Rochester Regional Health launches free genetic screening program

Gates, N.Y. (WHAM) — Rochester Regional Health is now offering a new genetic screening program and research tool, GenoWell, that shows how your DNA impacts participants’ health.

“This is the future of medicine,” said Dr. Prad Phatak, medical director of precision medicine for Rochester Regional Health and principal investigator for GenoWell. “We’re going to use your genetic profile to define the treatments that are tailored to you, the ultimate in personalized medicine.”

Medical professionals gathered Monday at Rochester Regional Health’s Elmgrove Park location to unveil the program, which is available to anyone age 18 and up — free of charge — for up to 100,000 people over the next five years.

“The initial results may show whether you have an increased risk for certain cancers and for heart attack, stroke, three main conditions will be reported, including hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, Lynch syndrome with proneness to colorectal cancer and hereditary high cholesterol, which can cause heart disease, strokes,” said Heather Bacchetta, the program’s precision medicine director. “Participants will also receive results about the regional ancestry and unique traits such as sleep patterns and caffeine sensitivity.”

Those who enroll will give a blood test, and confidential results will be sent back in two to four weeks, according to Bacchetta. If results are positive for any ailments or something is detected early, Rochester Regional Health then steps in to help.

“Individuals with positive results can meet with one of our Rochester Regional Health genetic counselors for a no-cost session to better understand their results and to discuss proactive and preventative care planning,” said Bacchetta.

“I did the testing because why not? It’s only going to benefit my health,” said patient Sheri Nordberg, noting her results showed a pattern of family heart complications.

“My doctor put me on the cholesterol medicine,” she said. “We talked back and forth, she told me what I should do, notify my family. It was all so easy, and I think everybody should go get it done.”

When it comes to protecting your health data, Dr. Roberto Vargas, executive medical director of pathology and laboratory medicine at Rochester Regional Health, said it’s encrypted and has layers of security.

“It’s safe in a secure database where it’s fully broken apart and you can now only get to it if you have the right safeguards,” he said.

Vargas also said your health data is strictly for research and won’t be given out to medical advertisers.

“It’s not for advertisement,” he said. “It’s really for developing new therapies.”

It’s also about providing a snapshot of overall health in the region.

“We can actually positively influence people’s lives,” Phatak said. “They really want to know if they have these conditions.”

CLICK HERE to enroll in the program.