Genetic Testing Registry – Another Initiative of NIH

• Date: March 19, 2010
• Source: Admin

The National Institute of Health (NIH) has announced its new initiative of creating a Genetic Testing Registry to create a public database available for researchers, consumers, health care providers, and others looking for information. This database will contain information submitted by genetic test providers voluntarily. 

At present, although there are more than 1,600 genetic tests are available to patients and consumers, but lack of public resource providing detailed information about them makes the genetic testing unavailable for the patients and consumers. GTR is an initiative of the NIH to fill the gap and it has been developed in order to enhance access of common people to information about the availability, validity, and usefulness of genetic tests. 

Functions of GTR
 

• Enhance transparency of genetic tests by publicly sharing information about the availability and utility of the tests
• Create an information reserve for the public, health care providers,  researchers, and patients, to locate laboratories that offer particular tests
• Facilitate genomic data-sharing for research and new scientific discoveries

According to Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D, NIH Director "The need for this database reflects how far we have come in the last 10 years,". He adds "The registry will help consumers and health care providers determine the best options for genetic testing, which is becoming more and more common and accessible. Our combined expertise in biomedical research and managing such large databases makes NIH the ideal home for the registry."

Source:

http://www.nih.gov/news/health/mar2010/od-18.htm