Manonmani Ganapathy, Ph.D., M.S., (left) discusses her poster presentation with keynote speaker Maren Scheuner, M.D., M.P.H., a clinical geneticist and health services researcher from Los Angeles.
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By Will Sansom

The second annual Frontiers of Translational Science Research Day, sponsored by the Institute for Integration of Medicine and Science (IIMS), took place Jan. 19. The IIMS is the home of the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA), which is hosted at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio and includes 10 partners in San Antonio and South Texas.

A nationally recognized speaker participated in the Research Day activities, delivering the latest Seminar in Translational Research (STRECH). The seminar series is a collaboration between the IIMS and UT San Antonio.

Distinguished speaker
The speaker was Maren Scheuner, M.D., M.P.H., a clinical geneticist and health services researcher at the Center for the Study of Healthcare Provider Behavior at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. She discussed “Delivery of Genomic Medicine: A Health Services Research Perspective.” Genomic medicine is the application of knowledge of the human genome to medical practice — including diagnosis, risk assessment and treatment — using genomic medicine applications including molecular genetic testing technologies.

Related link: Poster presentation winners and oral presentations

In an interview prior to the lecture, Dr. Scheuner said genomic medicine will prove most effective if the information gleaned from it “adds value to what we already know.” Currently, the single genetic tool that is best for assessing risk for common, chronic diseases is the family health history. The addition of genomic analysis to further stratify individuals’ risk of developing a disease could prove very beneficial, and genetic test results can also be used to assist in drug prescribing, known as pharmacogenetics.

Jannine Cody, Ph.D., (left) associate professor of pediatrics and interim chief of the Division of Genetics and Metabolic Disorders, discusses her presentation with conference coordinator Nedal Arar, M.A., M.S., Ph.D., associate professor of medicine.

Effective integration of genomic information into clinical practice can be assisted by interactive electronic health records — “smart tools,” Dr. Scheuner said. These tools could help with drug prescribing, for example. Of course, such tools come with a price. “If you’re going to add something to your armamentarium, there will be a cost,” she said. “But if there are improved health outcomes, it may be acceptable.”

There has been concern about whether an employer or health insurance company should learn about an individual’s genetic susceptibilities, because of potential consequences. Dr. Scheuner reassures patients that there is little evidence insurers use this information and points out that the federal Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 prohibits discrimination on the basis of genetic information with respect to health insurance and employment.

Other ethical issues in genomic medicine include the responsibility clinicians have to warn their patients at risk for hereditary disease, and also the testing of minors for adult-onset conditions when they are not able to consent for themselves.

Poster presentations
The Frontiers of Translational Science Research Day included 28 poster presentations on an array of topics. Five were selected for oral presentation. An IIMS committee of Nedal Arar, M.S, Ph.D.; Robert A. Clark, M.D.; Michael Lichtenstein, M.D., M.Sc.; Kenneth Hargreaves, D.D.S., Ph.D.; and Dr. Scheuner reviewed all the posters and selected seven for $300 travel awards to enable students and faculty to attend scientific meetings. To learn more about IIMS and STRECH seminars, see Seminars in Translational Research (STRECH).