DNA Today: A Genetics Podcast

We are ecstatic to announce that DNA Today won the Best 2021 Science and Medicine Podcast Award. A HUGE thank you to all you listeners who nominated and voted for the show. It is such an honor to win this award two years in a row. As you may recall, this is a People’s Choice Award, so it truly is thanks to your support that we won. It’s been such a fun journey over the last 9 years hosting and producing DNA Today and it’s because of you listeners that we have amazing sponsors who keep the show running. Thank you all again! We have so many more episodes to bring you and we hope you keep tuning to learn more about genetics. In honor of breast cancer awareness month, Kira Dineen is joined by two representatives from Black Cancer Genes, Erika Stallings and Dena Goldberg (aka DenaDNA). Erika Stallings is an attorney, writer and BRCA awareness advocate. In June 204 she learned that she carried a BRCA2 gene mutation, a hereditary cancer mutation that causes up to an 85% lifetime risk of developing breast cancer. In December 2014 she underwent a preventative double mastectomy which lowered her risk of breast cancer to less than 5%. Dena Goldberg Linder, MS, CGC (DenaDNA) is a licensed and board certified genetic counselor. She attended the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana for her undergraduate studies where she worked in a Molecular Anthropology lab studying ancestry genetics. Dena graduated from the Genetic Counseling Graduate program at UC Irvine. She worked at the UCSF Cancer Genetics and Prevention Program for four years as the Gordon and Betty Moore Endowed Counselor of Hereditary GI Cancer Prevention. Dena recently left this full time role to pursue Dena DNA and sees patients through Genome Medical. You can also hear her on episode 155 of DNA Today discussing genetic counseling grad school. On This Episode We Discuss: Black Cancer Genes Genetic testing for breast cancer Breast cancer risk among BRCA1/2 carriers Racial disparities in breast cancer diagnosis Genes prevalent in the black community Raising awareness about genetic counseling in the black community To learn more about Black Cancer Genes, visit their website. You can check out Erica’s work on Twitter and Instagram, and see what Dena is up to on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on October 29th, 2021 where I’ll be joined by Dr. Alwan of TERIS to discuss teratogens! New episodes are released on the first and third Friday of the month. In the meantime, you can binge over 145 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. All episodes in 2021 are also recorded with video which you can watch on our YouTube channel. See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and our website, DNApodcast.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to info@DNApodcast.com. Want to chat with genetic counselors? You should attend the virtual open houses at Sarah Lawrence College! In these events you can learn what it’s like to be a genetic counselor. And you will have the opportunity to ask your questions live! You can also hear insight about the Genetic Counseling Master’s degree program at Sarah Lawrence College. It is the largest program in the world. Which means there are so many alumni to connect with, including myself. I graduated from the program last year and am really looking forward to chatting with you! The next open house is on October 28th followed by December 7th. Go to SLC.edu/DNAtoday to sign up for the free genetic counseling open houses. See you there! (SPONSORED) Picture Genetics is a unique DNA testing service. Their Picture Wellness kit allows you to learn your genetic risks for cancer and cardiovascular conditions. Including the BRCA genes that we talk about throughout this episode. Unlike other companies, this is actually a clinical grade test where physicians and genetic counselors are involved. The test sequences entire genes that are medically actionable. It’s easy to order and understand with good looking reports! To order your kit go to picturegenetics.com and use code “DNATODAY” for 25% off and free-shipping! Get actionable genetic insights today to benefit your health tomorrow. (SPONSORED) The Illumina mission is to improve human health by unlocking the power of the genome. With Illumina’s sequencing-by-synthesis technology, they have only just begun to discover the true impact of genomics in areas including oncology, reproductive health, genetic disease, agriculture, microbiology, and beyond. Knowing the discoveries that lie ahead is what inspires Illumina to push the boundaries of their imagination and constantly drive innovation. To learn more, visit illumina.com. (SPONSORED) Do you or someone you know have Prader-Willi syndrome? Harmony Biosciences is looking for people with Prader-Willi syndrome to enroll in a new clinical study in the United States. Harmony Biosciences will be studying the safety and impact of an investigational medication on excessive daytime sleepiness, cognition, and behavioral function in people with Prader Willi syndrome. Check out their website to learn more about the clinical study and refer a patient to a study center. (SPONSORED)

