HonCode

Go Back   HER2 Support Group Forums > Articles of Interest
Register Gallery FAQ Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 12-04-2014, 01:40 PM   #1
'lizbeth
Senior Member
 
'lizbeth's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sunny San Diego
Posts: 2,214
Post NCI funds Univ. of Chicago genomics project

The University of Chicago is using a $36 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to launch the Genomic Data Commons project, which aims to give researchers access to genomic information from more than 10,000 cancer patients.

(For the full story with photos sign up for 5 free articles per month at the Chicago Tribune)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/c...Return&z=92123

With a new system to compile and help navigate mountains of cancer data, University of Chicago health experts are aiming to bring the future of medicine a little closer.

The Genomic Data Commons project will help researchers around the country assess genetic information from more than 10,000 cancer patients, which could be used to develop more effective treatments, said Robert Grossman, a professor of medicine at U. of C. who is directing the project.


The project, funded with a $36 million National Cancer Institute grant, will "democratize" access to a data set that is now available to only the largest, most well-funded research firms, Grossman said. The information is now only available in raw form from two National Cancer Institute facilities, he said. Some calculations involving the data take a month or more for computer systems to complete, he said.

The system is expected to come online in March and will be expanded at some point, he said.

cComments
North shore University health systems has been doing this study for the past six months. I volunteered my blood. This research will be invaluable. Glad to see another hospital has joined
MACSGIRL
AT 7:33 AM DECEMBER 02, 2014
ADD A COMMENTSEE ALL COMMENTS
1

Once the data set becomes available, better treatments will follow, said John Cunningham, a professor and the university's chief of the section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.

"These tools will change how we practice medicine," Cunningham said.

Within five to 10 years, a doctor specializing in tumors could use data from the new system to assess more rapidly and precisely the severity of a patient's cancer, and could then prescribe medication that is tailored to the patient's genetics, Cunningham said.

"That is the aspiration," he said.



OPEN LINK
A genomic commons system already has helped pediatricians learn more about neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer with a survival rate of less than 50 percent, Cunningham said. A more complete system could help doctors identify which patients are at the most risk and help tailor their treatments, he said.

While the information is expected to help researchers, privacy advocates have raised concerns about efforts to digitize health data in recent years.


Genome-mapping projects like the one at the U. of C. carry the risk that the information could be pieced together to identify patients, said George Hripcsak, a professor and chair of Biomedical Informatics at Columbia University. Hripcsak is involved in the Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics initiative, a project that digitizes health information for clinical use.

"The big thing is making sure we do this in a way that doesn't backfire," Hripcsak said. "Do it in a way that protects patients' privacy."

Grossman said that in the Genomic Data Commons system, names and birthdates will be removed from the information on patients, although gender and age range will be included. Grossman said any researchers who access the data will need to be cleared by the National Institutes of Health.

Wes Venteicher
"No one is given access to this data unless they themselves as well as their research institution they belong to agree to use the information correctly, and part of that is agreeing not to re-identify the data," Grossman said.

wjventeicher@tribpub.com

Twitter @wesventeicher

Copyright © 2014, Chicago Tribune
__________________
Diagnosed 2007
Stage IIb Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, Pagets, 3 of 15 positive nodes

Traditional Treatment: Mastectomy and Axillary Node Dissection followed by Taxotere, 6 treatments and 1 year of Herceptin, no radiation
Former Chemo Ninja "Takizi Zukuchiri"

Additional treatments:
GP2 vaccine, San Antonio Med Ctr
Prescriptive Exercise for Cancer Patients
ENERGY Study, UCSD La Jolla

Reconstruction: TRAM flap, partial loss, Revision

The content of my posts are meant for informational purposes only. The medical information is intended for general information only and should not be used in any way to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease
'lizbeth is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 10:21 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright HER2 Support Group 2007 - 2021
free webpage hit counter