DNA Discovery

Integrating Genomics and Genetics into Clinical Oncology Medicine

» Research focused on accelerating and enabling personalized cancer medicine to patients

» Novel next generation sequencing technology development for translational and clinical research in cancer genetics and oncology

» Current translational genomic projects as a joint effort between the Stanford Cancer Institute and the Stanford Genome Technology Center

PERSONAL CANCER GENOME INITIATIVE

To improve the lives of individuals with cancer, we have embarked on a research initiative to use cutting edge genetics and technology to interrogate the fundamental genetic "digital" code responsible for cancer development and overall clinical behavior. Our research program is focused on:

1. Development of novel approaches for analyzing cancer genomes

2. Discovery and validation of personalized genetic cancer signatures of cancer portending prognosis and therapeutic prediction for individuals with this disease

3. Determining inherited pathogenic mutations that increase the risk of developing gastrointestinal malignancies

4. The genetic analysis of complete cancer genome sequences derived from inherited and other rare cancers

Vision

We are pursuing projects focused on personalized medicine. Specifically, we are interested in using genetic and genomic approaches in oncology to improve targeted cancer therapy development, make accurate prognosis, prediction of cancer therapy efficacy and identify clinically relevant cancer mutations. These projects are aimed towards establishing the paradigm for individualized medicine, facilitate the introduction of these approaches into validation clinical studies and thus develop the next generation of cancer diagnostics and treatment.

GASTRIC CANCER REGISTRY

In 2011, Gastric Cancer Foundation launched the first Gastric Cancer Registry, a secure HIPAA-compliant database at Stanford University. We gather comprehensive data about people with stomach cancer, including lifestyle, health and family histories, environmental factors as well as physical samples of the tumors themselves.

These samples allow us to conduct sophisticated and advanced genomic analyses and compile information from a large group of people. This may include future studies that identify gastric cancer’s molecular complexities and map associations between specific genetic errors and a patient’s prognosis and outcome.

The Gastric Cancer Registry was created with the generosity of Diane and Ronald Weintraub, in memory of their beloved daughter Beth Weintraub Schoenfeld.

Intermountain Healthcare

We will address critical research questions in the development of precision health. Conducting our studies in collaboration with Intermountain Healthcare will enable our joint team to address more ambitious clinical research questions on a much broader scale