In this episode we are exploring the genetics of ALS with Mark Kiel, the Chief Science Officer and Co-Founder of Genomenon. Genomenon is an AI-driven genomics company that keeps pace with the constant advancements made in genomics and connects that research to patient DNA to help diagnose and treat patients with rare genetic diseases and cancer. Mark Kiel completed his M.D., Ph.D., and Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellowship at the University of Michigan, where his research focused on stem cell biology, genomic profiling of hematopoietic malignancies, and clinical bioinformatics. He is the founder and CSO of Genomenon, where he oversees the company’s scientific direction and product development. Mark has extensive experience in genome-sequencing and clinical data analysis. On This Episode We Discuss: Overview of ALS How ALS is diagnosed Causes of ALS Genetic testing for pathogenic variants Expansion of the list of causative genes and variants for ALS Uncovered trends in age at onset and rate of progression New data on the prevalence of gene mutations in ALS Validation of the novel utility of the genomic landscape for ALS To learn more about Genomenon and the findings from their comprehensive Genomic Landscape for ALS, visit their website, or check them out on Twitter and LinkedIn. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on October 15th where we welcome Erika Stallings and Dena Goldberg to discuss the organization, Black Cancer Genes, in honor of breast cancer awareness month! New episodes are released on the first and third Friday of the month. In the meantime, you can binge over 150 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. Episodes in 2021 are also recorded with video which you can watch on our YouTube channel. See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and our website, DNApodcast.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to info@DNApodcast.com. Do you or someone you know have Prader-Willi syndrome? Harmony Biosciences is looking for people with Prader-Willi syndrome to enroll in a new clinical study in the United States. Harmony Biosciences will be studying the safety and impact of an investigational medication on excessive daytime sleepiness, cognition, and behavioral function in people with Prader Willi syndrome. Learn more about the clinical study and refer a patient to a study center here. (SPONSORED) Do you work in a lab? Want to receive rewards when you order supplies? Check out Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Aspire program, it’s a rewards program created with scientists, like you, in mind. All members receive a free full size trial product every year. Points are earned every time you use or purchase products. Rewards include science themed apparel like a zip up DNA hoodie! Check it out at ThermoFisher.com/aspire-DNAtoday and for a limited time receive 500 bonus points. See the show notes for terms and conditions and that link. Terms and Conditions: Open only to eligible participants in the US (excluding Puerto Rico) and Canada (excluding Quebec). Eligible participants must complete the enrollment process for the Aspire member program in order to be enrolled in the program and receive rewards and benefits. Enrollees must confirm their health care professional or government employment status during time of enrollment. For full terms and conditions of the program, go to thermofisher.com/aspire/tc. Offer is void where prohibited, licensed, or restricted by federal, state, provincial, or local laws or regulation or agency/institutional policy. Other restrictions may apply. (SPONSORED)

The National Society of Genetic Counselors’ (NSGC) 40th annual conference occurred virtually this past week. In this special extended installment of DNA Today we are recapping and reflecting on a few sessions from the conference. You can also check out our recap episodes of 2020 and 2019. Guests Laura Hercher has been a genetic counselor for nearly two decades. She is also the host of fellow genetics podcast, The Beagle Has Landed. She is a faculty member and director of student research at the Joan H. Marks Graduate Program in Human Genetics at Sarah Lawrence College, the country’s first and largest training program for genetic counselors. Hercher is a writer and commentator with publications including articles in Wired, Aeon and Scientific American as well as peer reviewed journals. She is a co-founder of the DNA Exchange, a blog for the genetic counseling community founded in 2009, which has grown to over 100,000 views in 2017. Sally Rodríguez is a licensed and board-certified genetic counselor who specializes in the area of reproductive genetics, with expertise in expanded carrier screening (ECS), noninvasive prenatal screening (NIPS), and preimplantation genetic testing (PGT). Sally was an early-stage employee at Recombine, a genetic testing laboratory focused on reproductive genetics, and developed and managed the lab’s ECS and NIPS offerings through the company’s acquisition by CooperSurgical. Currently, she serves as a genetic counselor at Sequence46, a PGT laboratory. She