DNA Unlocked: Genetics vs. Biology

Researchers in drug development face a series of challenges even before candidate drugs are tested; namely, finding promising targets and figuring out what they do in the context of complex diseases. There are numerous gaps in our understanding of human biology, and to make matters worse, due to the complexity and unpredictability of biology, scientists often come to the lab bench with preconceived notions that are often incomplete or even incorrect. Thankfully, human genetics enables researchers to unravel the mysteries of biological systems in an unbiased manner.

In this episode, Ray Deshaies talks to Saptarsi Haldar, a physician-scientist and vice president of research at Amgen, who leads cardiometabolic drug discovery. Prior to joining Amgen, his academic research group studied the gene regulatory mechanisms governing tissue plasticity in physiology and disease. They explore how human genetics and other -omics data helps us understand the basic biology behind promising drug targets and how that informs therapeutic development.

To dive further into this topic, please join Amgen scientists at the DNA Unlocked Q&A webinar discussion on September 1, 2021. Register for this event here: DNA Unlocked Q&A 1

 

DNA Unlocked is a special edition podcast series produced by The Scientist’s Creative services Team. This series is brought to you by Amgen, which is a pioneer in the science of using living cells to make biologic medicines. They helped invent the processes and tools that built the global biotech industry, and have since reached millions of patients suffering from serious illnesses around the world with their medicines.

Since the initial sequencing of the human genome almost twenty years ago, researchers have been enticed by an explosion of DNA data. These sequences hold the promise of understanding human biology, transforming drug research and development, and curing diseases. However, the quest to generate insights from human genetics and -omics research has been full of twists, turns, and roadblocks. In DNA UNLOCKED, Ray Deshaies, senior vice president of Global Research at Amgen, explores the ever-evolving perception of human biology and disease processes thanks to a growing mountain of genetics and omics data. Through discussions with colleagues and other leading research experts, Deshaies unpacks how drug developers decode human genetics to solve some of the most challenging diseases.