/ en Wed, 25 Feb 26 12:10:54 -0500 /news/free-genetic-testing-program-aims-improve-medical-care-across-alabama <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden"><h1>Free genetic testing program aims to improve medical care across Alabama</h1> </span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"> <span>By Karen Zusi-Tran</span> </span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2026-02-25T12:10:54-05:00" class="datetime">February 25, 2026</time> </span> <div class="hero-section container"> <div class="hero-section__row row"> <div class="hero-section__content hero-section__content_left col-6"> <div class="hero-section__breadcrumbs"> <div class="block block-system block-system-breadcrumb-block"> <nav class="breadcrumb" role="navigation" aria-labelledby="system-breadcrumb"> <h2 id="system-breadcrumb" class="visually-hidden">Breadcrumb</h2> <ol> <li> <a href="/">Home</a> </li> <li> <a href="/news">News</a> </li> </ol> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__title"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storytitle"> <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden"><h1>Free genetic testing program aims to improve medical care across Alabama</h1> </span> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__description"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storybody"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Led by Southern Research, MyOme, and ӳ����ý Clinical Labs, the program provides participants with personalized health insights, enabling more informed and proactive healthcare decisions.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__author"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-extra-field-blocknodelong-storyextra-field-author-custom"> By Karen Zusi-Tran </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__date"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storycreated"> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2026-02-25T12:10:54-05:00" title="Wednesday, February 25, 2026 - 12:10" class="datetime">February 25, 2026</time> </span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__right col-6"> <div class="hero-section__image"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storyfield-image"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <article class="media media--type-image media--view-mode-multiple-content-types-header"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <picture role="img" aria-label="Catalyst by Southern Research"> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_desktop_xl/public/longstory/Catalystv2.png?itok=SsdKNmyq 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1921px)" type="image/png" width="754" height="503"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_desktop_xl/public/longstory/Catalystv2.png?itok=SsdKNmyq 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1601px) and (max-width: 1920px)" type="image/png" width="754" height="503"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_desktop/public/longstory/Catalystv2.png?itok=NcSg9Jsw 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1340px) and (max-width: 1600px)" type="image/png" width="736" height="520"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_laptop/public/longstory/Catalystv2.png?itok=7F29EF7x 1x" media="all and (min-width: 800px) and (max-width: 1339px)" type="image/png" width="641" height="451"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_tablet/public/longstory/Catalystv2.png?itok=dA9EXA7s 1x" media="all and (min-width: 540px) and (max-width: 799px)" type="image/png" width="706" height="417"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_phone/public/longstory/Catalystv2.png?itok=jx5t3VTW 1x" media="all and (max-width: 539px)" type="image/png" width="499" height="294"/> <img loading="eager" width="499" height="294" src="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_phone/public/longstory/Catalystv2.png?itok=jx5t3VTW" alt="Catalyst by Southern Research" title="Catalyst by Southern Research" typeof="foaf:Image" /> </picture> </div> <div class="media-caption"> <div class="media-caption__description"> Catalyst by Southern Research </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="content-section container"> <div class="content-section__main"> <div class="block block-better-social-sharing-buttons block-social-sharing-buttons-block"> <div style="display: none"><link rel="preload" href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg" as="image" type="image/svg+xml" crossorigin="anonymous" /></div> <div class="social-sharing-buttons"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=/taxonomy/term/2851/feed&title=" target="_blank" title="Share to Facebook" aria-label="Share to Facebook" class="social-sharing-buttons-button share-facebook" rel="noopener"> <svg aria-hidden="true" width="32px" height="32px" style="border-radius:100%;"> <use href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg#facebook" /> </svg> </a> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=+/taxonomy/term/2851/feed" target="_blank" title="Share to X" aria-label="Share to