received her Bachelor's degree in Molecular Biology from Princeton University in 2009 and her Master's degree in Genetic Counseling from The Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health in 2013. Sally is an active member of NSGC, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), and the Minority Genetics Professionals Network (MGPN). NSGC 2021 Conference Session OD01: Advocating for Autonomy: Genetic Counselors as Champions for Comprehensive Reproductive Health with Laura Hercher Overview of Texas SB 8 (Abortion Ban) Texas SB 8 disproportionately affecting pregnant people Repercussions on genetic counseling from Texas SB 8 National impact on Texas SB 8 Jackson Women’s Health Organization vs Dobbs Increase in abortion laws vs public opinion Defining abortion reason bans To learn more about abortion law from Laura Hercher, check out The Beagle Has Landed her podcast episode with Jordan Brown. NSGC 2021 Conference Session B03: The Devil is in the Details: Race-Based Medicine and Healthcare Disparities in Genetic Counseling with Sally Rodríguez Comparing race/ethnicity based vs panethic carrier screening How laboratories use ethnicity in carrier screening Pitfalls of race/ethnicity based testing Issue with self-reported race/ethnicity Self-reported race vs genetic ancestry Calculate carrier residual risk of being a carrier based ethnicity Cause of disparities in residual risks Testing for genetic ancestry as part of carrier screening ACMG updated practice guidelines Downstream effects of disparities in carrier screening How healthcare providers can solve carrier screening disparity issues Other NSGC 2021 sessions mentioned during the episode: C02: Prenatal Testing: When Multiple Technologies Reveal More than Meets the Eye LabCorp sponsored with case presentations by Samantha Caldwell, Lila Dayani, and Deanna Hutchinson C03: 2021 Janus Lecture: “You Can Never Feel My Pain”: The History and the Future of Sickle Cell Disease. Presented by Barbara Harrison D02: The Routine Incorporation of Molecular Ancestry into Carrier Screening: Sema4’s Clinical Experience. Presented by Lisa Edelmann and Audra Bettinelli Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today this Friday on October 1st where we explore the genetics of ALS with Genomenon! New episodes are released on the first and third Friday of the month, with some bonus episodes like this one! In the meantime, you can binge over 150 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. Episodes in 2021 are also recorded with video which you can watch on our YouTube channel. See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and our website, DNApodcast.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to info@DNApodcast.com. Do you or someone you know have Prader-Willi syndrome? Harmony Biosciences is looking for people with Prader-Willi syndrome to enroll in a new clinical study in the United States. Harmony Biosciences will be studying the safety and impact of an investigational medication on excessive daytime sleepiness, cognition, and behavioral function in people with Prader Willi syndrome. Learn more about the clinical study and refer a patient to a study center here. (SPONSORED) If you’re a healthcare provider helping pregnant patients you have inevitably been asked the question, “Can I take this medication during my pregnancy”? Then you need TERIS, a clinical electronic resource that contains information on the teratogenic risks of over 1,700 medications and other environmental exposures and infections, including 200 of the most frequently prescribed drugs. What makes TERIS a unique database? TERIS is governed by an Advisory Board of world-renowned experts in clinical teratology and is an intellectual property of the University of Washington. Visit TERIS today and use code “DNA Today for your free no obligation 2-week evaluation license. (SPONSORED)

Joining our host, Kira Dineen, is Rich Hogan. Rich is the Founder and President of Cure Rare Disease, a company that develops customized therapeutics for those who have been diagnosed with rare, genetic diseases that have no treatments or cures. On this episode, we specifically sat down to discuss Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy during DMD awareness month! Rich Hogan has a deep passion for reimagining how rare and ultra-rare diseases are treated. With a younger sibling impacted by a rare disease, Rich has a strong interest in accelerating promising treatments for rare diseases. He formed an interdisciplinary collaboration of world-class researchers and clinicians to pioneer the rapid development of customized therapies for rare, genetic diseases. Prior to making his foray into biotech, Rich had extensive experience working in new business development at Corning Incorporated where he led the successful launch of a new product line. He also launched a successful car washing business in New York. He holds a BS from Cornell University where he graduated summa cum laude and an MBA from Harvard Business School where he was awarded the Blavatnik Fellowship for Life Science Entrepreneurship. Rich was recognized by Business Insider as one of ‘30 