(10087): 2415-29.

3. Slamon D, Clark G, Wong S, et al. (1987). Human breast cancer: correlation of relapse and survival with amplification of the HER-2/neu oncogene. Science 235(4785): 177-82.

4. American Cancer Society (ACS) (2018). Breast cancer HER2 status. Accessed: December 10, 2018.

5. Kennecke H, Yerushalmi R, Woods R, et al. (2010). Metastatic Behavior of Breast Cancer Subtypes. Journal of Clinical Oncology 28(20): 3271-7.

6. Berman AT, Thukral AD, Hwang W-T, et al. (2013). Incidence and Patterns of Distant Metastases for Patients With Early-Stage Breast Cancer After Breast Conservation Treatment. Clinical Breast Cancer 13(2): 88-94.

7. Duchnowska R, Loibl S, Jassem J (2018). Tyrosine kinase inhibitors for brain metastases in HER2-positive breast cancer. Cancer Treatment Reviews 67: 71-7.

8. Verma S, Miles D, Gianni L, et al. (2012). Trastuzumab Emtansine for HER2-Positive Advanced Breast Cancer. New England Journal of Medicine 367(19): 1783-91.

9. Geyer CE, Forster J, Lindquist D, et al. (2006). Lapatinib plus Capecitabine for HER2-Positive Advanced Breast Cancer. New England Journal of Medicine 355(26): 2733-43.

10. Blackwell KL, Burstein HJ, Storniolo AM, et al. (2012). Overall Survival Benefit With Lapatinib in Combination With Trastuzumab for Patients With Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer: Final Results From the EGF104900 Study. Journal of Clinical Oncology 30(21): 2585-92.

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EMA Validates Seattle Genetics' Marketing Authorization Application for Tucatinib for Patients with Locally Advanced or Metastatic HER2-Positive...

Anatomy

Greys Anatomy season 16 episode 11 preview: The father of Amelias baby is – Culturess

After years of facing hardship and heartbreak on Greys Anatomy(and before that,Private Practice), Amelia finally found hope in the form of a surprise pregnancy.

Even though fans hoped the situation would progress without complications its hard not to love Link, after all if youve watchedGreys for a while, you know smooth sailing always takes a back seat to drama.

So far, Amelias pregnancy seems to be going smoothly unless you count the fact that Link might not be the father. Even worse still, Owen might hold that title instead.

The good news is, Amelia doesnt seem to have any desire to drag this drama out the same way she thankfully didnt wait to tell Link about the baby in the first place. In this weeks upcoming episode, it appears shes actually going to speak up.

At least, thats what the brief preview leads us to believe. Watch it below:

She doesnt say he definitely isnt the father because at this point, even she isnt sure. She says he might not be. Which technically means he still could be. Which means the entire fandoms worries and subtle threats to quit the show if Owen turns out to be the father are going exactly according to the showrunners plan.

There is still a chance Link really is the father after all, and this is just a curveball thats supposed to add more romantic drama to the season.

Will the episode even the season end up with Teddy and Owen getting their happily ever after, while Amelia and Link commit to each other for good for real? Maybe not.Greys never keeps even fan-favorite couples truly happy for long.

But there are still months worth of episodes to finish out what may or may not be the final season. Anything could happen. A major pregnancy complication could arise. Something could happen to Link. Owen could completely fail as a partner (again). Teddy could cheat on Owen with Tom (fingers crossed this doesnt happen, but it could).

One things for sure (judging by YouTube comments alone): Fans do not want Owen to be the father. The Owen/Teddy/Amelia love triangle (is it a love square if you include Tom?) isnt juicy and exciting anymore. Its gone on a little too long. Which means this is the season it might finally resolve, in some way or another, for good.

Creating drama inside and outside the show in this regard is hardly accidental, of course. They could have easily kept Amelia and Link on their own happy-parents-to-be island for the rest of the season without this hiccup. But anything for the drama, right?

