FORT WAYNE – Parkview Health has joined the Helix Research Network, North America’s largest precision clinical research network, according to the release from Parkview Health.
Helix announced the expansion of its research program as Parkview joined the initiative along with Cincinnati-based TriHealth and western New York-based Rochester Regional Health.
As a member with the Helix Research Network, Parkview aims to enroll 100,000 participants over four years. Patients can voluntarily opt-in to the program at no cost to receive actionable DNA insights and information about key risk factors for certain conditions such as breast and ovarian cancer, colorectal cancer and high cholesterol. Providers can then use that information to create plans for screening, prevention or management of conditions identified as a risk via the patient’s genetic profile, the release states.
Helix provides a platform which enables future genomic testing without needing to collect additional patient samples, according to the release. Helix’s platform allows patients and providers to access ongoing genomic insights about their health throughout their lifetime. About 1-2% of program participants are expected to test positive and show a risk for one of the three conditions included in the Helix Health test.
“Participating in the Helix Research Network will provide both individual and communitywide benefits,” said Dr. Michael Mirro, chief academic research officer, Parkview Health. “Patients will receive useful insights into their genes that can help prevent serious or chronic health problems, while the large pool of data will help Parkview better identify and understand the risk factors our population faces and allow us to tailor new programs or target services to address those issues.”
Parkview currently offers patients the option for genetic testing for issues such as cancer or cardiovascular conditions, but the Helix initiative will expand the scope of testing to a wider audience. Parkview will provide patients additional information in the near future about how to participate when the testing program officially launches.
“Prevention is critical in healthcare, because catching a condition like cancer in its early stages or reducing the risk factors that lead to the development of heart disease greatly improves a patient’s prognosis and treatment options,” said Mirro. “Increased genetic testing will hopefully provide more patients with more information about their own risks, allowing them to prepare and prevent potentially serious health problems before they develop.”