Sequencing leader Illumina announced it has entered a partnership with Henry Ford Health in Detroit to assess the impact and utility of comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) for patients with cardiovascular disease. The program, dubbed CardioSeq, will comprise the implementation of clinical studies using next-generation sequencing technology, including whole-genome sequencing, to 1,500 patients receiving cardiovascular care at Henry Ford Health.
“This study is the first of several that will measure the impact of whole-genome sequencing in patients with cardiovascular disease,” said David Lanfear, MD, vice president of clinical and translational research at Henry Ford Health and the study’s lead clinician. “What we’re initially most interested in is the rate of the change in medical management due to the genetic information, but eventually we will be looking at differences in cost and clinical outcomes as well.”
The research will be conducted at the Lisa and Christopher Jeffries Center for Precision Medicine and the Center for Individualized and Genomic Medicine Research at Henry Ford Health, will have a specific focus on the diverse and underserved populations will study the effects on the clinical and economic burden on the health system from the treatment of cardiovascular disease and how it might be positively affected by CGP for these patients.
“We share the belief that genomics should be integrated into standard of care across clinical indications as one of the key determinants of health. We intend for our partnership to demonstrate the benefits of such an approach for individual patients and the broader health care system, especially in underserved communities,” added Phil Febbo, MD, CMO of Illumina.
As in other chronic diseases, a patient’s genetics can play a significant role in whether they develop cardiovascular disease and also how those with the chronic condition will respond to the range of medications available to treat the disease. For the CardioSeq study, the researchers will use an accredited test developed by Illumina that uses whole-genome sequencing to develop a patient’s CGP. The test will screen for more than 200 genetic drivers of cardiovascular disease and will also employ ACMG’s recommended secondary findings genes.
The intention is to develop a more complete understanding of how each patient’s genomic profile can inform care planning, facilitate early diagnosis, and provide important pharmacogenomic information to choose appropriate medications that will be most effective while also minimizing side effects.
Genetic counselors will report any inherited cardiovascular genetic findings to patients in the study and counsel them on the implications of the findings, while pharmacists will review the findings to make patient-specific medication recommendations. Each patient’s doctor will also receive the test results.
The Henry Ford researchers intend to complete the CGP testing of participants by the end of 2024 and, with patient consent, will make the data generated available to research partners for cardiovascular disease drug discovery as well as improving methods for cardiovascular wellness and treatment.