Judging by the fight Owen and Teddy are probably about to have, its likely safe to assume there arent going to be many happy couples left by the time this weeks episode airs its final moments.

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Greys Anatomy season 16 episode 11 preview: The father of Amelias baby is - Culturess

Biochemistry

Plant and animal cells have same sense of direction – Mirage News

An ancient protein that is involved in cell division and is crucial to growth, development, and even the prevention of cancer turns out to be almost identical in plants and animals. This has been discovered by WUR biochemists together with colleagues in Cambridge. Their findings will be published in the leading journal Cell on 30 January.

Cells of common liverwort (Marchantia polymorphade). The soseki protein which tells the cell things like which way is up and which way is down, is found in the corner of the cells. Dolf Weijers.

For normal cell division, the cell needs to know where its top, bottom, front, back, inside and outside is in relation to the other cells around it. This is crucial to the growth and development of a plant or animal, says Dolf Weijers, chair at Biochemistry. Otherwise a plant wont grow any leaves, or an embryo wont develop. And uncontrolled cell division leads to cancer.

Mystery

Relatively, quite a lot is known about the development of this sense of direction called cell polarity in animal cells. But in the case of plants, it has long been shrouded in mystery. Weijers is working on solving that mystery. He had a major breakthrough last year when he and his group discovered a new set of proteins that tell the cell what the poles of the compass are. They called them soseki or compass proteins. Soseki is Japanese for cornerstone, appropriate as the proteins are found in the corners of the cells.

Our research shows that the biochemical basis for directing cell polarity in plants and animals is the same

At leasr 450 milion years old

We used to think cell polarity was organized differently in animals and plants, says Weijers. Meanwhile, we have discovered that all land plants, even the oldest liverworts, use the same system with compass proteins. That makes it at least 50 million years old! Even more importantly, the researchers discovered that the compass proteins in plants look and behave very like a compass protein in fruit flies and humans.

They swapped around parts of the plant and animal proteins, and what happened? The proteins worked fine. Multicellularity evolved in plants and animals independently of each other, says Weijers. But it turns out there are many similarities. Our research shows that the biochemical basis for directing cell polarity in plants and animals is the same. The origin of this process can be traced back to the last common ancestor of both plants and animals. So it has not come into existence several times during the course of evolution, as we used to believe.

Cancer research

This has important implications, says Weijers. Studies on polarity in plants and animals used to be two separate worlds, but turn out to have a common denominator. This fundamental knowledge opens up new possibilities. We always assumed that this system was unique to animal cells, but now we know that one of the proteins that plays a role in the development of cancer has a function in plants as well. That means we might be able to study certain aspects of the development of cancer, or medicines against it, in plants. But we are not that far yet.

Follow-up

At the beginning of 2019, Weijers bagged an Advanced Grant worth 2-5 million euros from the European Research Council (ERC). He and his team are using that money to gain a fuller understanding of the way the plant compass works. We know that the proteins can steer the direction in which the cell divides. Now we want to study how it all fits together. We dont know, for example, what kind of signal is given off through the compass protein, and how exactly that translates into cell division. That is a big adventure because it is largely unexplored territory. TL

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Plant and animal cells have same sense of direction - Mirage News

Biochemistry

UVA Honors Its Leading Researchers at Boar’s Head Banquet – University of Virginia

The University of Virginias top leaders gathered Wednesday evening at the Boars Head Resort to honor faculty members from across Grounds for their outstanding contributions to their fields of study and societal impact through their research and scholarly activities.

University of Virginia President Jim Ryan presented the 2019 Research Achievement Awards to 13 UVA faculty members at the dinner event.

This is the first year of the Research Achievement Awards, Vice President for Research Melur Ram Ramasubramanian said. We believe that as a university, we are what we celebrate. We want to acknowledge the talented UVA faculty who are leaders in their fields and are impacting the world in positive ways.