leaders under 40 transforming healthcare in 2020’ and, most recently, was named on the 2021 Forbes 30 under 30 list. On This Episode We Discuss: Patient advocacy DMD heredity Founding Cure Rare Disease Current and developing treatments for DMD In-vitro versus in-vivo research Neutralizing antibodies To learn more about Rich, DMD, and Cure Rare Disease at cureraredisease.org. If you live in Canada, check out Muscular Dystrophy Canada at muscle.ca, which serves 50,000 Canadians impacted by neuromuscular disorders themselves, family members/caregivers, healthcare professionals, and researchers. They support individuals impacted by neuromuscular disorders by investing in research, delivering critical programs and services, and challenging public policy. Genomenon is a genomic health IT company powering precision medicine with genomics. Genomenon has designed the Mastermind Genomic Search Engine, which is used by hundreds of genetic labs worldwide to accelerate diagnosis, increase diagnostic yield, and assure repeatability in reporting genetic testing results. Genomenon also created the Mastermind Genomic Landscapes to inform pharmaceutical and bio-pharma companies on precision medicine development and deliver genomic biomarkers for clinical trial target selection. Look out for our October 1st episode, the founder of Genomenon will be a guest on DNA Today to explore the genetics of ALS. Learn more about Genomenon at genomenon.com (SPONSORED). If you enjoy DNA Today you will also love Eureka’s Sounds of Science, a podcast from Charles River. Sounds of Science tells the stories of how – how chicken eggs impact vaccine development; how a single parent can change the FDA; how a horseshoe crab saves lives. If you enjoyed our episode (#74) with Huntington Disease patient advocate Antonio Maltese, you should check him out in this episode of Eureka’s Sounds of Science podcast! Listen to Eureka’s Sounds of Science on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you download your podcasts. (SPONSORED) Do you or someone you know have Prader-Willi syndrome? Harmony Biosciences is looking for people with Prader-Willi syndrome to enroll in a new clinical study in the United States. Harmony Biosciences will be studying the safety and impact of an investigational medication on excessive daytime sleepiness, cognition, and behavioral function in people with Prader Willi syndrome. Learn more about the clinical study and refer a patient to a study center here. (SPONSORED) Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today at the end of September where we’ll be recapping the NSGC Annual Conference! Follow Us On... Instagram: @DNAradio (https://www.instagram.com/dnaradio/) Twitter: @DNApodcast (https://twitter.com/DNApodcast) Facebook: @DNApodcast (https://www.facebook.com/DNApodcast/) Listen On… Spotify (https://spoti.fi/39hVSUD) Apple (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...) Google (https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0...) DNApodcast.com ******* DNA Today is a podcast and radio show exploring genetics’ impact on health through conversations with leaders in genetics like genetic counselors, researchers, doctors, and patient advocates. The show started in 2012 and features over 150 episodes. DNA Today won the 2020 Best Science and Medicine Podcast Award with nominate four other years. DNA Today is broadcast every Friday at 10:30am ET on WHUS 91.7 FM in Connecticut. New episodes are released on the first and third Friday of the month with some bonus episodes on other Fridays.

This episode is an edited recording of the clubhouse meeting Kira Dineen and Dena Goldberg (Dena DNA) hosted on August 26th, 2021 in the “Genetic Counseling and the Future of Healthcare”. We explore making the most of the genetic counseling graduate school experience. Since this was recorded on Clubhouse, the audio is not as high quality as our other episodes. Preparing for a career in genetic counseling? Check out Keck Graduate Institute in Claremont, California! At KGI, you will gain the training and development to become an innovative, collaborative, and caring genetic counselor. KGI prepares graduates to be leaders among healthcare professionals dedicated to the delivery of advanced personally-optimized patient care and the translation of applied and clinical science breakthroughs to enhance the quality of life. So if you want to be a genetic counselor, check out KGI at kgi.edu/dnatoday. Again that’s kgi.edu/dnatoday. Hosts: Kira Dineen, MS, LCGC, CG(ASCP)CM is a licensed certified prenatal genetic counselor at Maternal Fetal Care, PC in Connecticut. Kira also has 10 years of online media experience in digital marketing and podcasting/radio including 5 podcasts. She started her main show “DNA Today: A Genetics Podcast” in 2012 which became a radio show in 2014. The podcast has since produced over 150 episodes interviewing experts in the field. “DNA Today” won the People’s Choice Podcast Awards for the Best 2020 Science and Medicine Podcast. Kira is also the host of the PhenoTips Speaker Series, a live webinar interviewing genetic experts attended by over 700 genetic counselors around the