Air Force embarks on genomic medicine with phase II of study Published Aug. 7, 2015 By Air Force Surgeon General Public Affairs FALLS CHURCH, Va -- The Air Force Medical Service has partnered with the Coriell Institute for Medical Research in Camden, N.J., to prepare the medical community for the integration of genomic medicine. Genomics is the scientific study of complex diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer which are typically caused more by a combination of genetic and environmental factors than by individual genes, according to the National Institutes of Health. Through the Clinical Utility Study (CUS), a robust longitudinal project approved by the Air Force Research Laboratory Institutional Review Board, researchers are studying the effects of personalized medical information delivery to Air Force personnel by examining participant behavior modifications, changes in medical management and long-term health outcomes. "Since 2010 when the study began, more than 2,000 AFMS personnel have volunteered to become part of the Air Force CUS cohort of the Coriell Personalized Medicine Collaborative," said Maj. (Dr.) Ruth Brenner, chief of AFMS Personalized Medicine, Air Force Medical Support Agency. The collaborative includes a number of academic institutions including Stanford University, Boston University, the University of Pennsylvania, and other research partners. Study participants submit a saliva sample for DNA analysis, activate a secure online account, and then complete questionnaires based on personal, family, medical and social history, according to Brenner. Once the genomic testing is complete, individuals are notified via email that results are available to them. "Coriell engages two teams of accomplished researchers who rigorously review medical literature and determine which health conditions and what medication information is clinically actionable and can be reported to participants, the Informed Cohort Oversight Board and Pharmacogenomics Advisory Group," explained Brenner. Currently approved conditions include and are not limited to: Type II diabetes, obesity, coronary artery disease, and melanoma; clopidogrel, warfarin and codeine are a few of the medications included in the drug metabolism reports. "Subjects access their results through a secure online CUS website and are presented with both genomic risks and risks based on other factors such as diet, lifestyle and family history. These reports are not entered into the Air Force medical record and are only shared with the participant," said Brenner. "Study participants receive new risk reports monthly." Complimentary genetic counseling services are provided by Coriell for study participants and medical providers with whom they share their risk reports. During phase I, more than 2,100 AFMS volunteers became CUS participants at stateside Air Force base enrollment events. About 1,300 participants have activated their accounts and have received more than 28,000 personalized risk reports combined. Now in phase II, the study population has expanded to include all Active Duty members and their spouses, as well as Air Force retirees and their spouses, and allows for online enrollment. "This broadening of the cohort will enable researchers to examine areas of interest as approved by Air Force leadership, including cardiovascular health and obesity," said Brenner. For more information, visit: https://usaf.coriell.org/.