Gene Expression and Biomarker Utility in Post-Mortem Samples

The FAA Functional Genomics Team examined the feasibility of analyzing gene expression profiles using post-mortem brain, lung, muscle, and blood samples collected from aviation accident fatalities, with the goal of validating post-mortem extracted RNA for use in RNA sequencing. We compared the RNA sequencing results obtained from THC-positive and THC-negative samples to determine whether RNA sequencing on samples collected from aviation accident fatalities was possible and if any differences in gene expression associated with THC consumption were detectable post-mortem. The study population included 57 males of indeterminant age who perished in general aviation accidents and for whom post-mortem toxicological testing identified delta-9-THC or its primary or secondary metabolites, as... (for more see dbGaP study page.)