You and your patient will learn about their risks, if any, for certain inherited diseases that have clear recommendations for prevention and treatment. These inherited diseases include certain cancers, such as breast and prostate cancer, as well as inherited heart diseases. Participants with an increased genetic risk for these diseases will have the opportunity to meet with a genetic counselor to review their results. With the genetic counselor, they will discuss a personal action plan based on national risk management guidelines, including additional screening recommendations or prevention strategies. Participating in the study can also provide important health information about disease risk to your patients’ families, including children, siblings, and other family members.
You and your patients will also learn if they are likely to respond differently to certain medications because of their genetics. Knowing whether certain medications may cause more adverse effects or be less effective will help you make the best medication choices for your patients. The genomic screen will look for known factors that could predict or explain responses to several commonly prescribed medications, including several antidepressants, acid-reducing medications, and blood thinners.
Additionally, your patients’ participation will help further ongoing research about the link between genomics and health, enabling researchers to identify new ways to predict and detect diseases earlier. It will also help to further advance and personalize disease prevention as well as treatment.
Finally, there is no cost for participating in Geno4ME (undergoing genomic screening and meeting with a Genome Medical genetic counselor, if needed).