X" class="social-sharing-buttons-button share-x" rel="noopener"> <svg aria-hidden="true" width="32px" height="32px" style="border-radius:100%;"> <use href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg#x" /> </svg> </a> <a href="mailto:?subject=&body=/taxonomy/term/2851/feed" title="Share to Email" aria-label="Share to Email" class="social-sharing-buttons-button share-email" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <svg aria-hidden="true" width="32px" height="32px" style="border-radius:100%;"> <use href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg#email" /> </svg> </a> </div> </div> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storyfield-content-paragraphs"> <div class="field field--name-field-content-paragraphs field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--text-narrow paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><div class="clearfix" style="background-color:#f3f3f3;font-family:Open Sans;margin-bottom:2em;padding:2em;"> <h3>Highlights</h3> <ul> <li aria-level="1">Catalyst, an initiative aimed at improving medical care and addressing chronic disease, is now underway in Alabama.</li> <li>The program offers free, clinical-grade genetic testing to adult residents across the state, providing personalized information about their genetic risk for certain inherited health conditions and chronic disease, as well as details on which medications might work best for them.</li> <li aria-level="1">Nearly 3,500 Alabama residents have registered to date.</li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--text-narrow paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>An initiative aimed at improving medical care and addressing chronic disease is now underway in Alabama. <a href="https://catalystbysouthernresearch.org/">Catalyst</a>, a precision medicine program led by the Alabama nonprofit <a href="https://southernresearch.org/">Southern Research</a> in collaboration with <a href="https://broadclinicallabs.org/">ӳ����ý Clinical Labs</a> at the ӳ����ý in Massachusetts and <a href="https://myome.com/">MyOme, Inc.</a> in California, offers free, clinical-grade genetic testing to adult residents across the state.</p> <p>This public health initiative provides Alabama residents with personalized information about their risk for inherited health conditions and certain chronic diseases such as heart disease, certain cancers, and type 2 diabetes, as well as details on which medications might work best for them, based on an analysis of their DNA. One of Catalyst’s goals is to close healthcare gaps observed across the state by improving access to these important health insights — particularly in rural areas — to empower patients and their doctors to make more informed, proactive healthcare decisions.</p> <p>Catalyst enrolled its first participants in March 2025 and now has nearly 3,500 Alabama residents registered.</p> <p>Beyond supporting individual health, Catalyst helps connect participants to future opportunities for care. With consent, the program securely stores de-identified information, enabling the ability to recontact participants for clinical trials they may qualify for. This approach expands access to cutting-edge therapies and innovative treatments, ensuring participants can benefit from the latest advancements in healthcare.</p> <p>In addition, Catalyst collects Social Determinants of Health information through surveys. These data are critical for understanding factors such as access to housing, food security, and transportation, which impact overall well-being. The Catalyst team provides resource guides to equip participants with tools that can help reduce health disparities and improve quality of life.</p> <p>“All communities should have access to cutting-edge medical tools like genetic testing so that everyone can benefit from personalized, preventative healthcare,” said Khalilah Brown, chief medical officer at Southern Research. “Alabama is leading the way to a new level of understanding about health and disease, and we hope this program can serve as a model for other states across the country.”</p> <p>Catalyst is being implemented at a critical time for the state. Alabama currently ranks 49th in the nation for life expectancy at 73.2 years, and its health system performance is ranked 44th. Heart disease is the leading cause of death, and 2 million residents — nearly 40 percent of the population — are estimated to have either type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes.</p> <p>Any Alabama resident aged 19 or older can register to join Catalyst online. After registering, participants receive a kit in the mail that they use to collect a cheek swab sample at home. Program organizers also attend events such as community gatherings, festivals, and sporting events throughout the state to provide information about Catalyst and help collect samples.</p> <p>Once a participant provides a cheek swab sample, their DNA is extracted and sent to ӳ����ý Clinical Labs for sequencing. There, the sample is analyzed to look for genetic variations linked to disease, with the precision needed to inform clinical decisions. The lab’s clinical blended-genome exome test makes this possible. It’s a cost-effective method that combines the strengths of genome-wide association studies with the ability to detect rare genetic changes.