frequently asked questions (FAQ's)

Genomic medicine is the use of family health history and genetic information to improve health outcomes. This includes:

• Identifying people more likely to get a disease such as cancer, for reasons such as a family history of the disease.
• Earlier or more frequent screening in order to diagnose diseases in the earliest stages, when treatment may be more effective, and
• Using genetic tests to identify the best possible treatment for a disease

The Genomedical Connection is a comprehensive program involving three partners: the Moses Cone Health System (MCHS), Greensboro, North Carolina; Duke Institute for Genome Sciences & Policies (IGSP) Raleigh-Durham and North Carolina; Center for Biotechnology, Genomics and Health Research (CBGHR) at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro;

The Genomedical Connection is offering genomic medicine to our community. This includes teaching residents of Guilford County about how to lower their chances for disease.

Our goals will guide Guilford County residents and doctors in:

• collecting and interpreting family health history,
• identifying options for screening and early detection of disease, and
• protecting patient privacy.

The partnership's central goals are to guide both community members and healthcare professionals in accessing and clearly interpreting family and medical history, coupled with genetic information, and then identifying options for preventative care and early detection. The program is designed to carefully protect patient privacy.

It is a Congressional mandated research project and the United States Congress approved funding of $12 million for up to seven years. Future funding is continuously being sought to enhance the reach of The Genomedical Connection.

• A diverse population. Guilford County has a wide range of people living in the county. This means that the program created by The Genomedical Connection will apply to all people
• The Genomedical Connection is dedicated to the forefront of medical research. With a senior staff of what the Army has called, "eminently qualified" investigators.
• Experts in education. The University of North Carolina, Greensboro (UNCG) has a strong history in teaching. This makes UNCG perfect for setting up The Genomedical Connection's education programs.
• High ethical standards. Most Greensboro residents use the Moses Cone Health System (MCHS), which has high standards for health care and well respected doctors and nurses. MCHS will make sure that these high standards continue as the program develops.

Through April 2012, though the Genomedical Connection is working to extend its important work.

The project will focus on three common diseases: breast and ovarian cancer, colon cancer, and thrombophilia (blood clotting). Other common diseases will be added as the science becomes applicable to genomic medicine.

The health care of the future will rely on lessons learned in projects such as the Genomedical Connection. This ensures that Guilford County citizens will be among the first in the world to receive personalized health care based on the revolutionary power of family health history and genetic information. As a pioneering community of this elite model, Guilford County will position itself as the ideal setting for innovations in healthcare, this attracting high-tech and health industries to the area.

If your doctor is part of the LeBauer Health, Guilford Jamestown Practice or Eagle Internal Medicine @ Tannenbaum Practice you may be able to take part in the project. Patients who have a routine doctor's appointment will be contacted by mail to take part in the project. If you get a letter asking you to take part in the project, you can call the number on the letter and sign up.

If selected to be in the project, you will come to your doctor's appointment early; and enter your family health history into a computer. When you finish, you will get a printout telling you if you are more likely to get breast and ovarian cancer, colon cancer, or thrombophilia (blood clots). You can talk to you doctor to find out what you should do to lower your chance for disease. Some people may be referred to a genetic counselor for more in-depth discussion of personal and family history.

You will also be given the chance to take part in other medical research. New studies show our genetic make-up affects how we react to certain medicines. Knowing your genetic make-up could help identify which medicine will work best for you. You can help scientists understand this better. Talk to the study coordinator when you sign up for The Genomedical Connection to learn how. You can also click on 'contact' at the bottom of this page to send us an email.

No. Genetic counseling will be paid for by The Genomedical Connection.

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