Mendelspod Podcast

After the virus reached American shores, was the FDA quick enough to allow companies and labs to develop their own tests without restrictive oversight? The question sparked a sweeping new bill in congress, the VALID Act that could overhaul FDA oversight of diagnostics altogether—something that has been clamored for for a generation.Turna Ray has been covering the FDA and diagnostics for GenomeWeb since 2006. She has recently written a piece on the new VALID Act that includes responses from various members of the community. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mendelspod.com/subscribe

Laura comes to us from her flat in New York, Nathan is stuck in San Diego, but they are here and ready to discuss what a month ago was a warning and now is a full blown world crisis. What have they faced personally? What are their thoughts on testing? And what are some of their early big picture reactions as to how this will all go down?We make some time for some Corona-free science as well. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mendelspod.com/subscribe

More than one in two hundred people have an inherited form of heart disease. But most don’t know it.Often on Mendelspod we talk about cancer genomics, but in the area of cardio, too, genetic testing can save lives.Amy Sturm is the Director of Genomic Counseling and Screening Program at Geisinger Health Systems. There she has led the effort to return the results of cardio genetic tests to over 1,000 patients. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mendelspod.com/subscribe

Lisa Alderson has been helping to build genetic testing companies for a while. In 2016 she co-founded her own company, Genome Medical, a tele-genomics firm to help patients and providers understand genetic testing results.Anyone in the genetic testing industry will know that Genome Medical’s offering addresses a burning need. As Lisa remarks in today’s show, genetics is complicated. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mendelspod.com/subscribe

What do we actually know about the novel coronavirus, we ask our two monthly commentators at the outset of February’s review show. Then, speaking of pandemics, as Bernie fever sweeps America, we explore the charge that Medicare for All means an end to innovation.Laura gives an update on the status of the genetic counseling bill, and Nathan comes to us live from AGBT with highlights from Marco Island. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mendelspod.com/subscribe

“To be fully honest, I think some of these tests are scary tests. I’ve had the luxury of testing myself . . . some of this needs to have the physician and the genetic counselor involved.”That’s Pouria Sanae, a newcomer to our field via Yahoo and Helix. He’s also a Swede which gives him a fresh perspective on American genomic culture. Last month Pouria and his co-founders launched ixlayer, a new platform that integrates many of the players in the genomic medicine space: DTC companies, clinical labs, and physician/providers. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mendelspod.com/subscribe

23andMe lays off over 100 employees. Illumina comes to the JP Morgan empty-handed. Has Precision Medicine seen it’s heyday already? Or are we gearing up for another wave of innovation? Nathan and Laura are again ready for the tough questions of genomics.We begin with the current spat between genetic counselors and the ACMG. Like, . . . huh? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mendelspod.com/subscribe

It's our special look back over the entire decade which has Nathan and Laura firing on all fours. Not only do we discover their genomic highlights of the last ten years--ups and downs-- they also pull out their special "future glasses" and come up with a provocative list for the next ten. You don't want to miss this.But first, we do cover December and that kerfuffle over the George Church dating app. And the genomics of income--really? Did you go for that?Theral, Nathan, and Laura for an extended broadcast. Happy 2020! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mendelspod.com/subscribe

Our end-of-year special guest is one of the U.K.’s top genomicists, Ewan Birney, Co-Director of the European Bioinformatics Institute at EMBL. He is also the non-Executive Director for Genomics England.  Ewan's perhaps best known for his work with the ENCODE consortium. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mendelspod.com/subscribe

The gene edited babies, Lulu and Nana, turn one. Laura Hercher says it feels like it’s been five years. Nathan says, “Happy Birthday.”Along with our genomics headline party this month, we also discuss a comment that came in from our last show which leads us to the question, can we discuss science without discussing politics?It’s Nathan, Laura and Theral for almost a full hour sifting through November’s news. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mendelspod.com/subscribe