</p> <p>ӳ����ý Clinical Labs then securely transfers participants’ genomic results to MyOme for interpretation. Participants receive a final health report from MyOme, which provides information on 84 genes linked to inherited health conditions, an analysis of how an individual’s DNA may affect their response to over 70 commonly prescribed medications, and a final health report that may include additional analysis on their genetic risk for conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Participants and their doctors also have access to free genetic counseling to help interpret the results.</p> <p>“We're dedicated to providing high quality data to support accelerating the adoption of genomic medicine,” said <a href="/bios/niall-lennon">Niall Lennon</a>, chief scientific officer at ӳ����ý Clinical Labs. “We are thrilled to be part of a team, with MyOme and Southern Research, that is actively working to reduce health disparities and bring the power of genomics directly to communities in the Deep South. In this regard, Alabama is really showing the rest of the country what the future of preventative medicine can look like.”</p> <p>“By combining accessible DNA testing with clinical history, we’re delivering actionable insights that empower earlier, more personalized care,” said Yasser Ads, chief business officer of MyOme. “This initiative has the potential to improve health outcomes across Alabama — extending lives through earlier intervention while lowering healthcare costs.”</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="content-section container"> <div class="content-section__main"> <div class="block-node-broad-tags block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storyfield-broad-tags"> <div class="block-node-broad-tags__row"> <div class="block-node-broad-tags__title">Tags:</div> <div class="field field--name-field-broad-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/broad-tags/broad-clinical-labs" hreflang="en">ӳ����ý Clinical Labs</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/broad-tags/clinical-genomics" hreflang="en">Clinical genomics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/broad-tags/niall-lennon" hreflang="en">Niall Lennon</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Wed, 25 Feb 2026 17:10:54 +0000 kzusi@broadinstitute.org 5560196 at /news/boston-childrens-hospital-dana-farber-cancer-institute-and-broad-clinical-labs-launch <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden"><h1>Free genetic testing program aims to improve medical care across Alabama</h1> </span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"> <span>By Karen Zusi-Tran</span> </span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2026-02-25T12:10:54-05:00" class="datetime">February 25, 2026</time> </span> <div class="hero-section container"> <div class="hero-section__row row"> <div class="hero-section__content hero-section__content_left col-6"> <div class="hero-section__breadcrumbs"> <div class="block block-system block-system-breadcrumb-block"> <nav class="breadcrumb" role="navigation" aria-labelledby="system-breadcrumb"> <h2 id="system-breadcrumb" class="visually-hidden">Breadcrumb</h2> <ol> <li> <a href="/">Home</a> </li> <li> <a href="/news">News</a> </li> </ol> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__title"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storytitle"> <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden"><h1>Free genetic testing program aims to improve medical care across Alabama</h1> </span> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__description"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storybody"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Led by Southern Research, MyOme, and ӳ����ý Clinical Labs, the program provides participants with personalized health insights, enabling more informed and proactive healthcare decisions.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__author"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-extra-field-blocknodelong-storyextra-field-author-custom"> By Karen Zusi-Tran </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__date"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storycreated"> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2026-02-25T12:10:54-05:00" title="Wednesday, February 25, 2026 - 12:10" class="datetime">February 25, 2026</time> </span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="hero-section__right col-6"> <div class="hero-section__image"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storyfield-image"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <article class="media media--type-image media--view-mode-multiple-content-types-header"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <picture role="img" aria-label="Catalyst by Southern Research"> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_desktop_xl/public/longstory/Catalystv2.png?itok=SsdKNmyq 