Introduction
The Don Moore GM Center is a multidisciplinary research institute dedicated to the advancement of genomic medicine. Located in the biomedical campus of the University of Westland, the Center was established in 2010 to honor the pioneering work of Dr. Donald E. Moore, a leading geneticist whose research on hereditary disease patterns laid the groundwork for modern genomic diagnostics. The Center serves as a hub for basic and translational research, clinical services, and educational programs that aim to integrate genomic data into routine patient care. Its mission is to accelerate the discovery of genetic causes of disease, develop precision therapeutic strategies, and foster a workforce skilled in genomic literacy.
History and Background
Founding and Early Years
The idea for the Don Moore GM Center emerged from a collaboration between the Department of Genetics and the School of Medicine at the University of Westland. In 2008, a grant proposal was submitted to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to establish a dedicated genomic medicine facility. The proposal highlighted Dr. Moore’s contributions to the Human Genome Project and his commitment to mentoring young scientists. The NIH awarded a $12 million core grant in 2009, and the Center officially opened its doors in February 2010.
Expansion and Infrastructure Development
Within the first decade, the Center expanded from a modest 3,000‑square‑foot space to a 12,000‑square‑foot complex housing state‑of‑the‑art sequencing cores, bioinformatics suites, and clinical consultation rooms. The construction incorporated modular laboratory modules to accommodate rapid changes in sequencing technology. In 2015, the Center inaugurated the Don Moore Genomic Clinic, offering personalized genomic testing to patients with complex disorders. By 2020, the facility had grown to support over 200 research projects, with a staff of more than 300 faculty, postdoctoral researchers, technicians, and support personnel.
Mission and Vision
The Center’s stated mission is to integrate genomic information into personalized healthcare through research, clinical application, and education. Its vision is to become a global leader in genomic medicine, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration that bridges basic science, computational biology, and clinical practice. The Center prioritizes three core pillars: discovery science, translational research, and workforce development.
Organizational Structure
Governance
The Center is governed by a Board of Directors comprising senior faculty, industry partners, and patient advocates. The Board appoints a Director, currently Professor Emily S. Riley, who reports to the University’s Vice President for Research. The Director oversees the Center’s strategic plan, budget, and partnership development.
Academic Departments and Core Facilities
Key departments within the Center include:
- Human Genetics
- Computational Biology
- Clinical Genomics
- Population Genetics
- Ethics, Policy, and Social Implications
Core facilities supporting these departments include the Next‑Generation Sequencing Core, the Genomic Data Analytics Core, the Laboratory Medicine Core, and the Patient Engagement Core.
Research Units
Research activity is organized into thematic units: Rare Disease Genetics, Cancer Genomics, Neurogenetics, and Pharmacogenomics. Each unit is led by a senior investigator who collaborates with external partners and coordinates grant submissions.
Research Focus
Rare Disease Genetics
One of the Center’s flagship initiatives is the Rare Disease Genetics Unit, which focuses on identifying pathogenic variants in patients with undiagnosed conditions. Utilizing whole‑exome and whole‑genome sequencing, the unit has contributed to the discovery of over 300 novel disease genes since 2013.
Cancer Genomics
The Cancer Genomics Unit studies tumor heterogeneity and mechanisms of resistance to targeted therapies. The unit collaborates with the Oncology Department to develop liquid biopsy assays that detect circulating tumor DNA. In 2019, the Center’s liquid biopsy platform achieved a 95 % sensitivity for early detection of colorectal cancer in a pilot cohort.
Neurogenetics
Focused on hereditary neurological disorders, this unit applies integrative genomics to elucidate pathogenic pathways in diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Huntington’s disease. The unit’s multi‑omics approach combines genomics, transcriptomics, and epigenomics data to construct disease‑specific molecular signatures.
Pharmacogenomics
By investigating genetic variants that influence drug metabolism, the Pharmacogenomics Unit aims to inform prescribing practices. The Center’s pharmacogenetic testing panel is used by more than 5,000 patients annually, providing genotype‑guided recommendations for medications including warfarin, clopidogrel, and statins.
Key Projects and Publications
Genome‑Wide Association Studies (GWAS)
Over 40 GWAS studies have been published, covering traits such as height, BMI, and disease susceptibility. The Center’s GWAS data contributed to the largest meta‑analysis of type 2 diabetes risk variants, published in a leading genetics journal in 2021.
Whole‑Genome Sequencing Consortium
In partnership with international collaborators, the Center participated in the Whole‑Genome Sequencing Consortium, generating high‑coverage reference genomes for diverse populations. The consortium’s findings have informed the development of population‑specific variant annotation tools.
Clinical Trial – Genomic‑Guided Therapy for Breast Cancer
From 2017 to 2023, the Center led a randomized controlled trial assessing the impact of genomic‑guided therapy in metastatic breast cancer. The trial demonstrated a 12 % improvement in progression‑free survival when treatment was tailored based on tumor mutational profiling.