Provost Elizabeth Liz Magill said, Were delighted to have a chance to celebrate the accomplishments and achievements of our faculty. From education policy to precision medicine to police-community relations, there are many different fields and individuals being honored by these awards.

Im awed and immensely grateful for the contributions the award winners have made to their respective fields and to the University of Virginia, Ryan said. Our strategic plan focuses a good deal of attention on supporting research. ... Our ultimate goal is to make it possible for researchers at UVA to do their very best work.

The awards covered excellence in research, collaboration, mentorship, public impact and innovation.

Pompano arrived at UVA in 2014 and assembled a robust research team in her lab. Pursuing new technologies and new questions, she is developing new approaches to study immunity. In the areas of immunoanalysis and immunoenineering, she is working to map out cellular activity in live tissues. Her group was recently awarded a large grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop an artificial lymph node on a microfluidic chip.

Dr. Pompano chose the road less travelled by pursuing entirely new technologies and questions, rather than the safer route of building on the experiences from her Ph.D. or postdoc work, Jill Venton, chair of the Department of Chemistry, said. This strategy required spending the first 2.5 years of her professorship laying new groundwork. Dr. Pompano is a research leader in the fields of analytical chemistry and immunoengineering.

Bassoks work is in early childhood education, and her focus has been to find a way for it to both meet high standards and make a difference in the lives of young children. To do this, she has partnered with policymakers and school districts in Virginia and Louisiana to study how early childhood education opportunities can happen at scale.

In the past four years, her work has accelerated. She has published 16 articles and received more than $6 million in grant funding. In 2017, Bassok was honored with the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers.

Daphna Bassok has raised the bar for the field and will motivate other scholars to do more insightful and rigorous work, said Katherine Magnuson, director of UVAs Institute for Research on Poverty.

Alhusens research focuses on improving maternal and early infant health outcomes for disabled women and women living in poverty. Her research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Health Resources and Services Administration and numerous foundations, and the goal of her work is to provide higher quality care to vulnerable populations.

She has received numerous awards for her work, including the Southern Nursing Research Society Early Science Investigator Award; the Association of Womens Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses Award for Excellence in Research; and School of Nursings Faculty Research Mentor Award.

Walsh is Lockhart B. McGuire Professor of Internal Medicine and directs the School of Medicines Hematovascular Biology Center. His research is focused on clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential, or CHIP.

In his lab, he is looking at how mutations in blood cells lead to chronic diseases like heart attack and stroke. Through precision medicine, he is identifying and combatting the out-of-control multiplying process in these mutations to fight age-related diseases, as well as blood cancers like leukemia.

Walsh has published more than 350 scientific articles and he is the recipient of multiple research grants from the National Institutes of Health, including a MERIT Award. In 2011, the American Heart Association designated him a Distinguished Scientist by for his contributions to cardiovascular research.

Throughout his career, Scullys research, scholarship and teaching have focused on the science of how corrosion occurs and the engineering required to prevent it. He has conducted research and collaborated with scientists around the world in numerous industries such as energy, transportation, infrastructure, aerospace, maritime and microelectronics.

His projects include two U.S. Department of Energy Energy Frontier Research centers, two Department of Defense multi-university research initiatives, as well as grants from the National Science Foundation, PPG Industries and Axalta (formerly DuPont), and the U.S. Office of the Undersecretary of Defense.

Scully, the Charles Henderson Chaired Professor and chair of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, also co-directs the Center for Electrochemical Science and Engineering, one of the leading centers in the world focusing on materials degradation. The center has generated more than $30 million in research funding in the last 10 years and graduates on average four to five Ph.D. students per year.

Scully is technical editor in chief of CORROSION, The Journal of Science and Engineering, the premier international research journal for the field. He serves in several capacities as an ambassador for the materials-corrosion field, including several meetings to debrief the U.S. Congress on materials degradation issues of national importance.

