UCT/MRC Human Genetics Research Unit
Director:
Prof. Rajkumar S Ramesar
E-mail: raj.ramesar@uct.ac.za
 An
assessment of the current situation in human/medical genome research indicates
that it is essential to regroup strategically (and speedily) in order to develop
a firm informed base of genomic practitioners, through whom genomic information
is sought from our peoples, deciphered, and processed for their betterment.
The way forward is to
increase capacity at currently existing academic institutions/departments,
units or individual enterprises that practice the various aspects of (Human)
Genome analysis.
Prof.
RAJ Ramesar heads up the new UCT/MRC Human Genetics Research Unit.
The UCT/MRC Human Genetics Research Unit benefit from the strong history of excellent research within the host Division of Human Genetics, and focuses its efforts on the genome research/clinic interface. Building capacity is one of its major outputs.
To date, the Division
of Human Genetics has played an important role in:
- the early diagnosis
of inherited disorders, their management and treatment;
- providing genetic counselling;
and
- conducting research
towards offering predictive testing and the possibility of preventing recurrence
of respective diseases.
A wealth of data has been
built up which is pertinent to disorders in South Africa, reflecting their
prevalence, demographic profile in different populations, geographic origins
and possible economic burden.
The
envisaged expansion of the Unit will be in the areas of:
- developing a high throughput
genetic analysis facility for the purpose of disease-genomic research;
- training researchers
to map and identify genes which are of interest in and to our populations;
and
- understanding the biology
of such genetic elements by drawing on the expertise within the Institute
for Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine on the UCT campus, and other
interested bodies in the country.
The
core expertise and resident functions in the Unit will ultimately include:
- genetic study co-ordination
which will help with the development and co-ordination of patient, family
and population-based studies, and the design of such investigations;
- assistance with the
development of diagnostic criteria and screening for specific research programmes;
- subject contact and
collection of biological material;
- A high throughput genetic
analysis capability to carry out large scale genotyping and sequencing to
identify disease-predisposing elements in our populations.
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