Summer 2010 Issue

Translational Genomics Research Institute 02 Swimmer Spans English Channel 04 Dr. David Craig Dives into the Mysteries of Bipolar Disorder 06 ASCO Honors Dr. Daniel Von Hoff 08 Dr. Matt Huentelman Peddles for Alzheimer’s The laTesT ally in The fighT againsT disease 10 canine DNA offers geneTic insighTs inTo cancer, deafness, hearT defecTs, obesiTy, neurologic disorders and more ® summer 2010 A Non-Profit Medical Research Institute Supporting TGen You, too, can make a difference n this issue of TGen Today, we feature Chip and Daryl Weil. We are truly fortunate to have received Itheir generous planned gift to fund our cutting-edge pancreatic cancer research. By naming TGen as a beneficiary of his life insurance policy, Chip ensures that he will leave a legacy in the area of research that he cares about – one that personally has touched his family. You, too, can make a difference by considering a planned gift to TGen. Whether you name TGen as a beneficiary in your life insurance policy, or as a charitable beneficiary of your will or trust, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that your gift will fund research into a broad range of human Denise McClintic diseases, the results of which help shape the future of medicine and lead to new diagnostics and improved treatments for patients. If you or someone you know would like to learn more about making a current or planned gift to TGen, please contact Denise A. McClintic, J.D., LL.M., Associate Vice-President at 602-343-8611 or at [email protected]. Summer 2010 | 1 Translational Genomics Research Institute Cover Story Page 10 — Canine Consortium Initiates Research The DNA of Bernese mountain dogs like this one will be studied at Michigan State University to better understand malignant histiocytic sarcoma, a type of cancer. Page 02 — Swimming for a Cause Page 04 — Dr. David Craig Tackles Bipolar Disorder Page 06 — Dr. Daniel Von Hoff Wins Top Award Page 08 — Dr. Matt Huentelman’s Uphill Climb 12 PetSmart 14 TGen in Brief 16 Chip Weil on Planned Giving 17 TGen Foundation Events Back Cover Helios Scholars Program Notes About TGen The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a non-profit organization dedicated to conducting groundbreaking research with life changing results. Research at TGen is focused on helping patients with diseases such as cancer, neurological disorders and diabetes. TGen is on the cutting edge of translational research where investigators are able to unravel the genetic components of common and complex diseases. Working with collaborators in the scientific and medical communities, TGen believes it can make a substantial contribution to the efficiency and effectiveness of the translational process. TGen is affiliated with the Van Andel Research Institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan. For more information, visit: www.tgen.org 2 | TGen Today Unlike the normal ups and downs that everyone goes through, the radical symptoms of bipolar disorder can result in damaged relationships, poor job or school performance, and even suicide. It often starts in the late teens or early adult years. But it is not easy to detect, and some people suffer for years before they are properly diagnosed and treated. Martino Caretto, Richard’s father, wants to change that. Following Richard’s death on April 30, 2009, the Caretto family identified TGen’s genetic research into bipolar disorder as the nation’s most promising. And Martino — a 59-year-old Italian-born executive of Ferrero, an international confectionary business — wanted to do something extraordinary to bring attention and funding to this cause. On August 8, after waiting eight days for a break in the weather, Martino and his swimming companion, Michele Drocco, began a relay swim of the English Channel. It was a first for a two-person Italian- American team, and the first as an international fundraiser for TGen’s bipolar disorder research. “For open-water swimmers, the English Channel is like what Mount Everest is to climbers,’’ said Martino, Dad swims English who has always been an avid swimmer and even competed in his youth in water polo. Channel in memory In recent years, he swam the Hudson River, not far from his family’s U.S. home in Basking Ridge, N.J., and earlier of his son this year he swam with two friends in a New Jersey businessman supports TGen’s 24-mile marathon charity relay race in the warm waters off Tampa, Fla. research into bipolar disorder But swimming the more than 28 cold-water miles from Dover, England, to Calais, France — even as a part of a one-hour-in, one-hour-out, relay — ichard Caretto was a 21-year-old college student, with the smarts and presented a greater challenge. potential to do just about anything he wanted in life. “It is extremely challenging,” Martino R Then, one day, Richard took his life, and was gone forever. said. “We had enough endurance