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1921px)" type="image/png" width="754" height="503"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_desktop_xl/public/longstory/Catalystv2.png?itok=SsdKNmyq 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1601px) and (max-width: 1920px)" type="image/png" width="754" height="503"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_desktop/public/longstory/Catalystv2.png?itok=NcSg9Jsw 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1340px) and (max-width: 1600px)" type="image/png" width="736" height="520"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_laptop/public/longstory/Catalystv2.png?itok=7F29EF7x 1x" media="all and (min-width: 800px) and (max-width: 1339px)" type="image/png" width="641" height="451"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_tablet/public/longstory/Catalystv2.png?itok=dA9EXA7s 1x" media="all and (min-width: 540px) and (max-width: 799px)" type="image/png" width="706" height="417"/> <source srcset="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_phone/public/longstory/Catalystv2.png?itok=jx5t3VTW 1x" media="all and (max-width: 539px)" type="image/png" width="499" height="294"/> <img loading="eager" width="499" height="294" src="/files/styles/multiple_ct_header_phone/public/longstory/Catalystv2.png?itok=jx5t3VTW" alt="Catalyst by Southern Research" title="Catalyst by Southern Research" typeof="foaf:Image" /> </picture> </div> <div class="media-caption"> <div class="media-caption__description"> Catalyst by Southern Research </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="content-section container"> <div class="content-section__main"> <div class="block block-better-social-sharing-buttons block-social-sharing-buttons-block"> <div style="display: none"><link rel="preload" href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg" as="image" type="image/svg+xml" crossorigin="anonymous" /></div> <div class="social-sharing-buttons"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=/taxonomy/term/2851/feed&title=" target="_blank" title="Share to Facebook" aria-label="Share to Facebook" class="social-sharing-buttons-button share-facebook" rel="noopener"> <svg aria-hidden="true" width="32px" height="32px" style="border-radius:100%;"> <use href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg#facebook" /> </svg> </a> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=+/taxonomy/term/2851/feed" target="_blank" title="Share to X" aria-label="Share to X" class="social-sharing-buttons-button share-x" rel="noopener"> <svg aria-hidden="true" width="32px" height="32px" style="border-radius:100%;"> <use href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg#x" /> </svg> </a> <a href="mailto:?subject=&body=/taxonomy/term/2851/feed" title="Share to Email" aria-label="Share to Email" class="social-sharing-buttons-button share-email" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <svg aria-hidden="true" width="32px" height="32px" style="border-radius:100%;"> <use href="/modules/contrib/better_social_sharing_buttons/assets/dist/sprites/social-icons--no-color.svg#email" /> </svg> </a> </div> </div> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storyfield-content-paragraphs"> <div class="field field--name-field-content-paragraphs field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--text-narrow paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><div class="clearfix" style="background-color:#f3f3f3;font-family:Open Sans;margin-bottom:2em;padding:2em;"> <h3>Highlights</h3> <ul> <li aria-level="1">Catalyst, an initiative aimed at improving medical care and addressing chronic disease, is now underway in Alabama.</li> <li>The program offers free, clinical-grade genetic testing to adult residents across the state, providing personalized information about their genetic risk for certain inherited health conditions and chronic disease, as well as details on which medications might work best for them.</li> <li aria-level="1">Nearly 3,500 Alabama residents have registered to date.</li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--text-narrow paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>An initiative aimed at improving medical care and addressing chronic disease is now underway in Alabama. <a href="https://catalystbysouthernresearch.org/">Catalyst</a>, a precision medicine program led by the Alabama nonprofit <a href="https://southernresearch.org/">Southern Research</a> in collaboration with <a href="https://broadclinicallabs.org/">ӳ����ý Clinical Labs</a> at the ӳ����ý in Massachusetts and <a href="https://myome.com/">MyOme, Inc.</a> in California, offers free, clinical-grade genetic testing to adult residents across the state.</p> <p>This public health initiative provides Alabama residents with personalized information about their risk for inherited health conditions and certain chronic diseases such as heart disease, certain cancers, and type 2 diabetes, as well as details on which medications might work best for them, based on an analysis of their DNA. One of Catalyst’s goals is to close healthcare gaps observed across the state by improving access to these important health insights — particularly in rural areas — to empower patients and their doctors to make more informed, proactive healthcare decisions.