Currently, methods to detect early, obesity-related accumulation of fat in the liver other than a liver biopsy — the surgical removal of liver tissue for microscopic examination — are limited. But there is hope.

With funding from the newly established Sarah Kyle Anorexia Nervosa Research Foundation, the researchers hope to identify biomarkers that will point to novel targets for prevention and treatment.

The study found that West African genetic ancestry was associated with shorter disease-free survival, particularly for women with hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative breast cancer.

Preliminary results of a clinical trial of 4-phenylbutyrate (PBA) “show a significant reduction in seizure activity among participants.”

The study revealed overlapping genetic underpinnings between rhythm-related skills and language-related traits, including dyslexia.

VUMC researchers applied the new approach to large GWAS datasets for breast, prostate and lung cancers, and three brain disorders.

Research could lead to improved diagnosis and the first effective treatment for the disorder, called “clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential,” or CHIP.