Dr. Takara Scott was born and raised on the island of St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands. She settled in Atlanta and completed her Bachelor of Science degree with honors of magna cum laude at Georgia State University (GSU). After losing a grandfather to the complications of prostate cancer, Dr. Scott was determined to make a difference in the health and lives of men with prostate cancer. Fortunately, a research opportunity lent itself. Upon completion of her undergraduate degree Dr. Scott pursued research training as a Laboratory Manager and Research Specialist in the prostate cancer lab of Dr. John Petros at Emory University School of Medicine.   For almost three years she was involved in prostate cancer mitochondrial DNA genetic research.  Some of her research entailed the study of mitochondrial DNA variations between Caucasian and African-American men with prostate cancer.  Dr. Scott then furthered her education at Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) where she completed her Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Research. 

Her passion and ultimate career goal to become a successful and productive biotech industry scientist working alongside a collaborative, multidisciplinary translational research team dedicated to solving key human cancers by linking genomic discoveries to personalized healthcare has led to her current role as a clinical genomic liaison at GenomeDx Biosciences. At GenomeDx, Dr. Scott is directly involved in prostate and bladder cancer biomarker clinical analysis.  In addition to her direct involvement in urological genomic cancer research, she also educates physicians, scientists, patient groups, thought leaders and other healthcare professionals on innovative, personalized, and comprehensive therapeutic approaches offered through Decipher Testing.

Risk assessment tools are often limited to population-based nomograms that use existing clinical and pathologic information to determine the risk of metastasis in men with prostate cancer. It is evident that alternative strategies are needed to avoid over-treatment in patients with less aggressive prostate cancer, while still preventing under-treatment in patients with a more aggressive form.  New genomic tools, such as the Decipher prostate cancer classifier, provide additional risk assessment insight at the time of diagnosis (biopsy) as well as post prostatectomy.

When Dr. Scott is not busy analyzing clinical data or helping to generate treatment solutions to a myriad of human diseases, she enjoys reading, writing, ZUMBA, cooking, traveling and learning about new cultures in her free time.

EDUCATION:

Dec 2015          Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Sciences, Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM), Atlanta, GA

May 2008          Bachelors of Science in Biological Sciences, Georgia State University (GSU), Atlanta, GA

                        Minor: Chemistry, Honors with Distinction: Magna cum Laude

HONORS AND AWARDS:

2014                 ORAU-MARS Fellow and USA Student Delegate to the 64^th Nobel Laureate Meetings, Lindau, Germany

2013                 Frontiers in Cancer Stem Cell Research Fellow, Washington, DC

2013                 American Heart Association Cardiovascular Outreach Award, Las Vegas, Nevada

2013                 International Center for Professional Development: Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Fellow

2012                 North American Vascular Biology Organization (NAVBO) Vasculata Student Travel Award

2012                 MSM Graduate in Biomedical Sciences PhD Rising Star Award for 4.0 GPA

2012                 MSM Graduate in Biomedical Sciences Top Student Biochemistry Award

2012                 MSM Graduate in Biomedical Sciences Top Student Human Biology Award

2012                 Passing of MSM Graduate Education in Biomedical Science Qualifiers Exam with Distinction

2011                 MSM Graduate in Biomedical Sciences Top Student Biomedical Human Genetics Award

2008                 Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges Recipient

2007-2008        Howard Hughes Georgia State University Biotechnology Scholar

2004-2008        Dean’s List Scholar and Scholarship Key Medallion

PUBLICATIONS:

Takara A. Scott and Jason Alter. "A Novel Personalized Genomic Approach" 2016. Prostate Cancer Communication.

Takara A. Scott, Oguljahan Babayeva, Saswati Banerjee, Wei Zhong and Sharon C. Francis. “SGK1 is Modulated by Resistin in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and in the Aorta Following Diet-Induced Obesity,” Accepted October 2015 to Obesity 15-1025-Orig.R1.

Takara Scott, Oguljahan Babayeva, Yan Xiao, and Sharon C. Francis.  “Hyperresistinemia Increases Mitochondrial Fragmentation in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells,” Under Review, Obesity, January 2016.

Takara A. Scott, Rebecca S. Arnold, John A. Petros. “Mitochondrial Cytochrome c Oxidase Subunit 1 Variation in Prostate Cancer.”  Scientifica, vol. 2012. Article ID: 701810, 7 pages.

Rebecca S. Arnold, Natalia V. Markova, Adeboye O. Osunkoya, Suganthi suppiah, Takara A. Scott, Nicole A. Johnson, Sushma M. Bhosle,Denns Liotta, Eric Hunter, Fray F. Marshall, Hinh Ly, Ross J Molinaro, Jerry L. Blackwell, and John Petros.  “XMRV Infection in Patients with Prostate Cancer: Novel Serologic Assay and Correlation with PCR and FISH.”  Urology, Vol.75, Issue 4, April 2010, Pages 755-761.

RECENT PROSTATE CANCER PATIENT SUPPORT GROUPS LECTURE:

Takara A. Scott, PhD, Guest Speaker, “Genomic Testing for Me: Solutions for Advanced and Recurrent Prostate Cancer.” Prostate Cancer Today, March 2017, Punta Gorda, FL.

TALKING POINTS:

• Genomics vs Genetics
• Not All Prostate Cancers Are Alike: Low Risk vs High Risk Prostate Cancer
• Background on Decipher genomic biopsy and post-op testing
• Great Candidates for Decipher genomic testing, how it can help you, and how to order it
• Early Radiation vs Later Radiation. Hormone Therapy?
• A Disruptive Personalized Genomic Approach to Understanding Prostate Cancer: The Genomic Research Information Database (GRID)

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Takara.Scott@genomedx.com

Part One

Part Two