NEWS

Brysons commit $5 million to establish clinical genetics research center at UNC

By LESLIE H. LANG
UNC School of Medicine

CHAPEL HILL -- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill alumni Vaughn and Nancy Bryson have committed $5 million to their alma mater to establish a clinical genetics research center on the university’s medical campus.

"This gift permits us to build on our investment in genomics by reinforcing our program’s commitment to translating findings in biosciences into clinical work," said Dr. Jeffrey L. Houpt, School of Medicine dean.

Beginning this month, the center, a component of the Carolina Center for Genome Sciences, will bring researchers, physicians and medical faculty together to explore the relationship between genetics and diseases, address the critical need for trained clinical geneticists and transfer promising new treatments from the laboratory to patient bedsides. The close collaboration between laboratory scientists and physicians is expected to advance the knowledge of both groups.

"There have been tremendous advances in our understanding of disease over the past two decades, coming not only from basic science investigations but also from the care and study of patients with genetic disorders," said Dr. James P. Evans, associate professor of medicine at UNC. "The donors have a specific interest in trying to help bridge the gap that oftentimes exists between basic science and the bedside."

Dr. Arthur S. Aylsworth, professor of pediatrics and genetics and chief of the pediatric division of genetics and metabolism, said clinical geneticists are uniquely suited to bridge this gap. "This is a need in medicine that is growing exponentially; the future will require many more clinical geneticists than are currently being trained," he said. "It is extremely forward-looking for the donors to recognize this as a major societal need."

Another critical aim of the program is to expand genetics education and training for physicians who have expertise in other areas. "We want to disseminate genetic knowledge throughout the clinician community here at UNC," Evans said. Many physicians today, at UNC and elsewhere, report being ill-prepared for the influx of genetics into clinical medicine, as relatively few had received sufficient training in this burgeoning field, he added.

Along with raising the visibility of genetics among physicians, the new center will promote the use of genetic approaches to diagnosis.

"We also really need to be training the next generation of clinical geneticists," said Dr. Terry Magnuson, Sarah Graham Kenan professor of genetics and director of the Carolina Center for Genome Sciences. "This is an important component of the new center."

Magnuson added that establishment of the center will also enable basic scientists to understand the relationship between genetics and disease by enabling them to tap into clinical work at UNC with patients and their families.

The genetics department at the UNC School of Medicine recently recruited two human geneticists, Dr. Pat Sullivan from Virginia Commonwealth University and Dr. Kirk Wilhelmsen of the University of California at San Francisco. Both will play important roles in the new research center.

"We hope to engage in community training, as well," Evans said. "Genetics education doesn’t stop with clinicians. It’s having such a powerful impact on broad aspects of society that educating the public is important, too."

In February 2001, UNC Chancellor James Moeser announced a campuswide genomics initiative representing a public-private investment of at least $245 million over the next 10 years. Four new buildings affiliated with genomics research are supported by a combination of funds from the statewide higher education bond referendum, prior state appropriations and campus sources including private gifts. The initiative involves faculty from the schools of dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy and public health – as well as the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Information and Library Science and the School of Law.

The Brysons, who live in Florida and Michigan, are 1960 graduates of the UNC School of Pharmacy. Vaughn Bryson is retired chief executive officer at Eli Lilly and Co. Both are members of the Carolina First campaign steering committee.

They have supported the School of Pharmacy, athletics, the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Medicine, the School of Public Health, the University Library and UNC baseball.

Their gift counts toward the Carolina First campaign goal of $1.8 billion. Carolina First is a comprehensive, multi-year private fund-raising campaign to support Carolina’s vision of becoming the nation’s leading public university.

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Note: Contact Evans at (919) 966-2276, ext 242, or jpevans@med.unc.edu. Contact Magnuson at (919) 843-6475 or trm4@med.unc.edu. Contact Aylsworth at (919) 966-4202 or asayls@med.unc.edu.

School of Medicine contact: Les Lang, (919) 843-9687 or llang@med.unc.edu

Background on the university’s commitment to genomics research: http://www.unc.edu/news/archives/feb01/gene022201.htm