Marylyn Ritchie

TL;DR

Dr. She discusses the myCODE Community Health Initiative at Geisinger, where they enroll patients as research participants, collect extensive health records, conduct genome sequencing, and study patterns of disease inheritance and population health.

Transcript

dr. she thank you so much for joining me a fellow pennsylvanian actually okay nice to meet you tell me a little bit about your new job at geisinger sure I just started their last year as a new director of a new department we are really interested in precision medicine and precision health and so we have an initiative called the my code Community He... Read More

Key Insights

• 💊 Geisinger's myCODE Community Health Initiative aims to advance precision medicine and population health by enrolling patients as research participants and collecting extensive health records.
• ❓ The initiative conducts whole exome and genome-wide genotyping sequencing to study disease patterns and inheritance.
• 🧑‍⚕️ Geisinger's comprehensive electronic health record data, spanning up to 20 years, enables impactful research.
• 👨‍🔬 The research may uncover insights about the prevalence and penetrance of specific genetic mutations in the population.
• ♻️ The myCODE initiative also explores the interplay between genes and the environment in disease development and protection.
• 👨‍🔬 Engaging patients actively in research promotes a sense of ownership and collaboration.
• 👻 Studying populations rather than just familial cases allows for a broader understanding of disease manifestation.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the goal of Geisinger's myCODE Community Health Initiative?

The goal is to understand why people develop certain diseases, study patterns of inheritance, and explore the interplay between genes and the environment in disease development and protection.

Q: How is the myCODE initiative different from previous studies?

Unlike previous studies that focused on familial cases, myCODE studies a population of individuals, allowing researchers to determine the likelihood of disease manifestation given certain genetic mutations.

Q: What kind of data does Geisinger have on their patients?

Geisinger has rich electronic health record data for up to 20 years on some patients, as they receive all their healthcare within the Geisinger system. This comprehensive data enables robust research.

Q: How does the myCODE initiative involve patients?

Patients feel actively engaged in the research as they are enrolled as research participants and considered part of the Community Health Initiative. Their consent allows for data collection, genome sequencing, and potential recontact for further studies.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Geisinger's myCODE Community Health Initiative enrolls patients as research participants and collects full electronic health records on their various diseases and health conditions.

• The initiative conducts whole exome and genome-wide genotyping sequencing and returns incidental findings to the patients.

• Participants can be recontacted for further in-depth phenotyping or to collect data from their family members.