</p> <p>Catalyst enrolled its first participants in March 2025 and now has nearly 3,500 Alabama residents registered.</p> <p>Beyond supporting individual health, Catalyst helps connect participants to future opportunities for care. With consent, the program securely stores de-identified information, enabling the ability to recontact participants for clinical trials they may qualify for. This approach expands access to cutting-edge therapies and innovative treatments, ensuring participants can benefit from the latest advancements in healthcare.</p> <p>In addition, Catalyst collects Social Determinants of Health information through surveys. These data are critical for understanding factors such as access to housing, food security, and transportation, which impact overall well-being. The Catalyst team provides resource guides to equip participants with tools that can help reduce health disparities and improve quality of life.</p> <p>“All communities should have access to cutting-edge medical tools like genetic testing so that everyone can benefit from personalized, preventative healthcare,” said Khalilah Brown, chief medical officer at Southern Research. “Alabama is leading the way to a new level of understanding about health and disease, and we hope this program can serve as a model for other states across the country.”</p> <p>Catalyst is being implemented at a critical time for the state. Alabama currently ranks 49th in the nation for life expectancy at 73.2 years, and its health system performance is ranked 44th. Heart disease is the leading cause of death, and 2 million residents — nearly 40 percent of the population — are estimated to have either type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes.</p> <p>Any Alabama resident aged 19 or older can register to join Catalyst online. After registering, participants receive a kit in the mail that they use to collect a cheek swab sample at home. Program organizers also attend events such as community gatherings, festivals, and sporting events throughout the state to provide information about Catalyst and help collect samples.</p> <p>Once a participant provides a cheek swab sample, their DNA is extracted and sent to ӳ����ý Clinical Labs for sequencing. There, the sample is analyzed to look for genetic variations linked to disease, with the precision needed to inform clinical decisions. The lab’s clinical blended-genome exome test makes this possible. It’s a cost-effective method that combines the strengths of genome-wide association studies with the ability to detect rare genetic changes.</p> <p>ӳ����ý Clinical Labs then securely transfers participants’ genomic results to MyOme for interpretation. Participants receive a final health report from MyOme, which provides information on 84 genes linked to inherited health conditions, an analysis of how an individual’s DNA may affect their response to over 70 commonly prescribed medications, and a final health report that may include additional analysis on their genetic risk for conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Participants and their doctors also have access to free genetic counseling to help interpret the results.</p> <p>“We're dedicated to providing high quality data to support accelerating the adoption of genomic medicine,” said <a href="/bios/niall-lennon">Niall Lennon</a>, chief scientific officer at ӳ����ý Clinical Labs. “We are thrilled to be part of a team, with MyOme and Southern Research, that is actively working to reduce health disparities and bring the power of genomics directly to communities in the Deep South. In this regard, Alabama is really showing the rest of the country what the future of preventative medicine can look like.”</p> <p>“By combining accessible DNA testing with clinical history, we’re delivering actionable insights that empower earlier, more personalized care,” said Yasser Ads, chief business officer of MyOme. “This initiative has the potential to improve health outcomes across Alabama — extending lives through earlier intervention while lowering healthcare costs.”</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="content-section container"> <div class="content-section__main"> <div class="block-node-broad-tags block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodelong-storyfield-broad-tags"> <div class="block-node-broad-tags__row"> <div class="block-node-broad-tags__title">Tags:</div> <div class="field field--name-field-broad-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/broad-tags/broad-clinical-labs" hreflang="en">ӳ����ý Clinical Labs</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/broad-tags/clinical-genomics" hreflang="en">Clinical genomics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/broad-tags/niall-lennon" hreflang="en">Niall Lennon</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Thu, 07 Aug 2025 15:19:13 +0000 tulrich@broadinstitute.org 5559306 at