Workshop Reports

Microarrays, Models, and Mechanisms
January 26 - 27, 2001 - Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
1100 Fairview Avenue North
Seattle, Washington 98109
Prepared By Stephen Hart

Abstract
Microarray technology promises to provide gene expression data quickly on a large number of genes. Ideally, microarray studies could provide insight into the effect the expansion of the Huntington gene exerts on the expression of a wide variety of other genes. With that picture in hand, researchers could focus on genes that affect the phenotype of Huntington's Disease. The Hereditary Disease Array Group (HDAG) is a consortium of approximately 50 scientists from 18 laboratories that is conducting microarray-based experiments on neurodegenerative disease models. Thirty-four members of HDAG gathered in Seattle and Boston--linked by videoconferencing technology--on January 26-27, 2001 in a round-table discussion on the promises and realities of microarray technology as applied to models of Huntington's disease and other polyglutamine diseases. The discussion generated a number of questions, How do researchers know what data is real and what is noise? Which statistical model best represents reality? What are the next steps?

Coordinator James Olson, of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCRC), presented a schedule for the two days, then introduced Tom Bird, of the Department of Neurology at the University of Washington, to present a Huntington's Disease patient. Rebecca, 47, lives by herself north of Seattle. She pointed out a number of the day-to-day effects of Huntington's Disease, including her inability to continue her job, difficulty with normal tasks such as brushing her teeth, the need to eat a high-fat diet to compensate for her body's constant activity and her inability to sleep. Rebecca's father died at 61, after 10 years of Huntington's Disease symptoms and her brother died early in January, 2001 also after about 10 years of Huntington's Disease symptoms.

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