Message from the Director
Who Are We? Why Are We Here?
Huntington F. Willard, PhD
In the opening vice-presidential debate of 1992, Ross Perot's running mate, Admiral James Stockdale, introduced himself with the now-infamous, "Who am I? Why am I here?" The same could be asked of Duke’s Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy, the IGSP. "Who are we? Why are we here?"
". . . the genome sciences capture an image of an analytical lens zooming in and out, capable of taking in the whole scene to give one perspective, and then zooming in to unravel the most intricate mechanistic details."As the human genome project has unfurled over the past ten years, what the field of genomics brought us—now conveyed more broadly by the term "genome sciences"—has been an emphasis on global, comprehensive approaches to biology. This global view encompasses a number of perspectives, beginning at the micro level of the genome sequence and moving up to include the transcriptome, the proteome, the metabolome and the rest of their "ome" cousins, as well as the cell, tissues, whole organisms and even entire populations.
The genome sciences are a complement to the reductionist approach that was so in vogue in the 1970s and '80s when molecular biology first burst onto the scene. That paradigm has been incredibly useful, but can now be extended by the ability—as well as the clinical imperative—to paint on a broader canvas. At their most powerful, the genome sciences capture an image of an analytical lens zooming in and out, capable of taking in the whole scene to give one perspective and then zooming in to unravel the most intricate mechanistic details.
The IGSP represents Duke’s response to the dizzying array of developments that have emerged in genome sciences. Thus, the IGSP mission involves not only cutting-edge genome science, technology and their applications, but also the deliberate and thoughtful study of the impact of that science and technology on virtually every facet of human activity. It is for that reason that the IGSP promises to bring together — under one metaphorical roof — scientists, engineers, physicians, lawyers, policymakers, business leaders, economists, ethicists, humanists, and students all across the Duke campus and beyond.
When I announced that I was coming to Duke to take on this opportunity, someone observed that genome centers pop up around the country more often than orange barrels on I-40. A quick Google search of the term "genome center" bears out this contention. So what makes us different? Two things, for starters:
- Breadth. As I've tried to make clear above, the genome sciences enterprise is best served when it includes the widest range of perspectives. One of Duke's great advantages is its truly interdisciplinary tradition and its willingness to reach across the campus; indeed, I'm convinced that this is the perfect, fertile environment for the IGSP to flourish. It is what makes us distinctive compared to other efforts nationally.
- Impact. If you ever read the newspaper, you can't help but notice the hand wringing that goes on in this country regarding the spiraling costs of healthcare, the huge number of people without insurance, and the rising morbidity and mortality from common chronic diseases. Given the magnitude of this societal problem, hand wringing is appropriate. But we can actually do something. And we will. We believe that the genome sciences can have a tangible, positive impact on the way healthcare is administered in the US and contribute greatly to the development of personalized approaches to one's health. And we won't have to wait twenty years to see it. Contributions to medicine – even revolutionary contributions to medicine – are only the most obvious way the genome sciences can impact our lives. A focus on bringing the genome to life – this too makes us distinctive.
In this inaugural issue of GenomeLIFE, we hope you'll find evidence of the ways in which you and our colleagues at Duke are bringing a myriad of perspectives to bear on both the scientific and social aspects of the Genome Revolution. If we are dedicated and thoughtful in these pursuits, then who we are and why we are here will soon become clear enough to everyone.
Huntington F. Willard
Director