Genetic Regulators of Metabolism and Development in Children
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Summary
This is a prospective, non-randomized, non-blinded observational study. The overarching goal is to discover new disease-associated genes in children, while establishing a specific focus on disorders where molecular characterization is most likely to lead to novel therapies. This study will merge detailed phenotypic characterization of patients presenting to the Pediatric Genetics and Metabolism Division in the Department of Pediatrics/Children's Medical Center at Dallas and collaborating clinics with Next-Generation sequencing techniques to identify disease-producing mutations. The primary objective of the study is to identify novel pathogenic mutations in children with rare Mendelian disorders. A secondary objective of the study is to establish normative ranges of a large number of metabolites from healthy newborns and older children.
Description
Discovery of genetic basis of impaired metabolism has greatly advanced treatment of patients with known metabolic diseases. However, many more genetic and metabolic disorders and their molecular causes remain to be discovered. The overall goal of this study is to discover new disease-associated genes in children, while establishing a specific focus on metabolic disorders where molecular characterization is most likely to lead to novel therapies. The primary objective is to identify novel pathogenic mutations in children with rare Mendelian disorders. The secondary objectives are: 1) Optimize m…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 0+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion criteria of Cohort 1- Newborn: * Subjects aged 1-2 days * Subjects with gestational age 37-42 weeks * Subjects with stable clinical status (admitted to normal newborn nursery) Inclusion criteria of Cohort 2 - Older children: • Subjects aged 0-18 years Inclusion criteria of Cohort 3 - Diseased children: Subjects (no age limit) with ANY phenotype as below: * Confirmed metabolic or genetic diseases * Suspected metabolic or genetic diseases * Episodic metabolic decompensation (e.g. hypoglycemia, hyperammonemia, metabolic acidosis) * Developmental regression * Major congenital malfo…
Interventions
- ProcedureSkin Biopsy
Skin biopsy will only be performed on the proband children in the cohort 3. A small piece of skin (less than 1/8'') will be removed using a local anesthetic cream and a punch, which will then be used for culture of skin cells and other laboratory tests on metabolic function.
Location
- Children's Medical Center at DallasDallas, Texas