Leading genetic testing startup Ilumina and not-for-profit healthcare organization Henry Ford Health have partnered to investigate the impact of comprehensive genomic testing on clinical care in cardiovascular disease, with the first study called “CardioSeq.” The partnership is exploring the benefits of integrating genomic testing within specialized care centers in the healthcare system and promoting genomics as a key determinant of health. 

The partnership will involve the Lisa and Christopher Jeffries Center for Precision Medicine and the Center for Individualized and Genomic Medicine Research at Henry Ford Health as they conduct implementation and clinical studies to investigate the use of next-generation sequencing tests, including whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to assess their impact on clinical care for cardiovascular disease. The CardioSeq study will use an accredited clinical test developed by Illumina that employs WGS to create a comprehensive cardiovascular genomic profile, with the aim of facilitating early diagnosis, reducing unanticipated side effects, and reducing medical visits.

The WGS test used in CardioSeq will screen each patient for more than 200 genetic causes of cardiovascular disease, as well as pharmacogenetic results. Genetic counselors will report any inherited disease findings to participating patients and offer them additional education; followed by pharmacists’ review of all pharmacogenetic findings before making indicated recommendations. Henry Ford researchers aim to complete testing for all 1500 CardioSeq participants in 2024. The patients' samples and clinical data will be used by the partners for discovery efforts in genomic medicine.