Photo of Christine R. Beck, Ph.D.

Christine R. Beck, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Genetics and Genome Sciences
Joint Appointment, The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine
Associate Director, Graduate Program in Genetics and Developmental Biology
Academic Office Location:
Genetics and Genome Sciences
UConn Health
263 Farmington Avenue
Farmington, CT 06030-6403
Phone: 860-837-2173
Email: cbeck@uchc.edu
Website(s):

Laboratory Page

Genetics and Developmental Biology Graduate Program

Molecular Biology & Biochemistry Graduate Program

Education
DegreeInstitutionMajor
B.S.Iowa State UniversityBiochemistry
Ph.D.University of MichiganHuman Genetics

Post-Graduate Training
TrainingInstitutionSpecialty
PostdoctoralBaylor College of MedicineResearch Fellow, Laboratory of Dr. James R. Lupski, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Molecular & Human Genetics

Awards
Name of Award/HonorAwarding Organization
HHMI FellowDamon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation
NIH Brain Disorders and Development Training Program (Post-doctoral, 2012-2013)Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
Neel FellowshipUniversity of Michigan Department of Human Genetics, Ann Arbor, Michigan
ASHG Trainee Award Semi-FinalistAmerican Society of Human Genetics Annual Meeting, Honolulu, Hawaii
NIH Genome Science Training Program (Pre-doctoral, 2008-2011)University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Anita and Howard Cramer Scholarship AwardUniversity of Michigan Department of Human Genetics, Ann Arbor, Michigan
NIH Genetics Training Grant (Pre-doctoral, 2006-2008)University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Name & DescriptionCategoryRoleTypeScopeStart YearEnd Year
Institute For Systems GenomicsStudy SectionSeed Grant ReviewerUConn-StorrsUniversity2019
American Society of Human Genetics, Annual Meeting Vancouver, Canada , “The Role of DNA Repair in Genomic Variation, Instability, and Human Disease.”Workshop/ConferenceSession ChairExternalInternational20162016
BrainProfessional/Scientific JournalAd Hoc Manuscript ReviewerExternalInternational2012
NeurogeneticsProfessional/Scientific JournalAd Hoc Manuscript ReviewerExternalInternational2012
PLOS GeneticsProfessional/Scientific JournalAd Hoc Manuscript ReviewerExternalNational2012
PRISMS - Parents and Researchers Interested in Smith-Magenis Syndrome.Professional/Scientific OrganizationMemberExternalNational2008

The mechanisms governing non-recurrent human structural variation (SV) are diverse and often poorly understood. I am investigating how human DNA maintains fidelity in the context of a repetitive genome. Human Alu elements number over one million copies per human genome, and recent studies have found that these repeat sequences often mediate SVs in some loci. Through computational, molecular biological and genomic techniques, we will identify regions susceptible to this form of SV and investigate the enzymes that limit or promote Alu-mediated rearrangements. These lines of inquiry could find regions prone to instability in human cancers and lead to targets for therapy.

Accepting Lab Rotation Students: Summer 2022, Fall 2022, and Spring 2023

Journal Articles

Case Reports

Title or AbstractTypeSponsor/EventDate/YearLocation
Resolution of structural variation in diverse mouse genomes reveals chromatin remodeling due to transposable elementsTalkBiology of Genomes2023Cold Spring Harbor, NY
The Role of Transposable Elements in Genomic VariationTalkThe Stanford Genetics Conference on Structural Variants and DNA Repeats2023Stanford, California
Transposable element-mediated rearrangements in mammalian genomesOtherParis Winter Course on The Genomics of Transposable Elements2023Paris, France
Mechanisms of Structural VariationTalkWorkshop on long-read sequencing2019The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine
Transposable Element Mediated Rearrangements are Prevalent in Human GenomesPosterAmerican Society of Human Genetics2019Houston, Texas
Mechanisms and Impact of Structural VariationTalkThe University of Connecticut MCB Fall Seminar Series2019Storrs, Connecticut
Repetitive Sequences and Genomic PlasticityTalkThe University of Connecticut2018Connecticut
Repetitive Sequences and Genomic PlasticityTalkAnnual New England Genome Instability and Cancer Conference2018Worcester, Massachussetts
Repetitive Sequences and Genomic ChangeTalkBig Data for Genomics Professors2018The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic medicine
Human Genomic Rearrangements and Homologous SequencesTalkMemorial Sloane Kettering Cancer Center2018New York, New York
Structural Variation and Processes of Genomic MutationTalkThe Jackson Laboratory2018Farmington, Connecticut
Structural Variation and Homologous sequencesTalkInstitute for Systems Genomics Networking Workshop2018Storrs, Connecticut
The use of capture and long-read PacBio sequencing for clinically relevant loci. Invited SpeakerTalkEuropean Society of Human Genetics PacBio Satellite Meeting2016Barcelona, Spain
Integration of exome sequencing and genomic analyses reveals potential Smith-Magenis-like causative genesTalkParents Researchers Int. Smith-Magenis Syndrome (PRISMS) Research Symposium2016Houston,Texas
Targeted Capture and SMRT sequencing for Complex Genomic Loci. Invited SpeakerTalkPacBio Users Group Meeting2016Stanford, California
Mechanisms for DNA Rearrangements in Genomic Disorders- From the Bedside to the Bench Side. Invited SpeakerTalkAmerican Society of Human Genetics Meeting2016Vancouver, Canada
Smith-Magenis Syndrome and Complex Genomic RearrangementsTalkParents Researchers Int. Smith-Magenis Syndrome (PRISMS) Research Symposium2014St. Louis, Missouri
Complex Genomic Rearrangements at the PLP1 Locus Include Triplication and QuadruplicationTalkPersonal Genomes: Discovery, Treatment & Outcomes Meeting2014Cold Spring Harbor Labs, New York
PacBio Long-Read-Length Sequencing for Structural Variation Analysis of the Human GenomeTalkPersonal Genomes Meeting2013Cold Spring Harbor Labs, New York
The Molecular Basis of Phenotypic Variation in Smith-Magenis and Potocki-Lupski SyndromesTalkParents Researchers Int. Smith-Magenis Syndrome (PRISMS) Research Symposium2012Denver, Colorado
LINE-1 variation in human genomes.TalkAmerican Society of Human Genetics2009Honolulu, Hawaii.