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Molecular Genetics and Genomics Program at Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Timothy D. Howard
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Center for Human Genomics 

B.A., 1990 Wake Forest University 
Ph.D., 1996 Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University 

 

As part of the Center for Human Genomics, my interests include the identification of genes for complex diseases, with a major focus on asthema and allergy. Our labs use the latest technology and automation, combined with several different genetic approaches, for gene identification. We have recently completed a genome screen for asthma-related phenotypes in a group of 200 Dutch families ascertained through a proband with asthma. Several genomic regions were identified, and we are currently fine-mapping these regions to identify the gene or genes responsible for asthma susceptibility. In addition, we have evaluated over 30 candidate genes for asthma in this and other asthma populations, and continue to identify genes that play a role in asthma or allergy susceptibility. Other projects in the lab include the genetics of prostate cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and gene-environment interactions in an asbestos-exposed population.


Recent Publications (selected):

Howard TD, Postma DS, Hawkins GA, Koppelman GH, Zheng SL, Xu J, Meyers DA, Bleecker ER. Fine-mapping of an IgE Controlling Gene on Chromosome 2q: Analysis of CTLA-4 and CD28. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2002; 110:743-751.

Herrington DM, Howard TD, Brosnihan KB, McDonnell DP, Li X, Hawkins GA, Reboussin DM, Xu J, Zheng SL, Meyers DA, Bleecker ER. Common estrogen receptor polymorphism augments effects of hormone replacement therapy on E-selectin but not C-reactive protein. Circulation 2002; 105:1879-1882.

Herrington DM, Vittinghoff E, Howard TD, Major DA, Owen J, Reboussin DM, Bowden DW, Bittner V, Simon J, Grady D, Hulley SB. Factor V Leiden, Hormone Replacement Therapy, and Risk of Venous Thromboembolic Events in Women with Established Coronary Disease. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2002; 22:1012-1017.

Herrington DM, Howard TD, Hawkins GA, Reboussin DM, Xu J, Zheng SL, McDonnell DP, Li X, Brosnihan KB, Meyers DA, Bleecker ER. Estrogen Receptor Polymorphisms and Effects of Estrogen Replacement on HDL Cholesterol in Women with Established Coronary Disease. N Eng J Med. 2002; 346:967-974.

Koppelman GH, Stine OC, Xu J, Howard TD, Zheng SL, Kauffman HF, Bleecker ER, Meyers DA, Postma DS. Genome-wide search for atopy susceptibility genes in Dutch families with asthma. J All Clin Immunol. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2002; 109:498-506.

Howard TD, Koppelman GH, Xu J, Zheng SL, Postma DS, Meyers DA, Bleecker ER. Gene-Gene Interaction in Asthma: IL4RA and IL13 in an Asthmatic Dutch Population. Am J Hum Genet. 2002; 70:230-236.

Koppelman GH, Reijmerink NE, Stine OC, Howard TD, Whittaker PA, Meyers DA, Postma DS, Bleecker ER. Association of a promoter polymorphism of the CD14 gene and atopy. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2001;163:965-969.

Howard TD, Whittaker PA, Zaiman AL, Koppelman GH, Xu J, Hanley MH, Meyers DA, Postma DS, Bleecker ER. Identification and Association of Polymorphisms in the Interleukin 13 Gene with Asthma and Atopy in a Dutch Population. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2001;25:377-384.

Ober C, Willadsen SA, Tsalenko A, Howard TD, Hoki D, Daniel R, Newman D, Fryer J, Brott M, Parry R, Lester LA, Solway J, Blumenthal M, King R, Xu J, Meyers DA, Bleecker ER, Cox N. Variation in the interleukin 4 receptor gene confers susceptibility to asthma and atopy in ethnically diverse populations. Am J Human Genetics 2000;66:517-526.

Xu J, Postma DS, Howard TD, Koppelman GH, Zheng SL, Stine OC, Bleecker ER, Meyers DA. Major Genes Regulating Total Serum Immunoglobulin E Levels in Families with Asthma. Am J Hum Genet. 2000;67:1163-1173.

Howard TD, Bleecker ER, Stine OC. Fluorescent Allele-Specific PCR (FAS-PCR) improves the reliability of single nucleotide polymorphism screening. Biotechniques 1999;26:380-381.

Price JA, Brewer CS, Howard TD, Fossey SC, Sale MM, Ji L, Krolewski AS, Bowden DW. A physical map of the 20q12-q13.1 region associated with Type 2 diabetes. Genomics 1999;62:208-215.