Researchers in the Electronic Medical Records and Genomics (eMERGE) network will receive $25 million over the next four years to demonstrate that patients' genomic information linked to disease characteristics and symptoms in their electronic medical records can be used to improve their care. The grants are from the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which supports research by the network's seven institutions and coordinating center.
The first phase of eMERGE, which wrapped up in July, demonstrated that data about disease characteristics in electronic medical records and patient's genetic information can be used in large genetic studies. So far, the eMERGE network has identified genetic variants associated with dementia, cataracts, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, peripheral arterial disease, white blood cell count, type 2 diabetes and cardiac conduction defects.
In the next phase, investigators will identify genetic variants associated with 40 more disease characteristics and symptoms, using genome-wide association studies across the entire eMERGE network. Genome-wide association studies represent a powerful approach researchers can use to study hundreds of thousands of genetic variants in people with and without certain health conditions to identify genes that cause or contribute to diseases.
eMERGE researchers will then use the genomic information in clinical care. With patient consent, researchers may use information about genetic variants involved in drug response to adjust patient medications. In addition, eMERGE researchers who discover patients harboring genetic variants associated with diseases such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease will intervene to prevent, diagnose and/or treat such diseases.
The eMERGE network will share its data through the database of Genotypes and Phenotypes (dbGAP) at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gap.
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