Department of Biology

Vincent C. Henrich

Research

I am interested in the connection between family health history and genomic/genetic diagnostics, as a basis for assessing an individual’s vulnerability to serious medical conditions and diseases. Further, by understanding the genetic and mechanistic basis for disease, it will be possible to develop personalized and evidence-based medical interventions, screenings, and treatments that are focused on disease prevention and maintaining good health and productivity. This approach is also important for identifying and describing the environmental factors that may exacerbate disease onset, especially among those individuals who are most at risk genetically.

I am also interested in developing improved diagnostic technologies that measure molecular and physiological biomarkers associated with disease vulnerability and onset. Here, the goal is to develop a set of technological tools that are sufficiently sensitive and work in real-time to provide insight about an individual’s health status, with a focus on finding molecular and cellular deviations that are early indicators of disease onset or deteriorating health. This work, while currently focused on human health, is actually an application of my earlier molecular genetic and endocrinological research in the model organism, Drosophila melanogaster.

Recent Publications

Bell, RD, SJ Shultz, L Wideman and VC Henrich (2012) Collagen gene variants previously associated with anterior cruciate ligament injury risk are also associated with joint laxity. J. Sports Health, 4, 312-318.

Orlando, LA, VC Henrich, ER Hauser, C Wilson, and GS Ginsburg, for the Genomedical Connection (2013) The genomic medicine model: an intergrated approach to implementation of family health history in primary care. Per. Med., 10, 295-306.

Orlando, LA, AH Buchanan, SE Hahn, CA Christianson, KP Powell, CS Skinner, B Chestnut, C Blach, B Due, GS Ginsburg, VC Henrich (2014) Development and validity of a primary care based family health history and decision-support program: MeTree© NC Med. J., 74, 287-296.

Buchanan AH, CA Christianson, T Himmel, KP Powell, VC Henrich, A Agbaje, and GS Ginsburg (2015) Use of a patient-entered family history tool with decision support in primary care: Impact of identification of increased risk patients on genetic counseling attendance. J. Genet Counsel, 24, 179-188.

Phillips, S, S Richter, S Teglas, I Bhatt, R Morehouse, E Hauser, and VC Henrich (2015) Feasibility of a bilateral 4-6 KHz notch as a phenotype for genetic association analysis. Intl J. Audiol. 5, 645-652.

Orlando LA, RR Wu, RA Myers, AH Buchanan, VC Henrich, ER Hauser, and GS Ginsburg (2015) Clinical utility of a Web-enabled risk assessment and clinical decision support program. Genet. Med. 18: 1020-1028.

Zeiden E, R Shivaji, VC Henrich, and MG Sandros (2016) Nano-SPRi aptasensor for the detection of progesterone in buffer. Sci Rep 6:26714 DOI: 10.1038/srep26714.

Bhatt IS, SL Phillips, SJ Richter, D Tucker, K Lundgren R Morehouse, and VC Henrich (2016) A polymorphism in human estrogen-related receptor beta(ESRRβ) predicts audiometric temporary threshold shift. Intl J. Audiol 55:571-579.

Henrich, VC and LA Orlando (2016) Family health history: An essential starting point for personalized risk assessment and disease prevention. Per Med, 13:499-510.

Leerkes EM, J Su, S Calkins, VC Henrich, and A Smolen (2016) Variation in mothers’ arginine vasopressin receptor 1a and dopamine receptor D4 genes predicts maternal sensitivity via social cognition. Genes Brain Behav. 2016 Sep 1. doi: 10:1111/gbb.12326.

Classes

Genetics (BIO 392)
Genetics Lab (BIO 393)
Undergraduate Research (BIO 499)