{"id":27344,"date":"2025-07-16T20:08:52","date_gmt":"2025-07-16T20:08:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/?p=27344"},"modified":"2025-07-16T20:08:53","modified_gmt":"2025-07-16T20:08:53","slug":"breakthrough-gene-tool-promises-better-treatment-for-complex-diseases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/breakthrough-gene-tool-promises-better-treatment-for-complex-diseases\/","title":{"rendered":"Breakthrough Gene Tool Promises Better Treatment for Complex Diseases"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-blockquote uagb-block-e7eb3fc3 uagb-blockquote__skin-border uagb-blockquote__stack-img-none\"><blockquote class=\"uagb-blockquote\"><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__content\">Case Western Reserve University&#8217;s innovative computational tool, TGVIS, is revolutionizing how researchers identify genes linked to complex diseases, offering hope for more effective treatments and earlier detection of conditions like heart disease and diabetes.<\/div><footer><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__author-wrap uagb-blockquote__author-at-left\"><\/div><\/footer><\/blockquote><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-b0ffac9c wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-size:16px\" class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-post-author\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-author__name\">The University Network<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share uagb-social-share__outer-wrap uagb-social-share__layout-horizontal uagb-block-ee584a31\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-ec619ce7\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"facebook\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M504 256C504 119 393 8 256 8S8 119 8 256c0 123.8 90.69 226.4 209.3 245V327.7h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.28c-30.8 0-40.41 19.12-40.41 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V501C413.3 482.4 504 379.8 504 256z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-32d99934\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"twitter\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-1d136f14\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"linkedin\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A team of researchers at Case Western Reserve University has devised an innovative computational method that holds promise for revolutionizing how genes and genetic changes responsible for diseases are identified. Their tool could significantly advance the early detection and treatment of cardiometabolic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Genetic changes can signal the presence of diseases, but determining which specific genes and changes are responsible can be challenging due to the complexity and interconnected nature of genetic information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a recently <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-025-61423-8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">published<\/a> study in Nature Communications, the researchers introduced a new computational tool named TGVIS that could transform this landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;We have been able to identify new genes that were previously overlooked, expanding our knowledge of the genetic basis of diseases,&#8221; lead researcher Xiaofeng Zhu, a professor in the Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences at the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, said in a news release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A Novel Approach to Complex Diseases<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The study focused on traits that offer clues about cardiovascular health, such as lipid and glucose levels and inflammation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By leveraging existing genome-wide association studies (GWAS), the team enhanced the precision of identifying genes responsible for these traits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While GWAS can link DNA regions to disease-associated traits, pinpointing the causative gene or genetic change remained difficult due to overlaps and indirect gene interactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Building upon GWAS, the researchers created TGVIS (Tissue-Gene pairs, direct causal Variants, and Infinitesimal Effects Selector), a tool designed to more accurately identify the genes and changes in a person\u2019s DNA that may cause disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;We used TGVIS to study 45 traits related to heart and metabolism, using genomic data from 31 different types of body tissues,&#8221; Zhu added. &#8220;This helped us better identify which genes are likely causing these traits. We even found new genes that previous studies missed.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How TGVIS Works<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The TGVIS tool integrates information from GWAS with other biological data, such as how the body uses DNA instructions to produce proteins and other essential molecules. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advanced mathematical models and computational algorithms were employed to pinpoint the genes and DNA changes potentially responsible for specific diseases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The method was initially applied to cardiometabolic traits, which encompass the health of the heart and blood vessels and the body&#8217;s energy metabolism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, Zhu aims to adapt this approach to extend its utility to other diseases, including breast cancer, Alzheimer\u2019s and additional cardiovascular conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;We can also now prioritize which genes to study further, making research more efficient and focused, which can accelerate the pace of scientific discoveries and innovations,&#8221; added Zhu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/thedaily.case.edu\/new-gene-tool-leads-to-better-treatments-for-complex-diseases\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Case Western Reserve University<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A team of researchers at Case Western Reserve University has devised an innovative computational method that holds promise for revolutionizing how genes and genetic changes responsible for diseases are identified. Their tool could significantly advance the early detection and treatment of cardiometabolic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes. Genetic changes can signal the presence [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-no-separators","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[203],"class_list":["post-27344","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-science","tag-case-western-reserve-university"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"The University Network","author_link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/author\/funky_junkie\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"A team of researchers at Case Western Reserve University has devised an innovative computational method that holds promise for revolutionizing how genes and genetic changes responsible for diseases are identified. Their tool could significantly advance the early detection and treatment of cardiometabolic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes. Genetic changes can signal the presence&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27344","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27344"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27344\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27368,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27344\/revisions\/27368"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27344"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27344"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27344"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}