John Scullys contributions to corrosion can be characterized by quality, quantity and longevity, said Gerald S. Frankel, Ohio State University distinguished professor in materials science and engineering and a member of CORROSIONs editorial board. It is clear that he is a world leader, if not the world leader, in metal passivity, passivity breakdown and localized corrosion, and stress corrosion cracking.

In more his more than 20 years at UVA, Lambert has advanced the science of risk analysis and systems engineering. He has led more than 60 projects related to advanced logistics systems for a total of approximately $25 million in research funding.

Lambert, a professor in the Department of Engineering Systems and Environment, has focused on the disruption of system priorities by emergent and future conditions, including technologies, regulations, markets, environments, behaviors and missions. His work has been applied to disaster resilience, energy infrastructure, coastal protection, economic development, transportation, biofuels and Olympics planning, among other challenges.

His research has been cited more than 5,000 times across more than 200 publications. In 2019, he chaired the Fifth World Congress on Risk, convening more than 300 scientists in Cape Town, South Africa.

Professor Lambert is among the most accomplished and respected scientists of systems engineering and risk analysis in the world today, said Igor Linkov, Risk and Decision Science Team Lead for the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center. Lambert in his research invented the application of scenario-based preferences in risk analysis.

Connelly, Morris and Grossman worked together on a multi-disciplinary project to examine how early life experiences affect the brain and social behaviors. The team studies the brain, as well as social and cognitive development, during the first two years of life, focusing on oxytocin and its role in social behavior. Their research has helped to illuminate gaps in our knowledge about behavioral development in humans, and helps us better understand healthy and atypical development.

They received a National Science Foundation Research Award in 2017 for their cutting-edge approach in combining epigenetic, neuroscience and behavioral methods across their three labs, and their work has led to several publications.

Moore is a busy physician-scientist with his own lab, and has recently become the division chief of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, & Nutrition at UVA. He also co-wrote the application for a Trans-University Microbiome Initiative grant, which was funded last year by the Universitys Strategic Investment Fund in an effort to make UVA a center for microbiome research. But that has not stopped him from repeatedly aiding his colleagues and providing them with key resources when they needed them.

Three colleagues joined forces to nominate Moore for the mentorship award, mentioning his critical support, his generous sponsorship and advice, and his guidance as they dealt with grant applications and the logistics of their first accepted grants. Moore went above and beyond, donating lab space and reaching out to his networks to help them make the connections and give them a leg up in their careers.

Williams only arrived at Batten two years ago, but after the violent Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville in August 2017 he was able to immediately show the value of his research and public service engagement to the University community.

Starting before he came to the University, he has spent two decades doing research in the field on police-community relations around racial profiling, community policing and the need for law enforcement officers to work with their community on issues of public safety. In all his work, he strives to make an impact on communities by building relationships and tackling problems wherever they crop up.

Dr. Williams consistently uses his knowledge, experience and passion for the good of our city, Mindy Goodall, executive director of the Charlottesville Police Foundation, said. Charlottesville is fortunate to have gained him as a citizen and champion of police and community reconciliation.

The award for Innovator of the Year was presented to Dillingham and Ingersoll for their creation of PositiveLinks, an application designed to improve health outcomes and care for people living with HIV. They will give deliver a keynote lecture Feb. 18 in the Rotunda Dome Room.

Other researchers (in alphabetical order by school) were honored for being the top 25 in sponsored funding, top cited, national award winners, named to a national academy, or named as an outstanding researcher for their school:

Timothy Beatley, PlanningBarbara Brown Wilson, PlanningMona El Khafif, Urban & Environmental Planning

Jessica Connelly, PsychologyRita F. Dove, EnglishKevin Everson, ArtTobias Grossman, PsychologyL. Ilse Cleeves, AstronomyNitya Kallivayalil, AstronomyLee M. Lockwood, EconomicsJames P. Morris, PsychologyKen Ono, MathematicsRebecca R. Pompano, ChemistryMarilyne Stains, ChemistryAlan S. Taylor, History

