About CCGS



	By definition, the study of genomics has only become possible in the last decade as the entire genomes of organisms were being deciphered. From its humble beginnings, the field of genomics began in earnest in 1995 with the sequence of the first free-living organism, a bacterium called Haemophilus influenzae containing 1.8 million base pairs of DNA. Since then an explosion of sequence information has emerged from organisms as diverse as bacteria, yeast, flies, mice and plants. In April 2003, the largest and most ambitious project to date—the human genome—was finally complete, with all 3 billion base pairs spelled out. This is clearly a landmark scientific and technological achievement, but in many ways, it is merely the beginning of a long road of discovery that lies ahead. Genomics aims to make sense of all this raw sequence data. We can now begin to ask questions that were never possible before: What are all the genes turned on in cancer cells that are off in normal cells? How many targets does a particular drug or herbicide have? What are all the genes that make mice different from humans? Why do certain drugs work for some patients but not others? Answers to these and many other important questions can be discovered as vast amounts of sequence data are analyzed and interpreted by genomic researchers from many different basic and applied disciplines.

	The full value of genomics will only be realized using a multidisciplinary approach since it requires the integration of a diverse spectrum of fields such as genetics, biology, biochemistry, bioinformatics, epidemiology, computer science and engineering. Moreover, genomics has the potential to impact the health and welfare of society at all levels including drug discovery, patient care, crop protection and public policy. To address this challenge, UNC established the Carolina Center for Genome Sciences (CCGS) in August of 2001 with faculty appointments from 7 different academic units representing over 15 departments and disciplines. This group is made up of UNC faculty with well-established research programs, as well as recent hires from nationwide searches to recruit new, innovative scientists to complement existing faculty and to keep pace with the constantly evolving field of genomics. The Center has also invested significantly in state-of-the-art laboratories and core facilities, which are critical for making progress in this technology-driven endeavor. Furthermore, the CCGS is committed to training the next generation of basic scientists and clinicians in the genome sciences. To this end, several training programs have been established representing a variety of disciplines such as plant genomics, computational biology, and medical genetics. The CCGS also recognizes the importance of understanding the societal implications of genomic discoveries and has brought together a group of social scientists, physicians and legal experts with a common interest in healthcare education as well as public policy. In sum, the CCGS encompasses an impressive array of faculty members, facilities, training programs and outreach efforts. UNC-Chapel Hill is dedicated to making significant advances in basic genomic research, as well as translating these discoveries to improving healthcare, education and society. back to top

	Terry Magnuson, PhD – Director 4312B Medical Biomolecular Research Building CB 7264 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7264 phone: (919) 843-6475 email: trm4@med.unc.edu Jennifer Brennan, PhD – Associate Director for Research 4300A Medical Biomolecular Research Building CB 7264 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7264 phone: (919) 843-6367 email: jenbren@med.unc.edu Jeff Dangl, PhD – Faculty Associate Director 108 Coker Hall CB 3280 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3280 phone: (919) 962-5624 email: dangl@email.unc.edu Jim Evans, MD, PhD – Faculty Associate Director 4200A Medical Biomolecular Research Building CB 7264 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7264 phone: (919) 966-2007 email: jpevans@med.unc.edu Geri Osborn – Business Manager 4312C Medical Biomolecular Research Building CB 7264 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7264 phone: (919) 843-3549 email: gosborn@med.unc.edu Diane Hamer - Executive Assistant to the Director 4300J Medical Biomolecular Research Building CB 7264 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7264 phone: (919) 843-1517 email: dhamer @email.unc.edu Cara Marlow - Training Programs Administrator 4309A Medical Biomolecular Research Building CB 7265 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7265 phone: (919) 966-2681 email: cara_marlow@med.unc.edu Sausyty Hermreck - Training Programs Coordinator 4309 Medical Biomolecular Research Building CB 7265 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7265 phone: (919) 966-2681 email: sausytyh@med.unc.edu [ UNC home -- school of medicine -- campus map -- directory ] back to top