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Guilford Genomic Project Advances in House

Thanks to a vote in the U.S. House last night, the Guilford Genomic Medicine Project may get a boost next year with an additional $4 million in federal support to help expand the research program, four North Carolina Representatives have announced. For the second straight year, federal funding for the project was recommended as part of the defense appropriations bill, which overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 403-17.

Lead sponsors of the project, U.S. Reps. Howard Coble (NC-6), David Price (NC-4), Mel Watt (NC-12) and Brad Miller (NC-13) expressed their continued support of the program, lauding the vote:

Coble: "It is exciting to think that in just a short while, Guilford County veterans could be participating in some far-reaching medical studies. Thanks to our delegation's support, outstanding research will be conducted at Moses Cone, UNCG and Duke. Our veterans will be able to develop personalized health care plans, based on the latest genetic testing, realizing whole new outcomes for disease prevention and treatment. I am proud to have lent my support in moving the ball forward on the Guilford Genomic Medicine Project."

Price: "The ground-breaking introduction of genetic risk testing in a community health setting carries tremendous hope for the future. This program will enable us to translate genetic information from research laboratories to ongoing medical practice, making a critical difference in the health and medical care of families from North Carolina and across the nation. I am proud that Duke University and many of our other fine hospitals and universities are playing such an important role in this partnership."

Watt: "I am pleased to be a part of the effort to secure funding for the Guilford Genomic Medicine Project. The project is an ambitious, cutting-edge health care initiative that draws upon the unique strengths of several partner institutions, including Moses Cone Health System, which will benefit the Triad and North Carolina."

Miller: "I am very pleased that our delegation came together again this year to support this hugely important project. I believe that this additional funding for the Genomic Medicine project will make Guilford County and the Triad major players in biotechnology for the next generation and beyond."

Last year, the Guilford Genomic Medicine Project received $3.4 million in federal support and was touted as the first step in a revolution in medical research with the potential of putting Guilford County on the map as a leader in genomic medicine.

The project is designed to build off research derived from the international Human Genome Project, a study that uncovered genetic "instructions" for the development and function of a human being. Now at the leading edge of medical science, genome-based medicine provides the basic tools to prevent or reduce disease, increase survival rates, and decrease health care costs.

The project will utilize the unique strengths of its three institutional partners, Moses Cone, UNC-Greensboro and Duke Medical Center to bring the benefits of genomic medicine to the citizens of Guilford County, the fourth partner in this effort.

This year, four other members of North Carolina's Congressional delegation also signed letters in support: Reps. Richard Burr (NC-5), Robin Hayes (NC-8), Mike McIntyre (NC-7) and Walter Jones (NC-3).

The Senate has yet to act on the Guilford Genomic Medicine Project.

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