to It was not Richard’s first attempt at suicide, nor was it the first time others cover the distance, but we were not ascribed his sometimes bizarre actions to a mental condition that in many adequately prepared for the cold and ways remains a scientific mystery — bipolar disorder. rough waters.” Also known as manic-depressive behavior, bipolar disorder is a mental The water was a cool 62 degrees. But illness that causes severe shifts in mood, dramatic changes in energy and the temperature onboard their boat, activity levels, and an inability to carry out day-to-day tasks. on a mostly overcast day, was an even Summer 2010 | 3 chillier 57 degrees, causing Martino to track, wrote for the school magazine, even starred in a play the night before shiver uncontrollably at times when he and performed volunteer work with he died. So, why did Richard take his would exit the water as Michele took underprivileged children and patients own life? over swimming. with dementia. “I wish I knew,’’ said his father. “The impact of the cold water is “He had always been a stellar student; “That’s why we would like the genetic brutal,’’ Martino said afterwards. “Once at the top of his class,” his father said. research, to come to some kind of on board, I suffered from hypothermia But in 2005, towards the end of his findings.” with uncontrollable tremors in various senior year, Richard failed a physics test Martino’s other son, Carlo, a senior parts of my body.” and ran away. His parents found him in this fall at Harvard, suggested that Martino said he would not have been the family work with TGen after able to complete the relay swim without conducting a nationwide search of the nurturing and encouragement of his research institutes. “We were extremely wife, Phyllis, who helped him put on impressed,” Carlo said, “by the warm clothes and provided him with scientific advances made by TGen, hot drinks in between his six, one-hour by its technological and research swims. leadership, and by its dedication to Crossing the channel was not without making discoveries in the very area its own mysterious beauty: “We saw that concerned our family — bipolar wonderful, enormous jellyfish around us disorder.” in the sea, which was rich with plankton The Caretto family cemented their Martino Caretto and Michele Drocco that reflected in the water when the sun decision to support TGen following a hit it, creating a beautiful kaleidoscope of Thinking back to the New Year’s Eve visit and tour, hosted colors.” end of his swim, while by Dr. David Craig, Associate Director Still, there are tremendous obstacles to returning to England, of TGen’s Neurogenomics Division. overcome: “The cold has a cumulative Martino remembered The division studies the genetic basis of effect, making it increasingly difficult to looking up and seeing brain disorders, including Alzheimer’s, restore normal body temperature. We a single star in the east, autism and bipolar, to find new and began to encounter huge cargo ships and thinking of his son, better ways to treat patients. and merchant vessels that passed us, Richard: “One lonely star “They were very enthusiastic. The completely unaware of our presence, shines in the night sky, emotions were strong. They were really creating enormous waves that tossed us showing us the way. positive,’’ said Dr. Craig, who would around in the water and prevented us I see your face in like TGen’s bipolar disorder research from swimming properly.” that star, smiling.” to better enable clinicians to get There were times, especially when beyond trial-and-error efforts. Instead, the winds kicked up, that he wanted to understanding the genetic basis of the quit. But he kept his mind focused on Atlantic City. “He was not coherent,” disorder could provide more exacting his strokes — 3,000 per hour — and on his father said. “We realized that he diagnosis and treatment. “If we get the memory of his son, Richard. “I didn’t was not well. That’s when he started there, that would absolutely be a win.” want to let him down.” psychiatric treatment.” Because Martino’s father was manic- After 12 hours and 8 minutes, the Still, Richard graduated on the dean’s depressive and a cousin suffered from official observer blew his whistle as list and enrolled at Duke University in bipolar disorder, Martino believes there Martino reached shore. Tears flowed North Carolina. But toward the end of may be a hereditary link. down his cheeks as he alternately hugged his freshman year, he was hospitalized With Dr. Craig and others at TGen, Michele and Phyllis. after contemplating suicide. Martino said he believes he has found Martino chokes up when asked what The next fall, he transferred to Stevens scientists who are truly dedicated to he misses most about his son: “Touching Institute of Technology, closer to home improving patients’ lives.

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