Dr. Sean McGuire: Translating Early Lessons into Tomorrow's Treatment - Solutions Magazine, Winter 2009 - Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas

Dr. Sean McGuire is the first Caroline Wiess Law Scholar at Baylor College of Medicine and a graduate of its M.D./Ph.D. program. He is an assistant professor in the department of molecular and cellular biology at BCM.

Dr. Sean McGuire remembers sitting alone in a deer blind, reading a book at the age of 5. Even though he was too young to shoot a gun, his father, a talented cancer researcher, sought to share with his son his love of hunting and the precise timing and patience it requires. Eventually those lessons translated into another love his father shared with him at an early age—his love of science.

McGuire, assistant professor of molecular and cellular biology at Baylor College of Medicine, is now the first Caroline Wiess Law Scholar at BCM. The award seeks to recruit physician-scientists who propose to translate basic research findings into patient treatment. McGuire's father was the late Dr. William McGuire, who started the prestigious breast cancer research program at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio that was moved to BCM in 1999.

Current research

Today, Sean McGuire splits his time between BCM and The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, where he primarily treats people diagnosed with prostate cancer. His research at BCM is an extension of his patient care.

"What you see in the clinical setting guides you in the lab," McGuire said. "It's nice to be in a setting where you are able to capitalize on the synergy between two places like M. D. Anderson and Baylor."

Many of his patients receive a combination of radiation therapy, which induces DNA damage, and testosterone-suppressing drugs. McGuire said there is reason to believe the response pathways for DNA damage and steroid-hormone signaling "talk" to each other. His research seeks to examine how these two signaling pathways communicate and influence the cell cycle and cell death. Another goal is to understand why some men respond well to treatment to suppress testosterone while others do not.

"It is critical to understand what factors are driving the growth of those cancer cells and to be able to tailor a therapeutic approach to the individual based on what the tumor tells us,"
he said.

How it started

This combination of medicine and science was a part of McGuire's life at an early age.

His father trained alongside Dr. Bert O'Malley, chair and professor of molecular and cellular biology at BCM. McGuire has known O'Malley for most of his life.

"Sean's dad was my first scientific post-doctoral fellow," O'Malley said. "I knew Sean from the time of his birth, and followed his development and education with great interest and pride. He is an exceptional young man."

McGuire was able to work in the lab with his father during summers in high school and college. He published his first paper while still in high school. He also won the prestigious Westinghouse National Science Competition and was a National Merit Scholarship award winner.

"I've always benefited from having great scientists as mentors and also as personal figures in my life," he said. "Having a father who was a scientist was definitely a major influence on me."

"I can remember when my father and his colleagues' work in the lab helped to determine HER-2 as an important prognostic factor to breast cancer. That finding led to the development of new treatments," he said. "I grew up with a close perspective on how basic and translational research impact patient lives."

M.D./Ph.D.

After he received his undergraduate degree in biochemistry from Harvard University, McGuire knew he wanted to pursue patient care and research. He decided on the M.D./Ph.D. program at BCM. However, he began with an interest in neuroscience.

"What you see in the clinical setting guides you in the lab. It's nice to be in a setting where you are able to capitalize on the synergy."
– Dr. Sean E. McGuire

"It was an oncology elective with (Dr.) Rush Lynch (professor of medicine - hematology and oncology) that showed me firsthand the direct effect research conducted in the lab has on people's lives," McGuire said.

He would go on to spend countless hours in the lab studying Drosophila melanogaster, a type of fruit fly. During that time, McGuire developed a new technology related to Drosophila gene expression systems that was then licensed to Novartis. He also published two articles in the journal Science and received three national awards.

After completing his double degree, McGuire completed residency training in radiation oncology at M. D. Anderson.

Father/husband

Not only is McGuire an M.D./Ph.D., he's also a father/husband. His wife is Dr. Amy L. McGuire, assistant professor of medicine with the Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy at BCM. The two have three young boys between the ages of 3 and 8.

McGuire said he is eager to bring his children to the lab and show them what sparked his own interest so many years ago.

"Sometimes in the regular labs in schools, kids don't quite grasp the potential of what could be," he said. "I want them to know this is an option. I wouldn't be where I am now if I hadn't been able to work in a lab at a young age."

McGuire isn't sure just yet if his children will follow in his footsteps so he's taking an active role in encouraging their other interests. He is an assistant coach on his oldest son's baseball team, and he also takes them hunting, just as his father did with him.

Dr. Sean McGuire

Translating Early Lessons into Tomorrow's Treatment

Current research

How it started

M.D./Ph.D.

