\n\tPublished: February 20, 2013<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\tAs a researcher, UW Bothell assistant professor Chris Wade studies the intersection between genomics and everyday health care practices. \u201cIt is a really exciting time to be studying genomics because the overall goal of personalized prevention and treatment of disease is rapidly becoming a reality,\u201d he says. \u201cI like to point out to my students that in 2003 it cost about $3 billion to sequence a genome. Now, you can do it for $4,000, and get your results back in less than 50 hours.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\tBut while the technology may be at our fingertips, Wade says doctors don\u2019t know yet how best to use it. \u201cWe have this amazing new technological capacity, but for the most part, we don\u2019t have any idea of how to use it effectively,\u201d he says. \u201cJust because whole-genome sequencing can tell us information about health doesn\u2019t mean that using it will actually benefit people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\tThe possibilities however, are promising. In the realm of public health interventions, Wade says that genomics could be used to help prevent diseases before they occur. \u201cFor example, could telling someone that they are at higher genetic risk for Type 2 diabetes help motivate them to change their diet and exercise behaviors?\u201d he says. \u201cThis remains an open question, and certainly one worth exploring.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\tThe main project Wade has worked on to answer these questions is the Multiplex Initiative, which was a collaboration study between the National Human Genome Research Institute, the Henry Ford Health System, and Group Health Cooperative. In the study researchers offered a genetic test to about 2,000 insured adults for eight common health conditions. \u201cThis gave us some fascinating insights into why people decided to get tested, whether people understood the information, and how they used their genetic risks in their health care.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\tHis current research looks at how genetic testing can influence children. \u201cFrom a public health perspective, it would make sense to do testing early,\u201d he says. \u201cHowever, this would mean that many children would grow up knowing about their genetic risks.\u201d Wade is looking for data that clarifies how children respond to this information so researchers can design testing strategies that avoid pitfalls and maximize benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\tOn campus, Wade teaches classes on genomics for nursing students. \u201cDuring the class, we talk about a wide range of issues one would need to think about before implementing a new medical technology, such as the health risks and benefits, the impact on patients, and key policy issues,\u201d he says. During the class, the students put together proposals for how they would use genomics in a public health intervention, which they present at the end of the course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\tWade says clinicians need to be thoughtful in their approach to genetic testing. \u201cThe truth is, there are historical cases where we started using genetic tests prematurely,\u201d he says. \u201cUnsurprisingly, it didn\u2019t work out so well. There were major clinical mistakes; patients were often misinformed, and the delivery approach contributed to social stigmas. With a technology as powerful as whole-genome sequencing, it is really important that we get it right.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Published: February 20, 2013 As a researcher, UW Bothell assistant professor Chris Wade studies the intersection between genomics and everyday health care practices. \u201cIt is a really exciting time to be studying genomics because the overall goal of personalized prevention and treatment of disease is rapidly becoming a reality,\u201d he says. \u201cI like to point…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"parent":5757,"menu_order":6,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_is_archived":false,"_archived_contact_email":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-9252","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"related_links":{"toggle_visibility":false,"link_1":null,"link_2":null,"link_3":null,"link_4":null,"link_5":null},"highlight_box":{"toggle_visibility":false,"title":"","content":"","button":null,"button_style":"angled-purple-button","button_screen_reader_text":""},"contact_type_1":{"toggle_visibility":true,"contact_title":"","email":"uwbnews@uw.edu","phone":"","box":"","address_line_1":"","address_line_2":"","location":""},"contact_type_2":{"toggle_visibility":false,"contact_title":"","email":"","phone":"","box":"","address_line_1":"","address_line_2":"","location":""},"social_media":{"toggle_visibility":false,"facebook_url":"","instagram_url":"","linkedin_url":"","twitter_url":"","youtube_url":""},"blog_archive_sidebar_visibility":false},"yoast_head":"\n