Genomic Medicine: Frontier of Human Health

A talk and public discussion by Dr. Michael Slifer
Friday, August 1st at 8:00 p.m. in the Museum Space Gallery

Most human diseases are the result of complex interactions between genes and the environment. In the past, genetic research has focused primarily on rare diseases caused by single gene mutations. However, common disorders such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and Alzheimer disease all have genetic bases, and recent research in this area is leading to a better understanding of the biological processes and environmental risk factors underlying these diseases. Emerging genomic technologies and approaches promise, for the first time, to provide the means to prevent disease on an individual basis. The ‘personalized medicine’ healthcare model targets those interventions that are most relevant to each individual’s risk for developing devastating diseases and disorders. However, along with the benefits of improved health comes the fear of how genetic information might be used. Michael Slifer, M.D., Ph.D. from the Miami Institute for Human Genomics will discuss the future of ‘Genomic Medicine’ and its implications for society.



About Dr. Slifer

Dr. Michael Slifer is a member of the faculty at the Miami Institute for Human Genomics and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Dr. Slifer trained in Adult and Geriatric Psychiatry at Duke University, where he served as Chief Resident for the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and received the prestigious Janssen Psychiatry Award of Excellence. After Psychiatric training, he earned his Ph.D. from Duke University’s Program in Genetics and Genomics. Dr. Slifer’s research focuses on the genetics and neurobiology underlying cognitive and affective disorders. He is the lead author on numerous papers, including some appearing in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Additionally, Dr. Slifer has presented original research on the genetics of Alzheimer disease and depression around the world, including at the meetings of the American Society of Human Genetics, the American Psychiatric Association, and the Alzheimer’s Association.


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