Author Archives: Giovanni Ciavarra

The Application of Genomics in Asbestos and Talc Cases: Dr. Len van Zyl will be Speaking at the Perrin National Asbestos Litigation Conference

| August 14, 2019

On September 9-11, Dr. Len van Zyl of ToxicoGenomica will be speaking at Perrin Conferences’ National Asbestos Litigation Conference at the  Fairmont San Francisco Hotel, San Francisco, CA. This marks the tenth anniversary of the three-day conference which provides attendees with a deeper understanding of the trends currently driving asbestos litigation and the impact these […]

The Science & Medicine of Genetic Testing in Asbestos and Talc Cases

| July 22, 2019

As we have written over the past few years, expert testimony involving genetic findings is becoming more and more common in asbestos litigation. As we wrote previously, on Wednesday, July 17 (2019) Dr. Len van Zyl of ToxicoGenomica presented at the Perrin Mid-Atlantic Asbestos Conference where he discussed important new emerging science relevant to the […]

The Time for Genomic Analyses in Asbestos Cases is Now

| July 14, 2019

Expert testimony involving genetic findings is more and more common in asbestos litigation. Recent studies published in the peer-reviewed scientific literature have evaluated a variety of genetic factors (e.g., inherited genetic mutations, micro-RNA, gene expression profiles, and epigenetic factors) in people with and without asbestos exposure. Investigators have found evidence to support the fact that […]

Why Do BAP1 Mutations Cause Mesothelioma?

| May 6, 2019

Mechanistic understanding of cancers continues to accelerate, with important implications for tort litigation. A recent new study by He et al. (2019) provides new insights into how and why germline BAP1 mutations are involved in the development of some cancers, such as mesothelioma, but not others. The new insights are about tissue specific actions of […]

Signature Mutations Might be the Best Alternative Cause Defense You Never Heard Of

| April 3, 2019

An important feature that has emerged from this new genomic knowledge is known as “signature mutations.” In short, specific exposures cause specific patterns of mutations to occur in tumors. These mutation patterns within the cancer tissue therefore serve as a clear marker for that specific exposure (hence the term “signature mutation”).

The Litigator’s Guide to Using Genomics in a Toxic Tort Case

| June 11, 2018

Genomics is a proven and reliable quantitative tool that has dramatically improved cancer treatment, established the practice of personalized medicine, and brought binary clarity to paternity and criminal cases. Genomics is now transforming how civil toxic tort cases are adjudicated. We have hit a tipping point where, instead of merely relying on population-based epidemiological studies, […]