Your quarterly update from the MCGI team January 2025 — March 2025
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Your quarterly update from the MCGI team January 2025 — March 2025
We are excited to welcome our 50th intern who will be joining us from March 2025 to May 2026 as part of a preceptorship in Translational Precision Medicine. This milestone underscores MCGI’s commitment to fostering the next generation of professionals in genomics-driven oncology care.
While pursuing her academic studies in the Genetic Counseling Program at MGH Institute of Health Professions, our newest intern will engage in a structured course of activities aimed at understanding how integrating genetic counseling into the Genomic Tumor Board experience improves outcomes for patients. Under the guidance of MCGI’s Associate Director, Lindsey Kelley, she will analyze the outcomes of germline assessments that have occurred at MCGI GTBs and explore how genetic counselors can be more effectively incorporated into these critical discussions.
This preceptorship is part of a larger team-based effort to enhance precision oncology and ensure that patients receive the most comprehensive genetic insights available. MCGI is thrilled to support her journey and looks forward to the meaningful contributions she will bring to our initiative.
Stay tuned for updates on her experience and the impact of this collaboration!
Earlier this month, MCGI’s Program Director, Leah Graham, Ph.D., joined fellow leaders at The Jackson Laboratory’s Women x Women event to discuss the power of genetic and genomic testing in understanding and treating human disease.
Graham participated in a panel focused on how genetic testing is reshaping precision medicine and improving patient care. Alongside experts in the field, she highlighted the critical role of genomics in oncology, emphasizing its impact on cancer treatment decisions and patient outcomes.
The event also featured engaging presentations from Mary Dickinson, Ph.D., chief scientific officer at JAX, who spoke about the institution’s pioneering research, and Professor, Duygu Ucar, Ph.D., who explored how our immune systems evolve with age.
As genomic advancements continue to drive breakthroughs in healthcare, the event served as an inspiring platform for female leaders at JAX to demonstrate their expertise and research.
Missed the event? Watch the recording here.
How can genomic data revolutionize cancer treatment—especially for rare types of cancer?
This question was at the heart of a recent webinar, where Jens Rueter, M.D. medical director of MCGI, joined experts from Genomenon to discuss how the Cancer Knowledgebase (CKB) is helping clinicians identify targeted therapies and clinical trials for patients with rare and hard-to-treat cancers across Maine, including those in rural communities.
Access to genomic sequencing and personalized treatment options remains a challenge for many patients. However, with CKB’s wealth of curated cancer-related gene and variant data, MCGI enables clinicians to make informed, data-driven treatment decisions by utilizing case study-level insights, national guideline-based recommendations, and emerging clinical trial information.
During the discussion, Rueter presented a real-world case study showcasing how Genomic Tumor Boards (GTBs), powered by CKB, help oncologists navigate treatment decisions for cholangiocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive cancer. This case highlighted the critical role of molecular profiling in uncovering targeted therapy options that improved patient outcomes. Panelists also explored the broader challenges of limited access to personalized treatment for rare cancer patients, the ways MCGI integrates genomic data and CKB insights into clinical care, and how evidence-backed GTBs support precision oncology through real-time case analysis.
Watch the full webinar here.
By leveraging genomic data and expert collaboration, MCGI is helping to redefine cancer care —ensuring that even the rarest cases receive informed, personalized treatment.
Winston is a 61-year-old man with small intestine adenocarcinoma. He has a prior cancer history and family history of cancer suggestive of Lynch syndrome. Biomarker testing (tumor and normal cells) was done. Tumor microsatellite instability testing was high. The report says, “no pathogenic or likely pathogenic germline variants detected.” Do these results rule out Lynch syndrome in this patient? What are the limitations? Is more germline testing needed to assess hereditary cancer risk?
Click here to hear Genomic Tumor Board experts discuss this case, how to assess hereditary cancer risk in the context of biomarker testing, and treatment implications.
We're celebrating a major milestone—1,000 followers on LinkedIn! Thank you to our incredible community of clinicians, researchers, advocates and supporters for being part of our journey in advancing precision oncology and genomics-driven cancer care.
Your support fuels our mission to expand education, collaboration and innovation in cancer genomics. We're excited to continue sharing Genomic Tumor Board updates, research highlights, behind-the-scenes moments and more!
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