globe. She writes a monthly blog series, “Explained By A Genetic Counsellor” for Sano Genetics. She received her Diagnostic Genetic Bachelor’s of Science degree at the University of Connecticut and is a certified Cytogenetic Technologist. Kira received her Master’s of Science in Human Genetics at Sarah Lawrence College in New York. Dena Goldberg Linder, MS, CGC (DenaDNA) is a licensed and board certified genetic counselor. She attended the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana for her undergraduate studies where she worked in a Molecular Anthropology lab studying ancestry genetics. Dena graduated from the Genetic Counseling Graduate program at UC Irvine. She worked at the UCSF Cancer Genetics and Prevention Program for four years as the Gordon and Betty Moore Endowed Counselor of Hereditary GI Cancer Prevention. Dena recently left this full time role to pursue Dena DNA and sees patients through Genome Medical. Stay tuned for another episode of DNA Today with Dena in October! Featured Panelist: Rachel Mills, MS, CGC, is a certified genetic counselor and Assistant Professor with the University of North Carolina Greensboro Genetic Counseling Program. She serves as the Research & Capstone Coordinator for the Program and supports students completing their Capstone projects. Prior to joining the UNCG faculty, she spent 10 years working as a research coordinator and project manager on studies exploring the utilization of genomics in healthcare. Much of her work focused on implementation of pharmacogenomics (how genes impact our response to medications). Janelle Villiers MS, CGC is the Admissions Director and Assistant Program Director for Sarah Lawrence College Human Genetics’ program. Prior to coming to Sarah Lawrence College, she worked in the clinical setting as a clinical supervisor at Jacobi Medical Center and later worked in a laboratory setting at the Mt. Sinai Genetics Testing Laboratory. She is currently a volunteer site visitor for the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling (ACGC). Katie Lee, MS, CGC is a certified genetic counselor (CGC) with over five years of practice in reproductive medicine. She worked for one of the most well-known IVF clinics in the US and for a genetic testing laboratory that offers fertility related genetic testing. Katie Lee currently works with one of the largest sperm banks in the county. She has two YouTube channels, one about miscarriage and fertility and another about the genetic counseling career. FAQs Answered: If you are coming back to school after working for a while, any tips for a smooth transition? And is there a way you would organize your notes/information from class to make it easily accessible for rotations? How can you avoid burnout as a genetic counseling student? How to take care of your mental health in a hectic environment? Which rotations will students experience in the first year of the program? Are these exclusively shadowing opportunities or do students engage in the session? How is the transition from telehealth to in person counseling? How many students attend NSGC? Has this changed with COVID-19 now that the conference is offered through virtual route as well? What are your recommendations for students during the conference? What is the timeline for the thesis project? Can students bring their own ideas to develop? Are thesis projects done in groups or individually? What’s an example of an interesting thesis project? How often do students present their thesis poster at a conference? What classes are covered in the first year? Are there mentorship programs within grad school? Do these involve fellow students, faculty, supervisors, and/or patient advocates? Resources Mentioned: Dena DNA’s book club list on Amazon. You can find many of the authors of these books as guests on DNA Today in these episodes. Rachel Mill’s book recommendation of “Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning” By Peter C. Brown Check out the “Genetic Counseling and the Future of Healthcare” on Clubhouse to participate in live genetic counseling conversations. Shoutout for The Genetic Counseling Virtual Career Fair on Sept 28th and Sept 29th. You will have the opportunity to find information about a career in genetic counseling from the National Society of Genetic Counselors and visit with over 50 masters level genetic counselor training programs in the United States and Canada. If you are a prospective student interested in genetic counseling and of minority background, we will also have a Minority Genetic Professionals Network room where you can talk to minority genetic counselors and students. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on September 17th! New episodes are released on the first and third Friday of the month, with some bonus episodes here and there. In the meantime, you can binge over 150 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. Episodes in 2021 are also recorded with video which you can watch on our YouTube channel. See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and our website, DNApodcast.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to info@DNApodcast.com.

