Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory researchers race against time to save Tasman...(ented an overview of the research being ...),Health

Our efforts to sequence the devils genome mark the first time anyone has attempted to use the technology for exploring this particular type of cancer biology, explained David L. Spector, Ph.D., CSHL director of research. When we have a complete view of the devil tumor genes, scientists will be able to identify the cancer causing genes, which may lead to the development of therapies and vaccines.

According to Hannah Bender, an Australian veterinarian and Ph.D. student who works with the CSHL team, the disease is now found in more than 50 percent of the devils habitat. This research will be a vital component of the Save the Devil Program and will assist in fully understanding the disease, its characteristics and what might be done for future approaches, said the Honorable Doug Parkinson, Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council of Tasmania. Information gathered by the CSHL team during their research of the tumors genome will also aid the Tasmanian breeding program to ensure a genetically diverse insurance population.

The uniqueness of the tumor structure also has human implications. Were using all of the research tools employed for understanding human tumor biology, said Gregory Hannon, Ph.D., CSHL professor and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator who oversees Murchisons work. A cure for the devil may have applications for humans as well.

Simon Boughey, senior adviser to the Tasmanian Minister for Primary Industries and Water said, We appreciate what Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is doing to help combat this problem, and thereby save the devils.

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