Christopher Barrett, Director

David G. Mick, Marketing

Derrick P. Alridge, Leadership, Foundations and PolicyDaphna Bassok, Leadership, Foundations and PolicyRobert Q. Berry, Instruction and Special EducationCatherine Bradshaw, Human ServicesBenjamin L. Castleman, Leadership, Foundations and PolicyNancy L. Deutsch, Youth-NexJason Downer, Human ServicesSara E. Rimm-Kaufman, Leadership, Foundations and PolicyWilliam J. Therrien, Instruction and Special EducationArt Weltman, KinesiologyJoanna Lee Williams, Leadership, Foundations and PolicyAmada P. Williford, Human Services

Thomas H. Barker, Biomedical EngineeringHilary Bart-Smith, Mechanical and Aerospace EngineeringCraig H. Benson, Environmental EngineeringSteven M. Bowers, Electrical and Computer EngineeringJames T. Burns, Material ScienceBenton H. Calhoun, Electrical and Computer EngineeringJoe C. Campbell, Electrical and Computer EngineeringGeorge J. Christ, Biomedical EngineeringJason L. Forman, Center for Applied BiomechanicsJeffery W. Holmes, Biomedical EngineeringPatrick E. Hopkins, Mechanical and Aerospace EngineeringKevin A. Janes, Biomedical EngineeringJames H. Lambert, Systems and EnvironmentXiaodong (Chris) Li, Mechanical and Aerospace EngineeringPamela M. Norris, Mechanical and Aerospace EngineeringElizabeth J. Opila, Material ScienceMatthew B. Panzer, Mechanical and Aerospace EngineeringJohn R. Scully, Material ScienceKevin Skadron, Computer ScienceMary Lou Soffa, Computer ScienceJohn A. Stankovic, Computer ScienceMalathi Veeraraghavan, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Brian N. Williams, Public PolicyJay Shimshack, Research Dean

Jayakrishna Ambati, OphthalmologyRuth Bernheim, Public Health SciencesAlison K. Criss, Microbiology /GIDIRebecca Dillingham, Infectious DiseasesLinda R. Duska, Obstetrics/Gynecology OncologyAnindya Dutta, Biochemistry/Molecular GeneticsW. Jeff Elias, NeurosurgeryEdward H. Egelman, Biochemistry/Molecular GeneticsRobin A. Felder, Clinical PathologyEric R. Houpt, Infectious DiseasesKaren Ingersoll, Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral SciencesKaren C. Johnston, NeurologyJaideep Kapur, NeurologyAnne K. Kenworthy, Molecular Physics and BiophysicsJonathan Kipnis, NeuroscienceRobert C. Klesges, Public Health SciencesBoris P. Kovatchev, Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral SciencesThomas P. Loughran, Oncology and MedicineColeen A. McNamara, Internal and Cardiovascular MedicineWladek Minor, Molecular Physics and BiophysicsSean R. Moore, PediatricsJames P. Nataro, PediatricsImre Noth, Internal and Pulmonary MedicineMark D. Okusa, NephrologyGary K. Owens, Cardiovascular Research, Molecular Physiology and Biological PhysicsKevin A. Pelphrey, NeurologyWilliam A. Petri, Internal Medicine and Infectious DiseasesKodi S. Ravichandran, MicrobiologyPatricio E. Ray, PediatricsStephen S. Rich, Public Health SciencesLukas K. Tamm, Molecular Physics and BiophysicsGregory C. Townsend, Internal Medicine and Infectious DiseasesKenneth Walsh, Internal and Cardiovascular MedicineKatharine Hsu Wibberly, Public Health SciencesMichael C. Wiener, Molecular Physics and BiophysicsMark Yeager, Molecular Physics and BiophysicsJames C. Zimring, Pathology

Jeanne L. Alhusen, Nursing

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UVA Honors Its Leading Researchers at Boar's Head Banquet - University of Virginia

Biochemistry

2020 Emerging Scholars: Dr. Cathy Wong – Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

January 30, 2020 | :

As Dr. Cathy Wong tells it, she stumbled into her career in academia after she walked into a lab and saw how colorful the lasers were.

