Deborah Nickerson, Groundbreaking Genome Researcher, Dies at 67
Deborah Nickerson, a human genomics researcher who served discover genes accountable for cardiovascular disorder, autism and Miller syndrome, a exceptional issue that causes malformations of the facial area and limbs, died on Dec. 24 at her home in Seattle. She was 67.
Her brother, William Nickerson, who is her only rapid survivor, said the cause was stomach cancer, which experienced been identified fewer than a week earlier.
In her research, Dr. Nickerson employed the findings of the Human Genome Task, which completed its historic genetic sequencing of every single human gene in 2003, and made them medically helpful. By sequencing the genes of thousands of healthful folks, she disclosed how genetic variation could be made use of to focus on certain genes that bring about inherited issues.
“Her imprint on genomic medicine is profound,” stated Dr. Gail Jarvik, a professor of medicine and genome science at the University of Washington School of Medication. “Her role was in truly aiding us realize what changes in DNA amongst people today meant, and in identifying what gene was adjusted in rare conditions.”
Dr. Nickerson was also a professor of genome sciences at the College of Washington and was a founder and director of one particular of the 5 medical web-sites that comprise the Gregor Consortium, the successor to the Centers for Mendelian Genomics, named right after Gregor Mendel, a 19th-century Austrian monk identified as the father of genetics.
Funded by the Nationwide Institutes of Well being, the consortium seeks to recognize gene mutations dependable for what are regarded as Mendelian issues, in which patients have a mutation in a single gene, like that for cystic fibrosis or sickle cell anemia.
Functioning with Drs. Michael Bamshad and Jay Shendure, Dr. Nickerson identified the gene for Miller syndrome, 1 of about 7,000 Mendelian disorders, in 2009.
Dr. Francis Collins, the previous director of the N.I.H. who is now a senior investigator at the National Human Genome Research Institute, a aspect of the N.I.H., referred to as the discovery of the Miller syndrome gene “an explosive moment” and a “jaw-dropping” example of genome sequencing, the strategy utilised to examine all or aspect of a person’s genome, an organism’s complete established of DNA.
“I under no circumstances envisioned that we’d be able to do that in my profession or lifetime,” he said in a cellular phone interview, referring to the skill to establish a person’s disease by reading his genome.
Dr. Bamshad, also by phone, mentioned: “Debbie was instrumental in developing the technological innovation so that we could confirm it could be carried out on other problems. She was a fantastic, tricky-nosed scientist passionate about the role of trainees and girls in science.”
The technological innovation that Dr. Miller and her colleagues utilised led a calendar year later on to the discovery of genetic alterations that are accountable for Kabuki syndrome, a uncommon congenital dysfunction that leads to young children to be born with elongated eyes and arched eyebrows (The expression derives from the visual appeal of actors using exaggerated makeup in Kabuki theater.)
Deborah Ann Nickerson was born in Mineola, N.Y., on Prolonged Island, and grew up in Jamaica, Queens, and West Islip, also on Lengthy Island. Her moms and dads, William and Josephine (Veccia) Nickerson, owned a yard heart.
She graduated from Adelphi University in 1974 with a bachelor’s diploma in biology and been given her Ph.D in immunology from the College of Tennessee. She was a postdoctoral scholar in the division of infectious ailments from 1978-79 at the University of Kentucky’s higher education of medication.
“I love science,” she explained in a video clip on her university residence webpage. “It was probably my toughest issue in school, and that is why it drives me. You want to get greater and have an understanding of additional.”
Beginning in 1979, Dr. Nickerson spent almost a ten years educating biology at the University of South Florida before signing up for the biology office at the California Institute of Technology, initially as a traveling to affiliate and then as a senior research scientist. There she labored under Dr. Leroy Hood, who led the staff that invented the DNA sequencer, which built the Human Genome Job possible.
She adopted Dr. Hood to the College of Washington’s recently-designed department of molecular biotechnology in 1992. After it merged with the university’s section of genetics in 2001, she stayed to variety the section of genome sciences.
Dr. Nickerson was an early adapter of systems that produced DNA sequencing less costly utilizing them, she established a catalog of human genetic variation from a assorted populace by sequencing the genes of extra than 6,500 volunteers. She then built it readily available on the internet to other researchers, who have advanced it even further.
She also led a group of scientists who in 2017 described acquiring genetic variants amongst patients’ unique responses to the blood thinner Warfarin, which had been a longstanding clinical problem.
Dr. Nickerson’s creative, unfiltered, tenacious design served her properly in advising females and underserved minorities in her area, acquiring risen in what had been a male-dominated globe in fighting for what she required when making use of for grants and in dealing with the management of the N.I.H. and its Countrywide Human Genome Investigation Institute.
“I was the N.H.G.R.I. director for fewer than an hour, and she was telling me how to do my position,” explained Eric Green, who was appointed to that position in 2009. “The remarkable component is that she was virtually often wholly proper.”
Dr. Jarvik recalled how Dr. Nickerson would counsel her on trying to get grant cash, encouraging her to check with for additional and to goal higher. “She had entrepreneurial instincts,” she explained, “and she recognized major chances.”
She extra, “I’m not a native risk-taker, and I’ve tried to ask myself, ‘What would Debbie do?’”