You did it! DNA Today has been nominated for the Best 2021 Science and Medicine Podcast Award. If you nominated us, check your inbox to see if you were one of the people randomly selected to vote for the show! I was this year and received the email on August 9th. So pause the show now and check to see if you got the email. If you did please go ahead and vote for DNA Today, we need all the votes we can get to defend our title as the best Science and Medicine podcast! This week our host, Kira Dineen, is joined by Kenneth Kovan and Dr. David Berd of BioVaxys, a clinical-stage biopharma company developing antiviral and anticancer vaccine platforms using haptenized viral protein technology. Kenneth Kovan is the Founder, President, and COO of BioVaxys. He has over 30 years of experience in biopharmaceuticals commercial development. Mr. Kovan’s professional background includes several years in technology transfer with Thomas Jefferson University, Strategic Marketing with GlaxoSmithKline, and Global New Product Development with Wyeth-Ayerst Pharmaceuticals. His therapeutic experience includes infectious disease, antivirals, oncology, vaccines, cell/gene therapy, and gene editing. Mr. Kovan has a broad international business background, having launched pharma brands in Latin American and Asia/Pacific markets, and has worked in Europe for several years. David Berd, MD is the Founder and Chief Medical Officer of BioVaxys. He is a medical oncologist with a lifelong record of clinical research in medical oncology and cancer immunotherapy. As National Director for Immunotherapy at Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Dr. Berd investigated the application of the AC vaccine to ovarian cancer. Previously, Dr. Berd was Professor of Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University, where for 20 years he conducted clinical research on melanoma immunotherapy. He also spent nine years as a research physician at Fox Chase Cancer Center. Over the course of his career, Dr. Berd has published more than 85 original papers in numerous medical journals alongside dozens of editorials, reviews and abstracts. He has ten issued patents dealing with cancer vaccines. Have you been vaccinated for COVID-19? Wouldn’t it be handy to have a digitized version of your vaccine record? States in the US are starting to do just this, with California leading the way. However privacy concerns have been raised about the personal information being kept in a central database. Genobank.io offers digitized vaccine records, without these privacy concerns. Genobank.io ultizes blockchain networks to keep track of your vaccine record without exposing your personal data! On This Episode We Discuss: How the immune system fights cancer Haptenized vaccines and how they work Safety of haptenized vaccines COVID-19 vaccines Anticancer and antiviral vaccines Vaccinations for COVID-19 variants To learn more about BioVaxys, visit their website or check them out on Twitter and LinkedIn. Are you interested in the rapidly growing field of genetics and want to learn more about clinical genetics, molecular genetics, and laboratory science? Then you should check out the Genetic Assistant Online Training Program at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine! By taking part in the program, you will be joining both national and international learners with the same passion for genetics. Interact directly with your Johns Hopkins instructors and fellow students throughout the program. Applications are now being reviewed for the Fall 2021 cohort, and a limited number of spots are still available. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on September 3, 2021, where I’ll be joined by Dena Goldberg to share advice for starting graduate school for genetic counseling! New episodes are released on the first and third Friday of the month. In the meantime, you can binge over 150 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. All episodes in 2021 are also recorded with video which you can watch on our YouTube channel. See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and our website, DNApodcast.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to info@DNApodcast.com. Do you want to influence change in the genomics market? Lucky for you a new position just opened at Agilent where you can have an impact as a Genomic Software Field Applications Scientist. In this west coast remote-based role you will provide technical consultation, training, and education to enable customers to perform data analysis in clinical laboratory environments. You will partner with sales to serve as the scientific/technical specialist to help drive sales and provide support for customers in diverse clinical settings. Learn more about the position here. Join our host, Kira Dineen, next week on Clubhouse. Dena Goldberg (aka Dena DNA) will be interviewing her about how to prepare and what to expect in grad school for genetic counseling. This is on Thursday August 26th at 4pmPT (7pmET). Dena and Kira will be answering your questions about grad school live! You can tune in by searching for the “Genetic Counseling & The Future of Healthcare” club in the clubhouse app.

Did you know genetic changes account for an estimated 10-15% of all Parkinson’s disease? And these genetic changes can be passed down to family members. That's why Picture Genetics just released Picture PD Aware, an at-home DNA kit that tests for changes in seven genes associated with Parkinson’s disease. Picture PD Aware is easy to order and understand with good looking reports! Plus you are fully supported through live chats, emails and genetic counseling. To order your Picture PD Aware kit over at picturegenetics.com and use code “DNATODAY” for 25% off and free-shipping! Get actionable genetic insights today to benefit your family of tomorrow. Joining our host, Kira Dineen, this week Dr. Dayan Goodenowe. He is the Founder, President, and CEO of Prodrome Sciences Inc., and the Author of Breaking Alzheimer's: A 15-Year Crusade to Expose the Cause and Deliver the Cure, a novel about biomarkers of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, and the science and clinical applications of plasmalogens for the therapeutic treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Goodenowe’s primary professional interest is the advancement of precision preventative medicine into mainstream medical practice. The achievement of this goal involves the integration and translation of various scientific and technological fields such as basic biochemistry, biomarker discovery, diagnostic technology, biostatistics, clinical trial design and execution, targeted therapeutic development, epidemiology, and healthcare economics. The prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases is his primary focus. As the founder and CEO of Prodrome Sciences Inc., his primary responsibility is to build a next-generation team of dedicated researchers