TGen, Mexican Institute to 'share vision' in Genomic Research
April 17, 2003
The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) today
announced a meeting with the Mexico-based National Institute of
Genomic Medicine (INMEGEN), aimed at a cooperative research
initiative. Also included in the meeting were a number of TGen's
key Arizona partners, including representatives from the Mayo
Clinic, ASU and the U of A.
Officials from TGen and INMEGEN, which is currently being
established in Cuernavaca, met today in Phoenix to begin the
development of a "shared scientific vision," said TGen President
Jeffrey Trent.
"Genomic research holds great promise for improving human health
throughout the world. In this meeting, we hope to take an important
step in bringing together some of the best minds in North America
to explore ways of pooling our efforts. By sharing expertise, we
hope to make significant strides in addressing a number health
issues faced by both countries while recognizing that from a
genomic medicine standpoint, both populations are unique," Trent
said.
Dr. Gerardo Jiménez-Sánchez, director of INMEGEN, in this month's
issue of the prestigious journal Science, highlighted this
uniqueness in an article on INMEGEN where he noted, "that genomic
medicine in Mexico needs to be based on the genetic structure and
health demands of the Mexican population, rather than importing
applications developed for other populations."
Today's meeting focused on outlining the goals and programs of
both institutes and additional meetings are expected to develop
specific cooperative projects. It is likely those projects would
include research aimed at diabetes and cancer, which are
significant problems in both nations.
"We have much to learn from each other and much to offer our
nations as we find areas of shared scientific pursuit. I believe
this could become a productive collaboration," said José Cárdenas,
Chair of the TGen Board of Directors.
TGen is a non-profit biomedical research institute whose mission
is to make and translate genomic discoveries into advances in human
health, by focusing on the translation of scientific discoveries
into medical advances through excellence in research, and an
uncompromising commitment to the health and safety of the
individual patient.
INMEGEN is the product of a vision embraced by Mexican President
Vicente Fox, members of his cabinet and key national leaders who
support the utilization of genomic research to alleviate national
health problems as they have made genomic medicine a priority of
the Mexican government.
