New York State plans to fund a two-year, $5.1 million sequencing pilot project of 1,000 residents in Western New York under its Regional Economic Development Council Initiative.
The Roswell Park Cancer Institute Genome Project will collect blood samples and detailed medical information from 1,000 volunteers, to study the genetic factors involved in cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension.
President and CEO of the Roswell Park Cancer Institute Donald Trump will lead the project along with deputy director Candace Johnson. The institute will also partner with the University of Buffalo; Kaleida Health; the Catholic Health System; Erie County Medical Center; the P2 Collaborative, a nonprofit health organization based in Western New York; and Health eLink, a nonprofit organization working to implement electronic medical records.
Additionally, three major health insurers will be involved in the project, including HealthNow/BlueCross Blue Shield, Independent Health, and Univera Healthcare.