NIH clinical researchers will be using genomic data in many areas of clinical research in the coming decade, according to Michael M. Gottesman, M.D., Deputy Director for Intramural Research at NIH. Just a handful of hospital systems in the U.S have begun to use genome sequencing in clinical care so NIH clinical investigators are planning to be on the vanguard of clinical genomics.
“We’re trying to jump-start genomic medicine, but we first need to build an infrastructure for clinical genomic sequencing that can be used by researchers. It’s as if we were missing a whole dimension—like living in flat land and wanting the third dimension to navigate the landscape of the disease you’re studying” said Dr. Gottesman. He believes a combination of both observable and genomic data will be immensely valuable in understanding human health and improving the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease.
To advance this goal, he is backing a new two year initiative called the “Clinical Center Genomics Opportunity” (CCGO). Set to launch this summer, projects will be selected to take advantage of the phenotyping resources available such as imaging, detailed documentation of physiological changes in patients, and annotations of medical consequences of diseases.
Intramural researchers across NIH use various genomic technologies but not all of the researchers that would like access to genomic tools or infrastructure have had the chance to budget for the use of these tools.
The cost of exome conducted through CCGO will be offset by a combination of funds from the NIH Office of Intramural Research, sequencing discounts from the INH Intramural Sequencing Center, NHGRI clinical support for incidental findings, analysis, and counseling, and the use of the NIH Clinical Center’s sample processing and informatics. CCGO will also leverage clinical, scientific and bioinformatics resources within participating institutes.