and other professionals and to work with and continue to grow his team such that Prodrome Sciences Inc. can reach its ultimate goal of saving lives and improving quality of life by implementing our targeted strategy of disease prevention through prodrome detection and treatment. On This Episode We Discuss: Dementia vs Alzhiemer’s disease APOE gene’s role in Alzheimer’s disease Methods to counteract APOE status Correlation between plasmalogens and dementia Plasmalogen’s blood vs brain levels ProdromeNeuro for Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease How do you keep research articles organized? We have struggled with this for years, but have finally found a solution that is simple and easy. It’s called Paperpile! It radically simplifies the workflow of collecting, managing and writing papers. Paperpile allows you to highlight and annotate papers, manage references, share and collaborate and even cite directly in Google Docs and Microsoft Word. Paperpile’s new mobile apps allows you to sync your library to all your devices so you can read and annotate on your iPad, iPhone, or Android device. Start your free 30 day trial today at paperpile.com with promo code “DNATODAY”. Paperpile costs only $36 per year, but with code “DNATODAY” you save 20%! Enter to win one of 10 copies of Dr. Goodenowe’s book, Breaking Alzheimer’s, in our social media giveaway. Visit our Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and our host’s LinkedIn to enter. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on August 20, 2021 with BioVaxys discussing hapentized vaccines! New episodes are released on the first and third Friday of the month. In the meantime, you can binge over 150 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. Episodes in 2021 are also recorded with video which you can watch on our YouTube channel. See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and our website, DNApodcast.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to info@DNApodcast.com. Intrigued about genetics? Of course you are, you listen to this podcast! Which is why I think you will be interested in an upcoming webinar on August 11th. In this 3 hour virtual workshop a wide variety of genetic counseling topics will be explored including prenatal genetic counseling (presented by me, Kira Dineen), precision medicine, overview of common genetic conditions, and more! Join us in this collaborative worldwide workshop next week on August 11th! Register here!

It’s time to defend our title as the Best 2020 Science and Medicine Podcast! The Podcast Awards Nominations are open! So we need you listeners to get DNA Today nominated at podcastawards.com. We were against very popular podcasts last year, and because of your support we won. To win again, we need all of you to nominate DNA Today in the Science & Medicine category at podcastawards.com by July 31st. If you share your nomination on social media and tag us, we will repost it and give you a shoutout on show! Thank you so much for all your support, let’s win this together! Joining our host, Kira Dineen, this week is Janice L. Berliner. She is the Director of the Master of Science in Genetic Counseling Program at Bay Path University and the Author of Brooke's Promise, a novel that follows a family through their journey and struggles as their love is pushed to the test while learning to live with their daughter’s disease. Janice has been a genetic counselor for more than 29 years, having earned her MS in Human Genetics/Genetic Counseling from the University of Michigan becoming board-certified in 1993. She has served on the boards of directors of the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) and the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC), and chaired the 2008 NSGC Annual Education Conference. She has also had the opportunity to be part of the hands-on training of a sizable number of genetic counseling graduate students, has served as the Editor-in-Chief of the NSGC quarterly newsletter, on the editorial board of the Journal of Genetic Counseling, and several committees of the NSGC and AGCPD (Association of Genetic Counseling Program Directors). Her second genetics novel is in the works. Did you know there is a genetic counselor that specializes in offering care to those in the adoptee community? Brianne Kirkpatrick co-wrote “The DNA Guide for Adoptees” to provide a resource for those in the adoptee community who are utilizing DNA testing to find biological relatives or to seek out medical information. She also started Watershed DNA to offer personalized genetic counseling to directly support people in the aftermath of a surprise DNA discovery. You can hear Brianne share her insight from her book in episode 103 of DNA Today! Learn more at WatershedDNA.com where you can also book your consultation today with Brianne. On This Episode We Discuss: The inspiration behind Brooke’s Promise Fertility genetic counselors Failure to thrive in newborns Pompe disease Interpreting carrier screening results Resources for parents of babies with genetic disorders Preparing for a career in genetic counseling? Check out Keck Graduate Institute in Claremont, California! At KGI, you will gain the training and development to become an innovative, collaborative, and caring genetic counselor. KGI prepares graduates to be leaders among healthcare professionals dedicated to the delivery of advanced personally-optimized patient care and the translation of applied and clinical science breakthroughs to enhance the quality of life. So if you want to be a genetic counselor, check out KGI at kgi.edu/dnatoday. Want to read Brooke’s Promise? Enter our giveaway to win your own copy! Head over to our Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook accounts to enter our giveaway to win one of five free copies. To learn more about Janice and Brooke’s Promise, visit her ​​website, or check her out on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on August 6th, 2021 with Dr. Dayan Goodenowe about the genetics of dementia! New episodes are released on the first and third Friday of the month. In the meantime, you can binge over 150 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. Brand new in 2021, episodes are now also recorded with video which you can watch on our YouTube channel. See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and our website, DNApodcast.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to info@DNApodcast.com. The practice of genomic counselling and variant interpretation is advancing at an incredible pace. The University of British Columbia offers an online, flexible graduate certificate for genetic professionals who want to keep up. You will learn to apply the latest methods in clinical bioinformatics, variant interpretation, and genomic counselling. It’s an ideal way to earn CEUs while enhancing your genetic counselling practice. Learn more and register on their website.

