iStock
Podcast

Catch Me If You Can: Sequencing Screens for Rare Disease Genes

As a trailblazer in rare disease research and treatment, Wendy Chung captures the big picture of rare disease genetics with the help of next generation sequencing.

Share

Rare diseases often remain undiagnosed due to unknown etiologies. In recent years, researchers have made headway in characterizing the molecular causes of rare diseases thanks to progressively powerful sequencing technologies, such as whole genome and exome sequencing. 

In this episode, Deanna MacNeil from The Scientist spoke with medical geneticist and chair of the department of pediatrics at Boston Children's Hospital, Wendy Chung, to learn how the rare disease field has evolved alongside advances in next generation sequencing.

More on this topic

The Sequencing Revolution

Scans of Sundry Variant Types Uncover Autism-Linked Genes 

The Scientist Speaks is a podcast produced by The Scientist’s Creative Services Team. Our podcast is by scientists and for scientists. Once a month, we bring you the stories behind news-worthy molecular biology research. This month’s episode is sponsored by Velsera.


Speaker:

Wendy Chung 


Wendy K. Chung, MD, PhD
Chief
Department of Pediatrics
Boston Children’s Hospital
Harvard Medical School




Velsera is a company dedicated to advancing precision medicine through innovative sequencing solutions. We understand the challenges faced in diagnosing and treating rare diseases, and our expertise lies in providing cutting-edge tools and technologies to accelerate research in this critical area. By harnessing the power of next-generation sequencing, Velsera is committed to empowering scientists and clinicians to unlock the genetic underpinnings of rare diseases. Together, we can work towards a future where every patient has the opportunity to receive an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

Top Image Credit:

iStock

Image of a man in a laboratory looking frustrated with his failed experiment.
February 2026

A Stubborn Gene, a Failed Experiment, and a New Path

When experiments refuse to cooperate, you try again and again. For Rafael Najmanovich, the setbacks ultimately pushed him in a new direction.

View this Issue
Human-Relevant In Vitro Models Enable Predictive Drug Discovery

Advancing Drug Discovery with Complex Human In Vitro Models

Stemcell Technologies
Redefining Immunology Through Advanced Technologies

Redefining Immunology Through Advanced Technologies

Ensuring Regulatory Compliance in AAV Manufacturing with Analytical Ultracentrifugation

Ensuring Regulatory Compliance in AAV Manufacturing with Analytical Ultracentrifugation

Beckman Coulter logo
Conceptual multicolored vector image of cancer research, depicting various biomedical approaches to cancer therapy

Maximizing Cancer Research Model Systems

bioxcell

Products

Sino Biological Logo

Sino Biological Pioneers Life Sciences Innovation with High-Quality Bioreagents on Inside Business Today with Bill and Guiliana Rancic

Sino Biological Logo

Sino Biological Expands Research Reagent Portfolio to Support Global Nipah Virus Vaccine and Diagnostic Development

Beckman Coulter

Beckman Coulter Life Sciences Partners with Automata to Accelerate AI-Ready Laboratory Automation

Graphic of amino acid chains folded into proteins

Expi293™ PRO Expression System: Higher Yields Across a Wider Variety of Proteins

Thermo Fisher Logo