Rare-disease doctors support expanded newborn genomic screening, survey finds

STAT |
May 2023
Press

“When 238 rare-disease doctors across the U.S. were surveyed by a research team at Mass General Brigham in Boston, 88% of them agreed that DNA sequencing to screen for certain treatable childhood disorders should be made available to all newborns. The study was published Monday in JAMA Network Open.”

Five questions with Nic Encina: Working upstream or downstream

Ariadne Labs |
April 2023
G2P News

“In our Five-Question series, we highlight the staff and faculty behind the compelling work at Ariadne Labs. Upstream or downstream? That has long been a career question for Nic Encina, MS, MS, MBA, now Director of Strategy of the Precision Population Health initiative at Ariadne Labs.”

G2P featured in Brigham Clinical & Research News “Look who’s talking”

Brigham Clinical & Research News |
April 2023
Press

Genomes2People was featured in the latest issue of Brigham Clinical & Research News “Look who’s talking”. Past winners of the Brigham Research Institute’s BRIght Futures Prize share about the impact that the $100,0000 award has had on their work and careers. “In 2012, we were delighted to be the very first winners of the BRIght … Continued

Dr. Robert Green on the future of genetic testing

Beyond The Heart |
October 2022
Podcast

Robert C. Green, MD, MPH is Professor of Medicine (Genetics) at Harvard Medical School and a physician-scientist who directs the G2P Research Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Broad Institute and Ariadne Labs. Dr. Green is internationally recognized for research and policy efforts accelerating the implementation of genomic/precision medicine. In this fascinating conversation Nieca and … Continued

Brigham Staff with President Robert S.D. Higgins

G2P staff recognized for the Brigham Way

Brigham Awards, Honors & Grants |
January 2023
G2P News, Press

Congratulations to G2P Genetic Counselor Janelle Shea and Operations Coordinator Shaye Williams for being nominated for and winning The Brigham Way Award, which recognizes employees who foster a culture of excellence, respect and professionalism by going above and beyond their duties to create an exceptional Brigham Experience for our patients and colleagues. Janelle celebrated her … Continued

Head start: The promise of universal newborn sequencing

Illumina Genomics Forum |
September 2022
Video

The Illumina Genomics Forum is Illumina’s premier global event advancing the positive impact of genomic health. G2P Director Dr. Robert Green spoke alongside Ryan Taft on building the evidence base for offering comprehensive sequencing for every child at birth.

The path to universal newborn sequencing

International Conference on Newborn Sequencing (ICoNS) |
October 2022
Video

At the inaugural International Conference on Newborn Sequencing, researchers from eight studies across the world outlined their plans, goals, and results to date for their newborn sequencing initiatives. The BabySeq Project led by Robert Green at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the Broad Institute and Harvard Medical School was the first randomized clinical trial designed to … Continued

From researcher to patient: Knowledge is power

Medium |
October 2022
G2P Blog

Last year, our former research assistant, Charlene Preys, underwent genetic counseling and testing for hereditary cancer associated with the ATM gene. Upon receiving her ATM status, Charlene’s risk of developing breast cancer jumped from 12 to 40%, and her risk of developing pancreatic cancer increased from <1% to 10%. Patient organizations and support groups were … Continued

Blood from a baby at birth can be gene sequenced to prevent diseases

USA TODAY |
October 2022
Press

“This week, Dr. Robert Green is hosting a conference in Boston, bringing together researchers and industry representatives from the U.S., U.K., European Union and Australia to set standards and discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by scaling up newborn genetic sequencing.”

Revealing the hidden impact of whole-genome sequencing for newborns

New Scientist |
August 2022
Press

“Would you have your baby’s genes sequenced at birth? A groundbreaking trial that used whole-genome sequencing to predict newborns’ future health, is starting to reveal the impact it has had on the whole family, seven years down the line.”

G2P team at 2022 working retreat

G2P Newsletter June 2022

June 2022
G2P News

In this spring newsletter, we are delighted to announce congratulatory transitions for several of our former research trainees and research assistants who have either graduated from or been matched to genetic counseling programs. Additionally, Gaia Ceccaroli, G2P/Franca Fund Advisor, shares her personal preventive genomics story and road to discovery about her health in a video … Continued

Medical research in genomics – Theory meets practice

Mass General Brigham |
May 2022
Video

Through the Achieving Research Equity & Inclusion Conference, Mass General Brigham engages stakeholders from across the country and our communities for a unique opportunity to change how we do research. Click the link below to hear Dr. Robert C. Green talk about medical research in genomics, where theory meets practice.

