Intermountain Healthcare’s Precision Genomics core laboratory will host a celebratory open house on Oct. 13 from 1 to 3 p.m. The core laboratory is located at Rim Rock Plaza, 272 S.1470 E., Suite 201, (across from Courtyard Marriott and behind Target) in St. George. The public is invited to attend.
Pravin Mishra, PhD, lead scientist and director of the lab said, “In the lab, we are performing cutting-edge science. We have developed a bioinformatics pipeline to analyze complex genetic data to help cancer patients. This fully functional modern lab includes a robotics system, state-of-the-art instruments, and employs a highly skilled scientific team.”
The core laboratory receives cancer tumor samples from patients all over the United States. The DNA samples are processed, sequenced, and analyzed at the core laboratory. Scientists look for specific genetic alterations and mutations in each sample’s genome. By studying the genome of individual cancers, scientists are better able to determine the exact nature and type of each patient’s cancer. A patient can then be matched with a precise medicine for treatment.
“It is exciting to see the growth of this innovative program that is extending the life and quality of life for stage four cancer patients,” said Terri Kane, vice president of Intermountain Healthcare’s southwest region. “Dr. Lincoln Nadauld, Dr. Derrick Haslem, Dr. Pravin Mishra and their team are changing the way the most serious cancers are treated.”
Intermountain Precision Genomics is a service of Intermountain Healthcare offering genetic sequencing of solid tumors. The core laboratory is the location where in-depth sequencing identifies cancer-causing mutations that may occur in a person’s DNA. For more information about Precision Genomics, please visit its website, join the dialog on Facebook, follow @precisioncancer on Twitter, or call (435) 251-5784.