Data Sharing Initiatives
Committed to open science, the Center established the Don Moore Genomic Data Repository, which hosts de‑identified genomic datasets. Researchers worldwide have accessed these data for secondary analyses, contributing to the reproducibility of genomic studies.
Collaborations and Partnerships
Academic Partnerships
The Center partners with institutions such as the East Coast Institute of Medicine, the National Institute of Health Sciences, and the Global Genomics Consortium. These collaborations facilitate cross‑disciplinary training and joint grant applications.
Industry Collaborations
Strategic alliances with biotechnology companies, including Sequenomix and GeneNova, enable the Center to pilot novel sequencing technologies and develop companion diagnostics. Industry partners also fund targeted educational programs for clinicians.
Patient Advocacy and Community Engagement
The Patient Engagement Core collaborates with advocacy groups like the Rare Disease Alliance and the Cancer Gene Therapy Society to ensure that patient perspectives shape research priorities and clinical trial designs.
Facilities and Infrastructure
Sequencing Core
The Next‑Generation Sequencing Core houses Illumina NovaSeq 6000, Oxford Nanopore PromethION, and PacBio Sequel II platforms. Through a hybrid sequencing strategy, the Core achieves high accuracy and long‑read coverage, essential for structural variant detection.
Computational Biology Hub
Equipped with a cluster of 500 compute nodes, the Computational Biology Hub supports genome assembly, variant calling, and machine‑learning model development. The Hub also offers a cloud‑based bioinformatics training platform for students and collaborators.
Clinical Genomics Laboratory
Operating under Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) accreditation, the Clinical Genomics Laboratory performs diagnostic tests, including chromosomal microarray analysis, trio‑exome sequencing, and pharmacogenomic panels.
Patient Consultation Spaces
Four multidisciplinary consultation rooms provide genetic counseling, clinical genomic interpretation, and follow‑up care. The Center also offers telemedicine services to reach patients in remote regions.
Funding and Financial Support
Funding for the Don Moore GM Center comes from a mix of federal grants, private foundations, industry sponsorships, and university allocations. Key funding sources include:
- NIH Grants: $45 million over ten years
- National Science Foundation (NSF): $10 million
- Wellcome Trust: $5 million
- Industry Sponsorships: $8 million
- University Endowment: $3 million
The Center has also generated revenue through service contracts for genomic testing and consulting, with an annual service income of approximately $4 million.
Notable People
Dr. Donald E. Moore
Dr. Moore, the Center’s namesake, is a renowned geneticist whose work on Mendelian disorders shaped modern diagnostics. He served as a faculty member at the University of Westland from 1975 to 2015 and continued as a senior fellow at the Center until his passing in 2020.
Professor Emily S. Riley
Director of the Center since 2018, Professor Riley’s research focuses on gene‑editing technologies and their therapeutic potential. She has authored over 200 peer‑reviewed publications and received the National Medal of Science in 2022.
Dr. Carlos J. Santana
Lead investigator of the Cancer Genomics Unit, Dr. Santana pioneered liquid biopsy assays for colorectal cancer detection. His laboratory has secured multiple industry partnerships and received the NIH Director’s Award in 2020.
Dr. Aisha N. Baker
Chief of the Pharmacogenomics Unit, Dr. Baker has led national guidelines for pharmacogenetic testing. She is a fellow of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics.
Impact and Achievements
Clinical Impact
Since its inception, the Center’s genomic testing services have provided definitive diagnoses for over 5,000 patients with rare disorders, reducing the diagnostic odyssey by an average of 4 years. The pharmacogenomic panel has informed medication selection for 10,000+ patients, decreasing adverse drug reactions by 18 %.
Scientific Contributions
Over 350 peer‑reviewed papers have been published, with a cumulative impact factor exceeding 150 million. The Center’s genome‑wide studies have shaped international reference panels and variant annotation databases.
Educational Outreach
The Center offers a two‑year Master’s program in Genomic Medicine, enrolling 30 students annually. It also hosts a summer internship program for high school students and a continuing education series for practicing clinicians.
Criticisms and Controversies
Some critics have raised concerns regarding data privacy, particularly regarding the sharing of genomic datasets in open repositories. In response, the Center implemented strict de‑identification protocols and a tiered access system. Additionally, debates have emerged over equitable access to genomic services, prompting the Center to establish a sliding‑scale payment model for underserved populations.
Future Directions
Looking ahead, the Don Moore GM Center plans to expand its focus on epigenomic profiling and microbiome‑genome interactions. The Center aims to establish a Clinical Trial Unit to facilitate rapid translation of genomic discoveries into therapeutic interventions. Funding initiatives include a proposed $20 million expansion of the Sequencing Core and the development of a dedicated precision oncology wing.
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