This past week saw a number of recaps of exciting innovation events, both virtual and in-person. The Participant Technology Systems Center brought together dozens of researchers, technologists, and designers to collaborate face-to-face on some of research’s biggest obstacles. UCSF held a virtual symposium on precision medicine, and Fred Hutch released interviews with some of their leading minds about the future of precision health.
A group working on the All of Us Research Program joined together to problem solve the barriers in digital health technology. The group consisted of Vibrent engineers, designers from GoInvo, and research scientists from Harvard Medical School, Vanderbilt University, UC Irvine, University of Miami, North Carolina Central University, Northwestern University, and others. Because the All of Us Research Program has overcome a multitude of barriers to create the largest cohort program in history, this group had the experience to brainstorm creative solutions.
UCSF Benioff Center for Microbiome Medicine held a full day symposium to explore the microbiome and precision medicine. Speakers came from institutions across the United States, as well as overseas, and topics included editing the microbiome, modeling the microbiome, and drugging the microbiome. Though the event has passed, the recording will be posted on the registration page soon.
Fred Hutchison Cancer Center President Dr. Thomas J. Lynch, Jr. Spoke with some of Fred Hutch’s chief experts in a recorded session available to watch. Discussions emphasized how emerging technologies and a growing universe of molecular data are paving the way for more accurate understanding of human differences, and a future of personalized cancer therapies and prevention methods.
The National Human Genome Research Institute has revamped and renamed one of its most popular assets: the talking glossary. This site includes audio recordings, color illustrations, animations, graphics, and of course definitions – for hundreds of terms in the field of genomics. The new version is the first major update since it was launched in 1998, and even includes a Spanish translation. More updates are planned in the coming months.
Here in the US maternal mortality rates are on the rise. Even more concerning, the rates of mortality are significantly higher for Black women and American Indian and Alaskan Native Women. Researchers could address these concerns through existing data found in EHRs, health insurance claims, social determinants of health, and mortality data. However, making this data interoperable and standardizing the language used in such health records is necessary for researchers to make useful conclusions. Luckily, through the HHS’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) a number of projects are working together to establish data standardization and facilitate interoperability.