Biotechnology and the

Changing Practice of Medicine

Dr. James Greene

Professor of Biology

The Catholic University of America

Washington, D.C.

Tuesday, April 15th, at 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

Ruhl Student Center, Community Room

Abstract:

Recent advances in biotechnology, particularly in the areas of DNA genotype and gene expression analysis, have had significant impact in predictive, diagnostic, prognostic and treatment aspects of medicine. Knowing the genotype of individuals can provide an assessment as to the person's susceptibility to diseases as well as response to various treatments. Quantification of "gene activities" as reflected in specific mRNA levels in diseased, treated, and normal individuals through the use of gene chips have identified genetic markers that characterize disease. Collectively, these technologies will usher in a new age of preventative medicine and contribute substantially to the development of new treatment modalities.

Biography:

Dr. James J. Greene is Professor of Cell and Molecular Biology in the Biology Department at The Catholic University of America in Washington DC. After completing a doctorate in biophysics and biochemistry at the Johns Hopkins University he continued on to complete a post-doctoral fellowship in cell biology, also at Johns Hopkins. His early research was directed towards identifying the genetic elements that mediate the anticellular effects of interferon. Now, his research is concentrated on the regulation of programmed cell death - apoptosis. Recently, this research has evolved to apply gene-chip based "gene expression profiling" to investigate the role of inflammation, apoptosis, and the neuronal death that is associated with Alzheimer's Disease.

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