– Shriners Hospitals for Children establishes new genomics institute to advance precision medicine in partnership with Genome Medical to return actionable genetic findings for pediatric patients.
– Genomics Institute at Shriners Hospitals will offer genetic sequencing to patients at its 22 hospitals and outpatient locations in North America and from its international network of outreach clinics.
Shriners Hospitals for Children is teaming up with Genome Medical to ensure that pediatric patients and families receiving next-generation DNA sequencing through the new Genomics Institute at Shriners Hospitals will have access to the highest standard of genetic services through Genome Medical’s nationwide network of clinical genetic specialists. Together, Shriners Hospitals for Children and Genome Medical will be taking pediatric genetic research to a personalized, patient-centric level that will lead to more individualized treatment options and improved outcomes.
Genome Medical is a national telegenomics technology and services company bringing genomic medicine to everyday care. Through our nationwide network of genetic specialists and efficient Genome Care Delivery technology platform, we provide expert virtual genetic care for individuals and their families to improve health and well-being.
Offering Genetic Sequencing to Patients across 22 Hospitals & Outpatient Facilities
The Shriners health care system will offer genetic sequencing to patients at its 22 hospitals and outpatient locations in North America and its international network of outreach clinics. For some patients, the sequencing will reveal genetic variations in the most medically actionable genes. These patients and their caregivers will be connected to Genome Medical to receive support and clinical guidance from its team of genetic counselors and medical geneticists, who specialize in pediatric conditions. This may include virtual genetic counseling, arranging confirmatory genetic testing for the patient, referrals to appropriate medical specialists for follow-on care, and coordinating genetic testing of family members when recommended.
Bringing A Genetics-Based Approach to Medical Care
This genetics-based approach to medical care — precision medicine — is more than a hope or a dream. It is becoming a reality, and one day will even be the standard. With the establishment of its Genomics Institute in Tampa, Florida, Shriners Hospitals for Children has taken a major step toward this goal of understanding the specific — and individual — genetic causes of various conditions and disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, cleft lip, and palate, clubfoot, scoliosis, and osteogenesis imperfecta.
Genome Medical is dedicated to accelerating the integration of genomic-based medicine into health care for patients all across the United States. For both individuals and organizations like Shriners Hospitals for Children, Genome Medical’s clinical team navigates the rapidly expanding field of genetics and utilizes test results to understand the risk for disease, accelerate disease diagnosis, make informed treatment decisions and lower the cost of care.
“Through sophisticated, next generation sequencing of DNA samples from our patient population, Shriners Hospitals hopes to gain the understanding needed to create more targeted, efficient and personalized treatments and therapies,” said Marc Lalande, Ph.D., vice president of research programs for Shriners Hospitals for Children. “We are proud to be at the forefront of this next major step toward bringing new hope and healing to children and families the world over.”