COVID-19 variant genotyping is explored with the Director of the UC Davis Genome Center and Healthy Davis Together project.

This marks the 150th episode of DNA Today! Our guests to celebrate this landmark episode of DNA Today are Dr. Euan Ashley, a medical geneticist and cardiologist. And Dr. Stephen Quake, a physics professor, bioengineer and pioneer in microfluidics. A Scotland native, Dr. Euan Ashley graduated with degrees in Physiology and Medicine from the University of Glasgow. He completed medical residency and a PhD in molecular physiology at the University of Oxford before moving to Stanford University where he trained in cardiology and advanced heart failure, joining the faculty in 2006. In 2010, he led the team that carried out the first clinical interpretation of a human genome. The paper published in the Lancet was the focus of over 300 news stories, and became one of the most cited articles in clinical medicine that year. The team extended the approach in 2011 to a family of four and now routinely applies genome sequencing to the diagnosis of patients at Stanford hospital where Dr. Ashley directs the Clinical Genome Service and the Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Disease. In 2014, Dr Ashley became co-chair of the steering committee of the NIH Undiagnosed Diseases Network. Stephen Quake is a professor of bioengineering and applied physics at Stanford University and is co-President of the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub. He holds a B.S. in Physics and M.S. in Mathematics from Stanford University and a doctorate in Theoretical Physics from the University of Oxford. Dr. Quake has invented many measurement tools for biology, including new DNA sequencing technologies that have enabled rapid analysis of the human genome and microfluidic automation that allows scientists to efficiently isolate individual cells and decipher their genetic code. Dr. Quake is also well known for inventing new diagnostic tools, including the first non-invasive prenatal test for Down syndrome and other aneuploidies. His test is rapidly replacing risky invasive approaches such as amniocentesis, and millions of women each year now benefit from this approach. He was also the fifth person in the world to have their genome sequences and his genome was the subject of clinical annotation by a large team at Stanford Hospital led by Dr. Ashley. On This Episode We Discuss: The first clinical interpretation of a human genome Genome sequencing technologies The cost of sequencing a genome Understanding the genomic code The future of precision medicine Dr. Ashley’s book, The Genome Odyssey Want to read the Genome Odyssey? Enter to win your own copy! Head over to our Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn to enter to win a free book! Be sure to follow Dr. Ashley and Dr. Quake on Twitter! How do you keep research articles organized? We have struggled with this for years, but have finally found a solution that is simple and easy. It’s called Paperpile! It radically simplifies the workflow of collecting, managing and writing papers. Paperpile allows you to highlight and annotate papers, manage references, share and collaborate and even cite directly in Google Docs and Microsoft Word. Paperpile’s new mobile apps allows you to sync your library to all your devices so you can read and annotate on your iPad, iPhone, or Android device. Start your free 30 day trial today at paperpile.com with promo code “DNATODAY”. Paperpile costs only $36 per year, but with code “DNATODAY” you save 20%! Want to become a genetic counselor? Looking for ways to engage with the field and boost your resume for grad school applications? Then you should check out Sarah Lawrence’s “Why Genetic Counseling Wednesday Summer Series”! Every Wednesday this June Sarah Lawrence is hosting this series where you can interact through Zoom with genetic counselors from different specialties for an hour and a half. You can sign up at SLC.edu/DNAtoday to register to level up your resume for applications in the fall. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on July 2nd, 2021! We’ll be joined by Dr. Richard Michelmore and Dr. Brad Pollock who will be discussing COVID-19 variants. New episodes are released on the first and third Friday of the month. In the meantime, you can binge over 150 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. All episodes in 2021 are also recorded with video which you can watch on our YouTube channel. See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and our website, DNApodcast.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to info@DNApodcast.com.