RICHARDSON, Texas (Sept. 5, 2001) – Dr. Lap-Chee Tsui, who was part of the team of scientists at Collaborative Research, Inc., that identified the first DNA marker linked to cystic fibrosis on chromosome 7 and later led the team of researchers that isolated the defective gene responsible for the disease and defined the principal mutation, will speak on “Molecular Genetics of Cystic Fibrosis” Oct. 8 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Conference Center, Room 1.112, at The University of Texas at Dallas. The lecture will be free and open to the public.
Tsui will review the research that has developed into novel strategies to correct some of the symptoms of the disease. A reception will be held immediately prior to the lecture, beginning at 9:30 a.m., in the Conference Center lobby.
Tsui has made his life work defining the genetic defects that causes this inherited disease that affects mainly the lungs and the digestive system to develop better therapies and, perhaps one day, a cure. He has had a role in identifying the hundreds of genetic mutations that can result in CF, a fatal illness afflicting approximately 30,000 people in the United States.
“In less than 20 years, he has become the pioneer of all of the advancements in the world’s knowledge of cystic fibrosis,” said Dr. Da Hsuan Feng, UTD vice president for research and graduate education. “I cannot imagine there is anyone who understands the genetics behind this illness more than he does. It is an honor to have him present his work at UTD.”
Tsui is a fellow in several professional societies, including the Royal Society of London, the Royal Society of Canada and the World Innovation Foundation. He has received more than 40 awards and honors, including the Paul di Sant’Agnese Distinguished Scientific Achievement Award from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in 1989, the Order of Canada (Officer) in 1991, the Cresson Medical from the Franklin Institute in 1992 and the Medical of Honour from the Canadian Medical Association in 1996. He has written more than 250 articles.
Dr. Tsui is geneticist-in-chief and head of the Genetics and Genomic Biology Program of the Research Institute at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. He also is both a professor in the Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics and Institute of Medical Science at the University of Toronto, where he also holds the title of H.E. Sellers Chair in Cystic Fibrosis and University Professor.
Dr. Tsui’s visit is sponsored by UTD’s Office of the Vice President of Research and Graduate Education, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, the Collin County Comissioners and the UTD chapter of Sigma Xi, an international research society.
About UTD
The University of Texas at Dallas, located at the convergence of Richardson, Plano and Dallas in the heart of the complex of major multinational technology corporations known as the Telecom Corridor, enrolls more than 7,000 undergraduate and 5,000 graduate students. The school’s freshman class traditionally stands at the forefront of Texas state universities in terms of average SAT scores. The university offers a broad assortment of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs. For additional information about UTD, please visit the university’s Web site at www.utdallas.edu .