TGen announces melanoma alliance, bioterror breakthrough

Within two days, TGen announced a new collaboration with local partners to tackle the most serious form of skin cancer, melanoma, and an outcome of another statewide alliance--the complete DNA sequencing of the Arizona plague.

More than 30 investigators and clinicians met on June 30 to draft a strategic plan for collaborative melanoma research among the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, Arizona State University, and the University of Arizona. The effort will also involve Mayo's cancer centers in Rochester, Minn., and Jacksonville, Fla.

"With the wealth of expertise available in Arizona, we can expect to make significant strides in expanding our understanding of melanoma," said Jeffrey Trent, TGen's president and scientific director. Victor F. Trastek, chairman of the Mayo Clinic Scottsdale's governing board, told the Arizona Republic that the multi-institutional teamwork has been impressive. "As a physician, I've never seen anything like it," he said.

The four institutions expect to work collaboratively on additional topics in the future.

A day later, TGen announced the complete DNA sequencing of the Arizona plague--TGen's first major scientific finding since being established a year ago. The achievement also marks the first whole-genome sequencing determination from a free-living organism in the state of Arizona.

The genome was sequenced through a partnership among TGen, Northern Arizona University, and ASU. The feat will provide another tool for scientists to use in identifying the intentional release of the potentially lethal bacteria. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified plague as one of the top biological threat agents for bioterrorism.

Research was led by Dr. Paul Keim, NAU professor and chair of microbiology, and director of TGen's Pathogen Genomics Division; and by Dr. Jeff Touchman, an ASU assistant biology professor and director of the TGen DNA Sequencing Center.

The team believes the accomplishment will lead to important insights into plague, which continues to be prevalent in the southwestern United States, especially in Arizona and New Mexico, mostly in natural animal populations.

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For more information:

"Melanoma project gets start in Scottsdale," Arizona Republic, 7/1/03

"More than 30 researchers meet at Mayo Clinic," East Valley Tribune, 7/2/03 

"Arizona plague's DNA is mapped," Arizona Republic, 7/2/03