NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) - The National Institutes of Health said that it is seeking input on strategies for maximizing the impact of a potential future clinical sequencing research program.
According to the agency, it has funded the Clinical Sequencing Exploratory Research (CSER) program since 2011 to "assess which clinical contexts would be best served using a genomic sequencing approach, how approaches to analysis and interpretation should be standardized, and what bottlenecks exist in developing the infrastructure needed for clinical sequencing." The program also includes the examination of ethical and psychosocial implications of using patient sequencing data in a clinical setting
Following a September workshop to review and consider the results of CSER's efforts, the NIH is now asking researchers, academic institutions, professional societies, patient advocacy groups, health practitioners, payers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to weigh in on a future clinical sequencing program at the agency.
Specifically, the NIH is interested in ideas around promoting collaboration between researchers and payors, patients, professional societies, regulatory agencies, and policymakers on the design of clinical sequencing studies so that the outcomes of value to these groups can best be measured.
It is also seeking information on strategies for data sharing, including ones that make use of existing infrastructure, as well as input on the integration of genomic sequencing into clinical care in situations where either an investigator-initiated approach or a consortium-based approach is required.
The NIH said that responses to this request for information will be accepted through December 7. Additional information can be found here.