Reviewed by: Elizabeth Hobbs
How these local scientists are helping Huntsvillians be proactive against cancer risks
Reading time: 5 minutes
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HudsonAlpha is making strides in cancer research, focusing on problems that impact cancer patients today.
Meet the local scientists behind these efforts and check out how they’re saving lives by helping people know their cancer risk.
Meet Dr. Sara Cooper
Dr. Sara Cooper has been a Faculty Investigator at HudsonAlpha for 14 years. She loves leading the research her lab does using genetic and genomic technologies to understand problems faced by individuals with a cancer risk or diagnosis.
The research Dr. Cooper and her team do generally falls into two categories:
- 1. Understanding the impacts of inherited DNA changes on someone’s risk for cancer
“We’re interested in identifying new genes or DNA changes important for cancer risk. One project we’re doing right now is collaborating with Clearview Cancer Institute to analyze DNA samples from individuals who are cancer survivors or have a strong family history of cancer.”
Dr. Sara Cooper, Faculty Investigator, HudsonAlpha
- 2. Identifying genes that change an individual’s response to cancer treatment
“We’re seeking to answer the question, ‘How do genes change the way cells respond to drugs commonly used to treat cancer?’
We’re using a technology that allows us to rank which genes impact cell response the most. Our goal is to provide information that could determine which drugs might work best and to provide evidence supporting development of new treatments.”
Dr. Sara Cooper, Faculty Investigator, HudsonAlpha
Dr. Cooper also enjoys training aspiring scientists and works with several new graduates in the lab at HudsonAlpha.
Information is Powerāknowing your genetic risk
If you are familiar with HudsonAlpha, you’ve probably heard the phrase, “Information is Power.”
This program was started in 2015 in response to a challenge by Dr. Mary-Claire King, a geneticist renowned for her work identifying the first gene contributing to breast cancer risk, BRCA1. She was speaking in Huntsville and noted that about half of the people who have an increased genetic risk for cancer don’t meet the standard testing criteria. In other words, no one’s nudging them to take a test to determine their risk and receive recommended screenings for high-risk individuals.
Through Information is Power, HudsonAlpha has made the testing process super easy, accessible and, in many cases, freeāand Kristy Bell has played a huge role in that development.
As the Program Coordinator for Information is Power, Kristy travels all over the state to help people identify their potential risk for cancer.
“Since the program began in Huntsville, we’ve done really well getting the word out in North Alabama.
Now, we’ve expanded our focus to include the rest of the state, and I’ve been spending a lot of time in Central Alabama in the Black Belt area.
There are so many people who don’t know their family history, but we can bring valuable genetic risk information to the forefront for them. Information really is power.”
Kristy Bell, Project Program Coordinator for Information is Power, HudsonAlpha
Information is Powerālearn your risk today.
Changing the lives of people in Huntsville + beyond
Dr. Cooper shared one amazing story (out of many) about an individual whose life was saved through Information is Power.
“We met one woman who had no knowledge of her family background because she was adopted. She took the test, and it came back positive.
Our genetic counseling team provided her recommendations to mitigate her risk. Her doctor helped her make a plan for proper screenings based on her risk, giving her the best chance for life-saving early detection.”
Dr. Sara Cooper, Faculty Investigator, HudsonAlpha
According to Dr. Cooper and the HudsonAlpha team, only four percent of individuals get a positive test result, indicating an increased genetic cancer risk.
For those who receive a positive result, the HudsonAlpha team will connect them with a local genetic counselor who can put together a personalized plan for them to keep them healthy and manage their risk.
Give back at the Tie the Ribbons event
If you’re interested in learning more about Information is Power and want a way to support HudsonAlpha’s life-changing work, you don’t want to miss the 16th annual Tie the Ribbons event.
The event raises support for HudsonAlpha’s breast and ovarian cancer research programs, as well as Information is Power.
It’s a diverse, poignant and fun multi-generation luncheon, featuring people in the community who have been directly impacted by cancer. Dr. Rebecca Arend, a gynecological oncologist and cancer researcher at UAB, will be the keynote speaker.
Event details:
- When: Thursday, November 7, 11:30AM
- Where: Von Braun Center Saturn Ballroom, 700 Monroe St SW, Huntsville, AL 35801
- Get tickets (Psst! The early bird discount runs through October 7th. Registration runs through October 30th.)
- Donate now.
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