The Healthy Nevada Project, one of the largest genetic research studies in the country, is teaming up with the University of Nevada, Reno, School of Medicine (UNR Med) to open doors to research through its study at UNR Med’s Clinical Research Center. Since the launch of the Healthy Nevada Project in 2016, the genetic research study has had over 60,000 community members participate, with over 630 of those participants who learned they had a hereditary genetic risk.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Healthy Nevada Project to increase enrollment and provide medical students with an opportunity to learn more about the impact of genomic medicine.  We are hopeful this experience will endear them to our community and keep them here as engaged physicians in the future!” Danielle Eaton, MBA, director of Clinical Research UNR Med and Renown Health, said.

The Healthy Nevada Project study offers ancestry information and no-cost genetic screening for certain hereditary cancers and heart disease risks that are often missed in routine clinical care alone. This includes screening for the following genetic risks associated with:

• Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH): Increased risk for early heart disease and high cholesterol.
• Breast & Ovarian Cancer Syndrome (BRCA 1&2 genes): Increased risk for Breast, Ovarian, Prostate, and Pancreatic cancers.
• Lynch Syndrome: Increased risk for colon and endometrial cancers as an added benefit.

“We all have unique stories, traits, or backgrounds, but what we all share in our foundation is genetics,” Alexa Anderson, MHA, administrative director of Genomic Medicine at Renown Health and participant in the Healthy Nevada Project study, said.

“Genetic research is one of the ways that we can continue to advance our understanding of disease and potential treatments to help our community. Our goal for the Healthy Nevada Project study is to seek participation and inclusion from everyone, because the outcomes of our research and the health insights we will gain will only be as good as those who participate. The more diversity and inclusion we can have in the study, the more applicable the findings will be to everyone.  I am so excited to partner with the University of Nevada, Reno, School of Medicine to offer this wonderful and unique opportunity, and my team is grateful to continue to serve our community in this way,” Anderson said.

On select Fridays, our University of Nevada, Reno medical students will be taking appointments for students and faculty 18 years and older to participate in this study. Joining is simple – all that is needed is a signed consent form and a small saliva sample. Those interested can get started by visiting the Healthy Nevada Project research scheduling webpage.