Guilford Genomic Medicine Initiative: Implementing MeTree©

Funding agency: Department of Defense grant to Moses Cone Medical Center

Total Amount: $1,000,000/per year

Percent Effort on Project: 20% per year

Funding Period: 06/01/2007 – 05/31/2012

Role on Project: Principal Evaluator (PE)

Project Description: The overall goal of the Guilford Genomic Medicine Initiative (GGMI) is to identify the specific challenges in “re-structuring” (is this still true?) an existing medical system to integrate genomic medicine, and create solutions that can be used by other medical systems, such as the extensive military medical care system. To accomplish this goal, GGMI includes the development of a large-scale genomic medicine education initiative targeted at the community, providers, and patients, and a clinical systems model to implement strategies to facilitate the integration of genomic medicine into several pilot practices. This IRB protocol relates to the development of a computer-based tool that is at the core of the clinical systems model. One of the main components of genomic medicine is risk assessment. As part of a previous IRB protocol, we created and assessed a self-administered family history and genetic risk assessment software tool called MeTree © (Statement of work: Project 2: Tasks 1). This software tool 1) collects a baseline family history to generate a pedigree; 2) evaluates genetic risk specifically of four diseases - breast, ovarian, and colon cancer and thrombosis (using personal and family medical history information in an algorithm); and 3) generates risk-based reports for patients and providers to guide health care management decisions. In partnership with Duke University Medical Center, the UNCG Center for Biomedical, Genetics and Health Research and Moses Cone Medical Center, the PE guides the project assessment process and provides technical assistance, and monitor the progress of the community collaborative efforts with providers.