Updates

Areas of Research Cancer Genetics and Genomics

The Cancer Genetics and Genomics Program at Texas Children’s Hospital is focused on providing clinical services and conducting research related to pediatric cancer.

Our goal is to develop novel strategies for understanding, diagnosing, treating, and preventing cancer. These research activities include, but are not limited to:

  • Understanding genetic susceptibility to cancer and fundamental mechanisms of genomic instability
  • Identifying biologically and clinically-relevant genetic alterations driving childhood tumors
  • Determining best practices for clinical implementation of genome-scale testing
  • Developing novel therapeutics and biomarkers that are based on an understanding of genetic alterations in childhood cancers

The cancer genetics and genomics research laboratories occupy over 5,500 square feet of state-of-the-art laboratory space. The recently renovated areas are well equipped for research in genetics, genomics, and cellular and molecular biology.

Mission


Patient Care. To provide state-of-the-art evaluation of and management for children and their families with hereditary predisposition to cancer

Research. To investigate genetic susceptibility to cancer and fundamental mechanisms of genomic instability, biologically and clinically-relevant genetic alterations driving childhood tumors, and the clinical implementation of genome-scale testing

Education. To train future clinicians and scientists at all educational stages in cancer genetics and genomics

Center for Precision Oncology. Aiming to discover the genetic make-up of each child’s tumor

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Program Highlights


Leadership in the Incorporation of Genetic Testing in Pediatric Oncology Clinical Practice

The Co-Directors of the Cancer Genetics & Genomics Program are leading large, federally-funded clinical trials to investigate the application and utility of multiple types of genomic tests in the care of childhood cancer patients.

Highlights of Recent Products of Cancer Genetics and Genomics Program Research

As leaders in the use of genetic testing in pediatric oncology the Cancer Genetics and Genomics program frequently develops innovative clinical tools and use findings to inform clinical best practices.

In addition to clinicians the program also has world class basic and translational researchers who generate high impact publications and  develop novel diagnostic/therapeutic products.

Dream Team

Texas Children’s Cancer Center is part of a Dream Team of childhood cancer researchers that will focus on melding the fields of genomics and immunotherapy to advance treatment for pediatric cancer.

The SU2C-St. Baldrick’s Pediatric Dream Team Translational Cancer Research Project will provide a total of $14.5 million over four years, including $3.3 million to BCM.

The Dream Team will work collaboratively to perform new analyses on childhood cancer genomes as well as normal childhood tissues to determine which molecules are on the surface of cancer cells but not normal cells. They will then create new immunotherapeutic drugs and approaches based on these discoveries.

The team will also develop a clinical trials consortium to test the new immunotherapeutic in children.

Parsons will head the genomics arm of the project and Dr. Nabil Ahmed will lead the immunotherapy side at the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy. Other dream team members include Drs. Malcolm Brenner, Christopher Man, David Wheeler, Dolores López-Terrada, Ricardo Flores, Angshumoy Roy, Matthew Baker, and Meenakshi Hegde.

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Patient Care. To provide state-of-the-art evaluation of and management for children and their families with hereditary predisposition to cancer

Research. To investigate genetic susceptibility to cancer and fundamental mechanisms of genomic instability, biologically and clinically-relevant genetic alterations driving childhood tumors, and the clinical implementation of genome-scale testing

Education. To train future clinicians and scientists at all educational stages in cancer genetics and genomics

Center for Precision Oncology. Aiming to discover the genetic make-up of each child’s tumor

LEARN MORE

Our Researchers


Ranked #4 in Cancer

Proud to be ranked one of the best children’s cancer centers in the country by U.S. News & World Report for eight consecutive years.