Study allows Ohioans to learn genetic risks through no-cost screening

A research program designed to improve health outcomes and create more personalized care for people throughout Ohio has been launched through a partnership between The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Helix, a precision health organization.

Through the program, called Ohio State Genomic Health, 100,000 participants will be enrolled over four years. Anyone who qualifies and joins the study receives a genetic screening to learn more about their risk factors for certain diseases. They can also meet with a genetic counselor if the screening identifies certain genetic markers.

The study examines genetic variations across populations and which diseases may be driven by that genetic variation, says Andrew Thomas, MD, MBA, chief clinical officer of the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center and senior associate vice president of Health Sciences at The Ohio State University.

After signing up and providing a DNA sample (blood/cheek swab), each participant receives genetic screening results in their electronic medical record, showing whether they have markers for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC), Lynch syndrome and familial hypercholesterolemia (inherited high cholesterol).

These are markers for hereditary risks of breast and ovarian cancers; colorectal, uterine and other cancers; and cardiovascular disease, respectively.

“A couple of things that have been amazing to me is that our positivity rate is sitting at about 1 in 75 patients screening positive for one of the three genetic conditions,” Dr. Thomas says. “When you think about the number of people who will be impacted and know more about the genetic predisposition for disease, when you have 100,000 patients participating – it’s really, truly impacting people’s lives.”

More than 60,000 patients, from each of the 88 counties in Ohio, had signed up to participate, Dr. Thomas noted.