The Genomics Institute at UCSC is world-renowned for a number of reasons, boasting various accolades and groundbreaking research projects. One of its most popular ventures, The Human Genomics Project, was the first of its kind and revolutionized humanity's understanding of its complex and entirely unique genetic sequencing. The first draft of the entire human genome was created in 2000 at UCSC by researcher Jim Kent. Since then, thousands of researchers from every part of the globe have contributed to the project. The finished product—a complete and painstakingly accurate human genome sequence spanning every chromosome—can be accessed through the UCSC Genome Browser as of 2022. It stands as a testament to the power of collective knowledge and continues to pave the way for other genomics projects to rise to similar stature.

Within this vein of carving pathways, the Genomics Institute is charting new territory in funding multidisciplinary research projects at UCSC. Looking outside of strictly genomics-based fields of inquiry, the Institute is committed to funding projects rooted in equity, science literacy, global and community health, disease learning, conservation, and platform development. This commitment inspires hope for a future where genomics research is not only groundbreaking but also beneficial for the wider community. Under this broad umbrella, six research projects have been awarded up to $50,000 within the science and engineering departments, supporting "high-risk" ideas with the funding necessary to achieve their visions.

Referred to as the "seed funding program," this initiative has the potential to significantly impact the future of genomics research. This program is a brand-new opportunity with the Genomics Institute and will encourage researchers to seek collaborations across divisional and departmental boundaries. In this sense, the seed program will carve new, ambitious research pathways within the field of genomics and beyond, creating an intricate map of knowledge that can potentially shape our future.

Development of Tools for the Study of the Epigenome and its Response to Environmental Cues

Professors Raquel Chamorro-Garcia, Carlos Diaz-Castillo, and Upasna Sharma plan to investigate how our predispositions to disease have been passed down from our ancestors and will be inherited by future generations. They aim to study which aspects of somatic and germ cells contribute to inherited diseases by analyzing epigenomic data. This project spans two divisions: Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology and Molecular, Cell, and Developmental (MCD) Biology.

Identifying Structural Variants Associated with High-Temperature Tolerance for Giants of the Coast

Professors Malin Pinsky, Karen Miga, and Benedict Paten will examine genomic variants in kelp that have become more resistant to climate change. While climate change threatens the health of kelp, kelp conservation would help keep important and flourishing ecosystems intact. This project seeks to apply kelp conservation efforts across a wide array of species and regions to promote ocean resilience amidst rising temperatures. The professors in this research project hail from the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Biomolecular Engineering divisions at UCSC.

The "Druggable RNA Atlas"

Professors Jeremy Sanford and Michael Stone hope to compile a "Druggable RNA Atlas" to expand research on rare genetic disorders and pose pharmaceutical treatments. Issues in the process of RNA splicing often lead to the manifestation of genetic disorders, and in compiling a guide to navigate genetic variants, Sanford and Stone will expand research on targeting and treating such irregularities. This project occurs at the intersection of the MCD Biology, Chemistry, and Biochemistry divisions at UCSC.

How Introns Change the Function of the Human Genome

Professors Ali Shariati, Russell Corbett-Detig, and Manuel Ares will build upon previous genomics research to seek to understand the enigmatic intron. During RNA splicing, introns are usually removed from the sequence to create proteins. Although they are excluded from the translation process, they still play an important role in genomic diversity. This project will look deeper into how introns added to the human genome will impact one's molecular and somatic wellness. Shariati, Corbett-Detig, and Ares hope their research will have broader implications in the fields of synthetic biology and disease alleviation. These professors are affiliated with UCSC's Biomolecular Engineering and MCD Biology divisions.

Using Single-Cell Transcriptomics to Elucidate the Role of Post-Viral Lung Disease in Promoting Metastasis

Photo By; The National Cancer Institute (Unsplash)

MCD Biology Professors Shaheen Sikandar and David Boyd and researchers Jing Zhu and Mary Goldman will analyze how metastasis develops in the tissues of people previously infected by illness. Metastasis refers to the way in which cancer spreads throughout the body, usually through the bloodstream or lymphatic system, and creates new tumors. With new evidence suggesting that metastasis occurs more often in previously infected tissue, this project seeks to examine how respiratory infections caused by influenza and COVID-19 impact metastasis in the lungs. This project would serve as a giant step toward cancer prevention efforts and ways to keep tumors from turning malignant.

Molecular Classification of Osteosarcoma Using Artificial Intelligence

Lastly, professors Yuyin Zhou and Olena Vaske also strive to further cancer research with their project. Their research focuses on osteosarcoma, an aggressive type of bone cancer, and how AI technology can be leveraged to classify the three subtypes of this disease. Zhou and Vaske identify current gaps in knowledge, considering this disease is incredibly rare, and hope to fill in the blanks with innovative AI techniques. These techniques could then be mapped onto other rare diseases to expand the understanding of similar conditions and potentially lead to improved diagnosis and treatment options. This project bridges the MCD Biology and Computer Science divisions at UCSC.

UCSC Genomics Institute "Seed" Funds 6 Projects