School of Medicine

  Welcome to the Department of Genetics
   LSU Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana

 

 

Welcome to the Department of Genetics! A discipline that began as the study of inheritable traits long before we understood the nature of genes has evolved into the study of genomes and their regulation by the scientific and technological progress made over the past few decades. Modern genetics has been made possible by parallel revolutions in high-throughput nucleic acid technology (chip-based hybridization, next-generation sequencing) and computational sciences (bioinformatics, epidemiology and population genetics). The National Human Genome Research Institute at the National Institutes of Health describes five domains of genomics research:  understanding the structure of genomes, understanding the biology of genomes, understanding the biology of disease, advancing the science of medicine, and improving the effectiveness of healthcare.  For the first time in history, we have gained the ability to gather vast amounts of genomic and epigenomic data to explore their correlations with human health. 

Molecular mechanisms of genetic disorders are being elucidated and disease-related genes are being identified at an unprecedented pace. Precision medicine uses genomic and epigenomic tools to predict individual differences in drug disposition (pharmacogenomics), and to personalize treatment by selecting the safest and most effective agents. We are on the threshold of a scientific and technological revolution in medicine, driven by genetics and genomics. LSUHSC is committed to achieving national excellence in genomics and precision medicine research. Department of Genetics faculty members are dedicated to spearheading this effort through our research and to disseminating state-of-the-art knowledge through our teaching programs for LSUHSC students, residents and fellows and our outreach activities in the community.

Our vision: A modern Department of Genetics provides a comprehensive research, clinical and educational platform for an Academic Medical Center, using state-of-the art approaches that include basic research on genetic mechanisms of disease, genomics-based precision medicine, bioinformatics and population genomics.

Our mission: To contribute to the growth of the LSU Health Sciences Center and its affiliates through excellence in all academic missions; to drive innovation in research, didactics, clinical service and faculty development; to collaborate with other Departments and Centers, partner institutions and  the private sector through clinical research on precision medicine as well as the development of novel genetics and bioinformatics methodologies; and to serve our community through outreach and education on the evolving role of genetics in medicine and public health. 

Fern Tsien, PhD
Interim Chair, Department of Genetics
Assistant Dean for Medical Student Research, School of Medicine