Ralph DeBerardinis: Excited to start a new role at UT Southwestern Medical Center, as Director of the Eugene McDermott Center

Ralph DeBerardinis, Professor and Director of the Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development and Center for Human Genetics at UT Southwestern, shared on X:

“I’m honored and excited to start a new role at UT Southwestern Medical Center, as Director of the Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development and Center for Human Genetics.

The McDermott Center, led by Helen Hobbs since 2000, is the heart and soul of human genetics at UTSW, and has long had particular interest in metabolic dimensions of human growth, development and disease.

Human genetics is broad, but ultimately revolves around connections between genotype and phenotype. So we will identify genomic variation related to tractable phenotypes; define mechanisms linking genotype and phenotype; and develop ways to normalize pathological phenotypes.

As part of a large medical center in the rapidly growing DFW metroplex, we have an opportunity and, I believe, a responsibility to tether our research to diseases affecting our patients, across the entire lifespan from birth to old age.

To produce meaningful discoveries, we need expertise in three areas: computational genomics, population genetics and mechanistic, disease-focused basic science. We will build in all three. Thanks to UTSW Medical Center leadership for supporting this vision.

Genetics and metabolism are closely intertwined, especially in humans. Inborn errors of metabolism encompass more than 1,000 human monogenic diseases, mostly manifesting in children. Both healthy and pathogenic metabolic variation is genetically influenced.

We will continue to study metabolic variation in the Genetic and Metabolic Disease Program Children’s Research Institute at UTSW. Building genetics expertise in the McDermott Center will complement our strength in metabolism and accelerate discovery in genetic diseases, including in children.

Thanks Sean Morrison and Children’s Health leadership for supporting the Genetic and Metabolic Disease Program. I look forward to increasing interactions between the GMDP and McDermott Center. This will stimulate discoveries in both groups.

Thanks to the amazing Division of Pediatric Genetics and Metabolism UT Southwestern Pediatrics. What a pleasure to serve as your Chief for 11 years. You’re in capable hands with Dr. Garrett Gotway, who has directed clinical ops for years and will lead you to new heights as Chief.

Finally, thanks to Dr. Helen Hobbs who has led the Center for more than 20 years. Helen is a mentor, role model and *hero* in human genetics. She encouraged me to think about this new position and supported me throughout.

It’s an honor to help write the next chapters of UTSW’s rich legacy in human genetics. I can’t wait to see what we will discover together.

If this sounds interesting to you – we’re recruiting faculty this year. Keep an eye on this feed for ads.”

Source: Ralph DeBerardinis Lab/X