Mind Institute Clinics
Genomic Medicine Clinic
NF/Ras Pathway Clinic
The UC Davis NF/Ras Pathway Clinic provides comprehensive health care support and management for children and adults throughout their life span who have or are at risk for having a Ras pathway disorder. We have an expansive NF/Ras Pathway Referral Network at the University of California. Our comprehensive network consists of more than 100 specialists at UC Davis who have expertise in Ras pathway disorders. These specialists include dermatologists, developmental pediatricians, gastroenterologists, gynecologists, hematologists, nephrologists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, obstetricians, oncologists and others.
We provide comprehensive support to our patients and ongoing consultative assistance for primary care providers caring for individuals with a Ras pathway disorder. Our clinic is uniquely located at the UC Davis MIND Institute, a leader in treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders. Our goal is to provide the up-to-date best medical practices for patients and families with RASopathies and to bring innovation and discovery to the clinic.
The RASopathies are a clinically defined group of medical genetic syndromes caused by germline alterations in genes that encode components or regulators of the Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Recently the NF/Ras Pathway Genomic Medicine Clinic has expanded to include disorders caused by germline or somatic mutations encoding more downstream components of the Ras pathway. Together, the RASopathies represent one of the largest groups of genetic syndromes affecting greater than 1 in 1,000 individuals.
The Ras pathway is a critical signaling mechanisms that controls growth and development of cells in our body and has been well studied in cancer research. This pathway works by moving information from outside of the cell towards the inside of the cell as it makes its way to the final target. The Ras pathway is one of many signaling pathways the body utilizes. If any of the signal transmitters in the Ras pathway is not functioning properly, the final target does not get the proper message. There are numerous signals transmitted in the Ras pathway. Changes (mutations) in the genes that provide information along this pathway can alter an individual's growth and development. Such changes can result in a Ras pathway disorder, also known as a RASopathy.
Ras Pathway Disorders (RASopathies) and Clinical Features
Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1)
- Café au lait macules (dark skin spots)
- Freckling in armpits and groin
- Neurofibromas (nerve tumors)
- Developmental delay and learning disabilities
- Short stature
- Macrocephaly (large head circumference)
Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2)
- Schwannomas, especially bilateral vestibular schwannomas (tumors of the cells covering neurons)
- Meningiomas (tumors of membrane surrounding central nervous system)
Schwannomatosis (SWN)
- Including: NF2-related SWN (formerly known as Neurofibromatosis Type 2), SMARCB1-related SWN, LZTR1 - related SWN
- Schwannomas (tumors of the cells covering neurons)
- Meningiomas (tumors of membrane surrounding central nervous system)
- Eye involvement (juvenile subcapsular or cortical cataract, retinal hamartoma, epiretinal membrane)
Legius Syndrome (also known as NF-1 like)
- Café au lait macules (dark skin spots)
- Freckling in armpits and groin
- Learning difference
Capillary Malformation-Arteriovenous Malformation Syndrome
- Capillary malformations, of the skin or inside the body
Noonan Syndrome
- Characteristic facial features
- Lentigenes and café noir spots (types of dark freckles)
- Short stature
- Pulmonary valve stenosis or other heart defect
Noonan Syndrome With Multiple Lentigines
- NSML; formally known as LEOPARD syndrome
- Lentigines (a type of dark freckle)
- Hearing loss
- Pulmonary valve stenosis or other heart defect/abnormality
- Short stature
Costello Syndrome
- Coarse facial features
- Heart defect (e.g., pulmonary valve stenosis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and others)
- Failure to thrive
- Developmental delay
- Deep palmar and plantar creases
Cardio-Facio-Cutaneous Syndrome (CFC)
- Characteristic facial features
- Heart defect (e.g., pulmonary valve stenosis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and others)
- Skin rashes and sparse hair
- Developmental delay
- Severe gastrointestinal problems
- Failure to thrive
PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome
- Macrocephaly (large head circumference)
- Multiple hamartomas (a type of tumor), especially of the thyroid, breast, endometrium
Megancephaly-Capillary Malformation-Polymicrogyria Syndrome
- Increased birth length and weight
- Overgrowth
- Capillary malformations of the skin
- Seizures
- Developmental delay
Proteus Syndrome
- Overgrowth of tissues
Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC 1/2)
- Hypomelanotic (lighter than skin color) macules
- Facial angiofibromas or plaques
- Developmental delay
- Cardiac rhabdomyosacromas (tumors of heart muscle)
- Kidney tumors
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Suma P. Shankar, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.M.G.
View bio for Dr. ShankarSuma Shankar has been involved in caring for individuals with RASopathies since 2007 and has actively served as a Medical expert on the boards for CFC and Costello family support groups. She specializes in studying the ocular manifestations of RASopathies and has several abstracts and presentations on RASopathies.
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Faria N. Ahmed, M.S.
View bio for Dr. AhmedFaria Ahmed is a licensed and board certified genetic counselor who works with pediatric and adult patient populations and their families who are at risk for, or have been diagnosed with a genetic condition. She provides counseling in the Medical Genetics Clinic at the the UC Davis MIND Institute. Faria takes a special interest in initiatives that foster the diversity of the field of genetic counseling, and promote women in STEM.
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Lamrot Tulu, M.S., M.P.H.
Genetic Counselor
Due to the common cell signaling of the Ras pathway, the medical and psycho-social issues faced by individuals and families with Ras pathway disorders have a great deal of overlap. A pathway-based clinic offers more effective medical management and treatment, as well as leading-edge translational research opportunities. Multidisciplinary care and management of individuals with genetic disorders, including those of the Ras pathway, can be challenging for the family, the primary care physician, and the specialists involved in a patient's care. Our clinic was designed to address these challenges and connect families and clinicians with all of the available resources.
The clinic's pathway-based approach has unique attributes that include comprehensive case management and multidisciplinary referrals; the NF/Ras Pathway Referral Network of more than 100 specialists in Northern California and facilitated transition from pediatric to adult care in all specialties.
If you are already a UC Davis patient, please ask your primary care physician to refer you to the UC Davis NF/Ras Pathway Genetics Clinic in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Genomic Medicine at the MIND Institute in Sacramento, Calif.
If you are not yet a UC Davis patient, you will most often need your primary care physician to refer you. Outside providers can refer a patient to the UC Davis NF/Ras Pathway Genetics Clinic by calling the UC Davis Physician Referral Line at (800) 4-UCDAVIS (916-482-3284), or by visiting the Outpatient Referrals Website to start the referral process. Please ask your physician to include in the referral recent test results related to your condition and a list of the medications that you take and their doses.
- Health insurance card
- Copies of any medical records you have
- Names and phone numbers of other providers you see
- Photographs of when you were younger
- Copies of developmental assessments (performed by the Regional Center, School District, or elsewhere)
- Copies of affected family member's medical records and photographs
- A list of your questions
- Pen and paper to take notes
- Please be prepared to answer medical history questions about your family members on both your mother's and father's side
Resources for Family Support and Advocacy
Get in touch with us
NF/Ras Clinic Contact Information
If you are already a UC Davis patient, please ask your primary care physician to refer you to the UC Davis NF/Ras Pathway Genetics Clinic in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Genomic Medicine at the MIND Institute in Sacramento, CA.
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Genomic Medicine Clinic
2825 50th St.
Sacramento, CA 95817