“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.”
PMWC, the “Precision Medicine World Conference” is the largest & original annual conference dedicated to precision medicine. At this year’s PMWC, G2P director Dr. Robert C. Green gave a talk on the path to universal newborn sequencing and disease prevention.
“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
In this debate hosted by the University of Chicago School of Medicine, Dr. Lainie Ross and Dr. Robert C. Green both respond to the question “should all newborns have their genomes sequenced at birth?”
“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.
Dr. Robert C. Green presents at the World Medical Innovation Forum on “Newborn Sequencing and Prevention of Rare Diseases: A New Public Health and Biopharma Challenge.”
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.
“BabySeq, the next-generation sequencing-based universal screening program for newborns, is gearing up for a second, expanded study. The lead researchers said they want the four-year, $5.1 million grant to help address a lack of diversity in the first cohort.”
“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
“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 [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
The latest research from the BabySeq project shows that the delivery of genomic information from healthy newborns does not increase anxiety in parents.
For the first time in history, we can treat the underlying cause of some genetic diseases — if we catch them early enough. What does this mean for public health?
“We have a wild card here that is changing the risk-benefit equation for all babies in order to detect these rare cases.”
Genomic testing for Baby Cora, a participant of The BabySeq Project, revealed a disorder that might otherwise have gone undetected through traditional newborn screening. “Cora’s case illustrates the promise of sequencing the entire genomes of newborns: uncovering a bounty of genetic information that could identify infants needing treatment and improve health later in life…Genomics England … Continued
“We have now shown that this information can be medically beneficial through early intervention and is not disruptive to the parent-infant relationship, and our ongoing analysis is measuring economic effects of genome sequencing. This type of research is critical to determine best practices for preventive genomic healthcare throughout the lifespan.” – Robert Green
“Researchers examined how conducting genome sequencing on newborns can impact family dynamics.”
“When parents were surveyed about measures like how well they bonded with their children, their levels of distress, and even the parents’ relationships with one another, there were no meaningful differences for parents whose children had their genomes sequenced compared to those whose children underwent standard newborn screening.”
“Researchers studying the psychosocial effect of newborn genomic sequencing on families in the BabySeq project have found that there was no persistent negative psychosocial harm in families who received such sequencing, nor among those who received a monogenic disease risk finding for their infants.”
“Robert Green, MD, MPH, of the Division of Genetics, received a research grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to fund The BabySeq Project: Phase II, also known as BabySeq2, the continuation of a project to study genome sequencing in newborns.”
Our G2P research team continues to be extraordinarily productive, publishing 21 scientific papers so far this year. This summer newsletter highlights a few of these papers, as well as G2P media features, blog posts, and policy recommendations.
“If you go to a scientific meeting, even with the greatest critics, and you ask, how many people in this audience believe that your entire genome will be part of your everyday medical care in fifty years, every person will raise their hand. So the only questions we’re debating are: how do we get there, … Continued
This free 3 day NIH sponsored conference brings academia, industry, and government together to accelerate access to gene-targeted therapies. G2P’s Dr. Robert Green co-chairs the planning committee and will be one of the speakers opening the conference on June 3 as well as speaking about BabySeq on June 10.
Dr. Robert C. Green joins Patrick Short of “The Genetics Podcast” to discuss genetic testing in healthy adults and newborns, along with the barriers we need to overcome to realize the full potential of personalized medicine.
Augustana University and the Center for Western Studies hosted the 24th Boe Forum on Public Affairs on Monday, March 15th. This virtual event featured keynote speakers Dr. Robert Green and Dr. Jamie Metzl.
Dr. Robert C. Green gives talk at the December 2020 Meeting of the Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children on “Newborn Sequencing in Genomic Medicine and Public Health (NSIGHT).”
In this study led by UCSF researchers, exome sequencing was found to produce more false positives and false negatives for inherited metabolic disorders than the standard blood testing conducted in newborns. G2P’s Dr. Robert Green, co-leader of the BabySeq Project, speaks to the possibility “that the most comprehensive screening for newborns will be some combination … Continued
Meet BabySeq participants, Cora and her mom. Through our NIH-funded BabySeq Project, Cora was diagnosed with partial biotinidase deficiency, which was missed on her traditional newborn screening test. Listen to their story.
Whole genome tests can help identify the cause of a baby’s mysterious illness. But ethicists say it’s still too soon to use them for all infants.
We now have the ability to screen for thousands of genetic diseases in newborns. That may not always be the healthy thing to do.
Babies are tested for a number of conditions soon after birth, but varied approaches to screening worldwide highlight how fragmented the medical profession remains over this vital process.
A decade ago, it seemed inevitable that every newborn would get a complete gene scan. But there are technical challenges and practical concerns.Dr. Robert Green, from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, voiced one view about doing that: “If sequencing reveals health risks at any point in life, and if that’s good, then it’s better … Continued
G2P’s summer began with our team members participating in the Boston Athletic Association 10K on Sunday June 23rd! Over the past few months, G2P faculty have attended numerous conferences nationwide, been featured in podcasts discussing the new preventive genomics clinic, and engaged with leaders in science, business, and industry in support of the Franca Fund.