I thought this could be really fun, says Wong, who uses lasers to study how material interacts with light and solar cells. Her research, which uses physical chemistry to research material synthesis, has longstanding implications, including responding to the worlds energy crisis.

Dr. Cathy Wong

As an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Oregon, Wong spends much of her time helping undergraduate juniors and seniors as well as graduate students develop passion for scientific research.

I kind of always knew I wanted teaching to be part of my work, says Wong, who earned her bachelors degree in biological chemistry from McMaster University in Toronto and her Ph.D. in 2011 from the University of Toronto. She later completed a postdoctoral degree from the University of California, Berkeley.

Having grown up in Toronto where ethnic differences are often celebrated, embracing diversity has been a hallmark of Wongs career. Unlike her hometown, the city of Eugene, where the University of Oregon is situated, is less racially diverse, meaning that Wong who hopes to come up for tenure in a little less than two years has made it her priority to help students develop a sense of belonging and connection to the university.

In the classroom, Wongs work largely focuses on helping design physical chemistry labs and teaching students how to build microscopes and write lab reports skills she says will prove useful in their future careers.

Though she works with science majors, she teaches a section of physical chemistry that requires heavy math skills that often create anxiety among her students.

Some are apprehensive, she says. I reassure them, you can do it even if it is complicated and overwhelming.

Clarity, Wong says, is essential to teaching in the sciences.

My philosophy of teaching and communication about science in general is not just to sound smart but to be as clear as possible, even if that means simplifying sometimes, she says. This way you bring everyone along and everyone can be engaged.

In this regard, Wong has been lauded for her teaching and research. Last year, she was named the recipient of a Career Award by the National Science Foundation. These awards are given to support early career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization.

Those who know her say that Wong has been a leader in working tirelessly to increase the diversity of the graduate student population within a state that is itself not racially diverse.

Wong currently serves as the faculty sponsor for a student group, Community for Minorities in STEM (CMiS), that aims to retain students in racial minority groups. This group organizes social and professional development activities that aim to foster community among underrepresented graduate students, battle imposter syndrome and improve retention rates.

Wong also founded a program called Peer Recruitment In Science & Math (PRISM) that enables underrepresented graduate students to give research seminars at colleges that serve a large percentage of minority students.

By giving the undergraduate students an example of a near-peer who has succeeded in graduate school, the program aims to inspire more underrepresented minority undergraduates to pursue graduate studies, says Dr. Naomi Ginsberg, an associate professor of chemistry at the UC Berkeley and one of Wongs career mentors. The program has been highly effective in increasing the number of applicants to the graduate program at UO from underrepresented groups.

Wong says that she has enjoyed her time in the classroom and that her understanding of the academy has evolved over time.

When I started out, I had no idea how universities really worked, she says with a laugh. Now that Ive been here, I see that there are great opportunities to have a voice and help to effect change.

Dr. Cathy Wong

Title: Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Oregon

Education: Bachelors degree, McMaster University, Biological Chemistry; Ph.D., University of Toronto, Physical Chemistry

Age: 38

Career mentors: Dr. Greg Scholes, University of Toronto; Dr. Naomi Ginsberg, UC Berkeley

Words of wisdom/advice for new faculty members: Youre going to be asked to do a lot of things and its important to say no to some and reserve the time for those things that you really care about and that matters most to you and your department. Also, seek out career mentors who can help guide you along the way.

This article appeared in the January 23, 2020 edition of Diverse.

This is one in a series of profiles about this years 2020 Emerging Scholars. Read about all of them here.

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2020 Emerging Scholars: Dr. Cathy Wong - Diverse: Issues in Higher Education