Father/husband

Features

News

Spotlight

Briefs

Development/Alumni

Development Briefs

Volume 5, Issue 1, Winter 2009


	Dr. Sean McGuire Translating Early Lessons into Tomorrow's Treatment by Graciela Gutierrez Dr. Sean McGuire is the first Caroline Wiess Law Scholar at Baylor College of Medicine and a graduate of its M.D./Ph.D. program. He is an assistant professor in the department of molecular and cellular biology at BCM. Dr. Sean McGuire remembers sitting alone in a deer blind, reading a book at the age of 5. Even though he was too young to shoot a gun, his father, a talented cancer researcher, sought to share with his son his love of hunting and the precise timing and patience it requires. Eventually those lessons translated into another love his father shared with him at an early age—his love of science. McGuire, assistant professor of molecular and cellular biology at Baylor College of Medicine, is now the first Caroline Wiess Law Scholar at BCM. The award seeks to recruit physician-scientists who propose to translate basic research findings into patient treatment. McGuire's father was the late Dr. William McGuire, who started the prestigious breast cancer research program at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio that was moved to BCM in 1999. Current research Today, Sean McGuire splits his time between BCM and The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, where he primarily treats people diagnosed with prostate cancer. His research at BCM is an extension of his patient care. "What you see in the clinical setting guides you in the lab," McGuire said. "It's nice to be in a setting where you are able to capitalize on the synergy between two places like M. D. Anderson and Baylor." Many of his patients receive a combination of radiation therapy, which induces DNA damage, and testosterone-suppressing drugs. McGuire said there is reason to believe the response pathways for DNA damage and steroid-hormone signaling "talk" to each other. His research seeks to examine how these two signaling pathways communicate and influence the cell cycle and cell death. Another goal is to understand why some men respond well to treatment to suppress testosterone while others do not. "It is critical to understand what factors are driving the growth of those cancer cells and to be able to tailor a therapeutic approach to the individual based on what the tumor tells us," he said. How it started This combination of medicine and science was a part of McGuire's life at an early age. His father trained alongside Dr. Bert O'Malley, chair and professor of molecular and cellular biology at BCM. McGuire has known O'Malley for most of his life. "Sean's dad was my first scientific post-doctoral fellow," O'Malley said. "I knew Sean from the time of his birth, and followed his development and education with great interest and pride. He is an exceptional young man." McGuire was able to work in the lab with his father during summers in high school and college. He published his first paper while still in high school. He also won the prestigious Westinghouse National Science Competition and was a National Merit Scholarship award winner. "I've always benefited from having great scientists as mentors and also as personal figures in my life," he said. "Having a father who was a scientist was definitely a major influence on me." "I can remember when my father and his colleagues' work in the lab helped to determine HER-2 as an important prognostic factor to breast cancer. That finding led to the development of new treatments," he said. "I grew up with a close perspective on how basic and translational research impact patient lives." M.D./Ph.D. After he received his undergraduate degree in biochemistry from Harvard University, McGuire knew he wanted to pursue patient care and research. He decided on the M.D./Ph.D. program at BCM. However, he began with an interest in neuroscience. "What you see in the clinical setting guides you in the lab. It's nice to be in a setting where you are able to capitalize on the synergy." – Dr. Sean E. McGuire "It was an oncology elective with (Dr.) Rush Lynch (professor of medicine - hematology and oncology) that showed me firsthand the direct effect research conducted in the lab has on people's lives," McGuire said. He would go on to spend countless hours in the lab studying Drosophila melanogaster, a type of fruit fly. During that time, McGuire developed a new technology related to Drosophila gene expression systems that was then licensed to Novartis. He also published two articles in the journal Science and received three national awards. After completing his double degree, McGuire completed residency training in radiation oncology at M. D. Anderson. Father/husband Not only is McGuire an M.D./Ph.D., he's also a father/husband. His wife is Dr. Amy L. McGuire, assistant professor of medicine with the Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy at BCM. The two have three young boys between the ages of 3 and 8. McGuire said he is eager to bring his children to the lab and show them what sparked his own interest so many years ago. "Sometimes in the regular labs in schools, kids don't quite grasp the potential of what could be," he said. "I want them to know this is an option. I wouldn't be where I am now if I hadn't been able to work in a lab at a young age." McGuire isn't sure just yet if his children will follow in his footsteps so he's taking an active role in encouraging their other interests. He is an assistant coach on his oldest son's baseball team, and he also takes them hunting, just as his father did with him.		Search all issues: Features Giving Elephants a Fighting Chance Facilitating a Vision for Research Integrating Care Around the Patient Baylor Flu Fighters Take On the Wily "Novel H1N1" (Swine) Flu Virus News New Board Chair has High Hopes for BCM Lynch: A Physician-Teacher with a Humanitarian Twist Spotlight Dr. Sean McGuire: Translating Early Lessons into Tomorrow's Treatment Simulated Patient Program Important Part of Medical Training Adding Value to Medical School Training Catalyzing Innovative Research is Mantra for BCM Diabetes Center A Coordinated Effort to Improve Health Care Briefs BCM Researchers Top Texas List of Stimulus Funds Recipients Wang Recognized for Contributions to Genetic Research Dr. Brendan Lee Receives Director's Transformative R01 A Cocaine Vaccine 'Pioneer' Studies Bacteria to Understand Cancer Dr. Mark Kline Selected Chair of Pediatrics Herding DNA to a New Understanding of Cows Development/Alumni Baylor Alumni Help Ease the Financial Burdens of Current Students Development Briefs Alkek Eye Center Celebrates 20th Year Partnership Gala To Fund DeBakey Heart Center® of Baylor College of Medicine Breast Center Advisory Council Funds Imaging Fellow Bra Art Displayed as Fundraiser Promise of Research Solid in Baylor's Future

	Volume 5, Issue 1, Winter 2009



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