Will genetics and genomics deliver precision health?

U.S. News |
May 2022
Video

Hear from a panel of experts, including Dr. Robert C. Green, about the challenges and opportunities ahead for genomics and precision health, as well as how researchers, clinicians and other stakeholders are working to make sure that such efforts are inclusive, equitable, accessible and effective.

Full-genome screening for newborn babies is now on the cards

The Economist |
May 2022
Press

“Doctors in many places want to sequence and screen babies’ entire genomes at birth. In America there are projects to do just that at Boston Children’s Hospital, Columbia University and Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego. A pioneering group at Harvard, known as BabySeq, has recently received money to expand its small-scale work to include … Continued

Baby’s first genome

Nature Biotechnology |
April 2022
Press

“Whole-genome sequencing may be the fastest way to diagnose rare complex diseases, but should it be incorporated into healthy newborn screening?” “We are missing the opportunity to address an increasing number of treatable conditions,” says G2P Dr. Robert Green.  

Genomics in Health Implementation Forum newborn sequencing virtual workshop

Genomics in Health Implementation Forum |
April 2022
Video

On April 5th, 2022, initiatives from around the globe will virtually convene for a meeting of the Genomics in Health Implementation Forum (GHIF). This focused workshop aims to share the status of international efforts establishing genomic newborn screening programs and identify areas for engagement with GA4GH Work Streams.

Their DNA hides a warning, but they don’t want to know what it says

The New York Times |
January 2022
Press

The MGB Biobank returned actionable genetics results to 256 participants, 76.3 percent of whom were unaware that they carried a variant that put them at increased risk. The New York Times reports on this return of results process, outlining that some participants wanted to learn this information and others did not.

What is precision medicine?

ABC Nightlife |
January 2022
Podcast

“Precision medicine is personalised and creating individualised treatments for a whole range of conditions, so how is it changing the way we manage disease? Philip Clark spoke to John Mattick a Professor of RNA Biology at UNSW and Professor Robert Green is the Director of the Genomes2People Research Program at Harvard Medical School.”

The UK’s plan to sequence the genomes of 200,000 newborn babies

Geographical |
November 2021
Press

“Genomics England are poised to a launch a pilot project which will see the genomes of newborn babies sequenced on their very first day of life…In the USA, under a pilot project called BabySeq, a team co-led by Robert Green from Brigham and Women’s Hospital found that across 1,500 genes in 127 healthy and 32 … Continued

Genomic screening of healthy newborns gets more popular

WebMD |
December 2021
Press

“Even before their baby is born, parents face some tough questions: Home birth or hospital? Cloth or disposable diapers? Breast, bottle, or both? But advances in genetic sequencing technology mean that parents will soon face yet another choice: whether to sequence their newborn’s DNA for an overview of the baby’s entire genome.”

Amy McGuire on newborn sequencing

The Beagle Has Landed |
November 2021
Podcast

“Amy McGuire [Co-PI of BabySeq] joins Laura Hercher on “The Beagle Has Landed” to discuss BabySeq and the high-risk, high-reward prospect of making genome sequencing of newborns routine. After a preliminary study many years in the making, Amy is here to assure us of one thing: ‘what we’re doing isn’t Gattaca.’ Also, the take-home message: … Continued

Returning genomic research findings reveals unrecognized disease risks

BWH Newsroom |
November 2021
Press Release

Press Release: In a new study published in The American Journal of Human Genetics, investigators from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School describe lessons learned from their experience disclosing actionable genetic results to research participants and transitioning them to clinical care. The team returned results to 256 participants, 76.3 percent … Continued

Italian fashion for a cause: The Franca Sozzani Fund for Preventative Genomics

Italian Cultural Institute Los Angeles |
November 2021
Video

Meet two innovative collaborators using the power of DNA to transform medicine and prevent disease. Francesco Carrozzini, filmmaker, will share his story and inspiration for the Fund dedicated to his mother and late editor for Vogue Italia, Franca Sozzani. Dr. Robert Green, professor of medicine, will present scientific evidence supporting preventive genomics. Attendees will also hear about … Continued