Dr Onel

Editor-in-Chief: Dr Kenan Onel

Dr Kenan Onel is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the Section of Hematology/Oncology at the University of Chicago.  Dr Onel is a graduate of Yale University and received both his MD and his PhD in molecular biology from Cornell University Medical College.  He completed his residency in pediatrics at Babies and Children's Hospital of New York (Columbia University) and his fellowship in pediatric hematology/oncology at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. 

Dr Onel has been on the faculty of the University of Chicago since 2004.  Since joining the faculty of the University of Chicago in 2004, Dr Onel has served as the Director of the Familial Cancer Clinic in the Department of Pediatrics.  He also oversees an active research program studying genetic susceptibilities to cancer, for which he has been the recipient of a number of grants and awards. 

Dr Ellis

Associate Editor: Nathan Ames Ellis

Born and raised in New York City. Undergraduate degree was obtained from St. John's College, in Annapolis MD, regarded for the great books program, formally a degree in Philosophy with a minor in Mathematics (1975-1979). Extra-programmatic and post baccalaureate studies at Yale University, New York University, and Columbia University to make up for his many deficiencies. Research associate with Lawrence Chasin at Columbia University (1980-1981), learning basic DNA molecular biology techniques and cloning the Chinese hamster ovary cell amplified DHFR gene. Graduate studies at the University of Washington, Department of Genetics, with Stanley Gartler working on X chromosome inactivation (1981-1987). Pursued the theory that DNA methylation was not the complete story and that inactivation involved chromatin changes. He also cloned mouse PGK genes. Post-doctoral fellowship at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund in London (1987-1990) with Peter Neville Goodfellow, F.R.S., in which the pseudoautosomal boundary on the Y chromosome was cloned and characterized in a wide range of humans and non-human primates. Assistant Member, New York Blood Center (1990-1997), with James L. German III, M.D., cloning and characterizing the XG blood group gene and studying the human molecular genetics of Bloom's syndrome. Cloned the gene mutated in Bloom’s syndrome BLM by a highly novel method referred to as somatic crossover point mapping. Studied linkage disequilibrium at BLM in Ashkenazi Jews with Bloom’s syndrome. Associate Member, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (1997-2005), continued working on the molecular genetics of Bloom's syndrome, performed structural and functional studies of BLM. Began work on the genetic epidemiology of human colorectal cancer, and a particular focus on hereditary colorectal cancer in which mutations in known genes, the mismatch repair genes, were absent. Carried out a variety of candidate gene studies and initiated genome-wide association studies in breast and colon cancer. Continuing this work at the University of Chicago (2005-present) with further expansion into the genetic epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease. “Thou art, I vow, the remarkablest progenitor barring none in this chaffering allincluding most farraginous chronicle.”