Elizabeth Fieg, MS, LCGC discusses the importance and implication of the H.R. 3235-The Access to Genetic Counselor Service Act that would authorize and recognize appropriately credentialed genetic counselors as reimbursable providers under Medicare.
Researchers led by Robert Green at Brigham and Women’s Hospital looked at whether consumers getting direct-to-consumer genetic testing were using PGx tests to change treatment decisions. Although this study relied on self-reported data from participants, it suggests that less than 1 percent could have made unsupervised medication changes based on their genetic test results.
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.
Scott D. Crawford, Shawn Fayer, and Robert C. Green directly address and highlight some of the recent FDA movement in the direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing space with a five-post blog compilation.
Dr. Robert Green points to the potential of genomics not only to reunite family members and put criminals behind bars, but also to predict and prevent heritable diseases and develop new drugs.
Ancestry tests have “blown up family secrets all over the country”, but is it really helping people for the better to know this information? Read about Dr. Robert Green’s opinions on genomic testing revealing unsuspected familial matters.
Rita Steyn, who has a family history of cancer, decided to order a home genetic testing kit to look for certain genetic mutations that might increase her risk for the disease. While this is something many people are doing, consulting a physician is still recommended in order to understand the real risks, and what the … Continued
For a few hundred dollars and a spit sample, you too could take a journey of genetic self-discovery. You may learn some things, but what are you giving away? Before you spit, it helps to know what you’re getting into.
Police were able to identify and arrest the Golden State Killer using GEDmatch, an open source genetic database. where individuals can upload and share their information for free, making it accessible for law enforcement in cases like these.
Findings in whole-genome sequencing don’t lead to excessive follow-up testing, an early study found.
A pilot study found no significant increases in healthcare costs among people who received whole-genome sequencing results along with a family history report.
Physicians are becoming more concerned about direct-to-consumer testing providing confidential information to patients about their health.
BabyGlimpse uses DNA from each parent to predict how their future child might look. It is one of the newest versions of direct-to-consumer testing, where patients get direct access to either their or their children’s genetic code. Dr. Robert Green shares his thoughts on the matter.
Dr. Robert Green discusses genetic privacy concerns and questions about whole genome sequencing that have arisen from parents whose children are participating in the BabySeq project.
Genetics isn’t destiny. “Insurance companies don’t know how to deal with this, because there aren’t good metrics to put into their underwriting algorithms,” Green says.
“It’s a disaster for research,” Green said. “I’m tearing my hair out. Who wants to reveal to their employer that they have a BRCA mutation? It would just incentivize employers to get rid of people at risk for future, expensive illnesses.”
“GINA was intended to reassure people so that they would be able to get genetic testing and would be able to participate in genetic research, and many people are now getting tested and participating, so to some extent it was helpful,” Green told The Scientist.
Dr. Robert Green’s thoughts regarding the limitations of government research funding.
Patient information and participation help advance medical research. However, the issue is that this private information can be shared with insurance companies. Therefore, many have been reluctant to participate in genetic research trials, listing privacy as a reason for not joining or continuing a study.
An overview and summary of the main projects that are being conducted within the G2P program, both past and present. This article also includes the progract managers and research assistants on each major project.
With advances in prenatal screenings in the Bay Area, studies have shown that more women are deciding to end Down syndrome pregnancies.
In November 2013, the FDA publicly ordered 23andMe to cease sales. A few years later, 23andMe rebranded to offer only some health reports along with ancestry and genealogy reports, without the serious health indicators it initially had in mind. The company is working its way back to providing medical information.
With the passing of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, the federal government has barred health insurance companies from denying coverage for those who have a genetic mutation. However, it does not cross over into private insurance companies, which can ask about genetic history and information.
Jason Vassy discusses President Obama’s State of the Union address in which he emphasized personalized medicine.