Deborah Nickerson, a human genomics researcher who served discover genes accountable for cardiovascular disorder, autism and Miller syndrome, a exceptional issue that causes malformations of the facial area and limbs, died on Dec. 24 at her home in Seattle. She was 67.
Her brother, William Nickerson, who is her only rapid survivor, said the cause was stomach cancer, which experienced been identified fewer than a week earlier.
In her research, Dr. Nickerson employed the findings of the Human Genome Task, which completed its historic genetic sequencing of every single human gene in 2003, and made them medically helpful. By sequencing the genes of thousands of healthful folks, she disclosed how genetic variation could be made use of to focus on certain genes that bring about inherited issues.
“Her imprint on genomic medicine is profound,” stated Dr. Gail Jarvik, a professor of medicine and genome science at the University of Washington School of Medication. “Her role was in truly aiding us realize what changes in DNA amongst people today meant, and in identifying what gene was adjusted in rare conditions.”
Dr. Nickerson was also a professor of genome sciences at the College of Washington and was a founder and director of one particular of the 5 medical web-sites that comprise the Gregor Consortium, the successor to the Centers for Mendelian Genomics, named right after Gregor Mendel, a 19th-century Austrian monk identified as the father of genetics.
Funded by the Nationwide Institutes of Well being, the consortium seeks to recognize gene mutations dependable for what are regarded as Mendelian issues, in which patients have a mutation in a single gene, like that for cystic fibrosis or sickle cell anemia.
Functioning with Drs. Michael Bamshad and Jay Shendure, Dr. Nickerson identified the gene for Miller syndrome, 1 of about 7,000 Mendelian disorders, in 2009.
Dr. Francis Collins, the previous director of the N.I.H. who is now a senior investigator at the National Human Genome Research Institute, a aspect of the N.I.H., referred to as the discovery of the Miller syndrome gene “an explosive moment” and a “jaw-dropping” example of genome sequencing, the strategy utilised to examine all or aspect of a person’s genome, an organism’s complete established of DNA.
“I under no circumstances envisioned that we’d be able to do that in my profession or lifetime,” he said in a cellular phone interview, referring to the skill to establish a person’s disease by reading his genome.
Dr. Bamshad, also by phone, mentioned: “Debbie was instrumental in developing the technological innovation so that we could confirm it could be carried out on other problems. She was a fantastic, tricky-nosed scientist passionate about the role of trainees and girls in science.”
The technological innovation that Dr. Miller and her colleagues utilised led a calendar year later on to the discovery of genetic alterations that are accountable for Kabuki syndrome, a uncommon congenital dysfunction that leads to young children to be born with elongated eyes and arched eyebrows (The expression derives from the visual appeal of actors using exaggerated makeup in Kabuki theater.)
Deborah Ann Nickerson was born in Mineola, N.Y., on Prolonged Island, and grew up in Jamaica, Queens, and West Islip, also on Lengthy Island. Her moms and dads, William and Josephine (Veccia) Nickerson, owned a yard heart.
She graduated from Adelphi University in 1974 with a bachelor’s diploma in biology and been given her Ph.D in immunology from the College of Tennessee. She was a postdoctoral scholar in the division of infectious ailments from 1978-79 at the University of Kentucky’s higher education of medication.
“I love science,” she explained in a video clip on her university residence webpage. “It was probably my toughest issue in school, and that is why it drives me. You want to get greater and have an understanding of additional.”
Beginning in 1979, Dr. Nickerson spent almost a ten years educating biology at the University of South Florida before signing up for the biology office at the California Institute of Technology, initially as a traveling to affiliate and then as a senior research scientist. There she labored under Dr. Leroy Hood, who led the staff that invented the DNA sequencer, which built the Human Genome Job possible.
She adopted Dr. Hood to the College of Washington’s recently-designed department of molecular biotechnology in 1992. After it merged with the university’s section of genetics in 2001, she stayed to variety the section of genome sciences.
Dr. Nickerson was an early adapter of systems that produced DNA sequencing less costly utilizing them, she established a catalog of human genetic variation from a assorted populace by sequencing the genes of extra than 6,500 volunteers. She then built it readily available on the internet to other researchers, who have advanced it even further.
She also led a group of scientists who in 2017 described acquiring genetic variants amongst patients’ unique responses to the blood thinner Warfarin, which had been a longstanding clinical problem.
Dr. Nickerson’s creative, unfiltered, tenacious design served her properly in advising females and underserved minorities in her area, acquiring risen in what had been a male-dominated globe in fighting for what she required when making use of for grants and in dealing with the management of the N.I.H. and its Countrywide Human Genome Investigation Institute.
“I was the N.H.G.R.I. director for fewer than an hour, and she was telling me how to do my position,” explained Eric Green, who was appointed to that position in 2009. “The remarkable component is that she was virtually often wholly proper.”
Dr. Jarvik recalled how Dr. Nickerson would counsel her on trying to get grant cash, encouraging her to check with for additional and to goal higher. “She had entrepreneurial instincts,” she explained, “and she recognized major chances.”
She extra, “I’m not a native risk-taker, and I’ve tried to ask myself, ‘What would Debbie do?’”