National Genomic Screening Saves Australians from Disease
- Leading genomic health experts from Monash University are calling for urgent government funding too progress the advancement of a national preventive genomic testing program that would save thousands...
- This call to action follows a Monash-led nationwide pilot study recently completed, offering free genomic screening to 10,000 Australians aged 18 to 40.
- Jane Tiller from Monash university, on behalf of a national network of leading clinicians, researchers and public health experts.
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Leading genomic health experts from Monash University are calling for urgent government funding too progress the advancement of a national preventive genomic testing program that would save thousands of Australians from conditions like cancer and heart disease.
This call to action follows a Monash-led nationwide pilot study recently completed, offering free genomic screening to 10,000 Australians aged 18 to 40. The pilot tested for 10 medically actionable genes linked to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, Lynch syndrome, and familial hypercholesterolemia.
The findings are published in Nature Health. The pilot study was led by Professor Paul Lacaze and Dr. Jane Tiller from Monash university, on behalf of a national network of leading clinicians, researchers and public health experts.
Key findings and current limitations
The study found an estimated one in 50 young Australians carries a high risk genetic variant for breast and ovarian cancer,Lynch syndrome,and familial hypercholesterolemia,making genomic testing and preventative treatment a top priority.
But publicly funded DNA testing is currently only available to a limited group of Australians and strict eligibility criteria excludes those who need it most.
Actually, around nine in 10 Australians at high genetic risk remain undetected.
Future directions and policy changes
Professor Paul Lacaze, DNA Screen lead and Monash’s Head of Public Health Genomics, said there is a clear desire from young Australians with high genetic risk of preventive disease to access public screening, with tens of thousands signing up for the DNA Screen pilot study.
“Most of the participants would not have qualified for existing government-funded genomic testing,” Professor Lacaze said.
“If we can identify people early, before disease develops, we can intervene, save lives, and reduce future health care costs.
“DNA screening has the potential to transform public health in Australia.”
Monash experts have worked tirelessly for more than a decade to lay the groundwork for a national adult genetic screening program.
Dr. Tiller has been instrumental in ensuring protection of sensitive genomic health information and worked closely with the government on the recently introduced legislation to ban genetic discrimination in life insurance, paving the way for programs that increase access to preventive genomic information.
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