NEws and Events

CEGEM FIRST ANNUAL ADVISORY BOARD MEETING - FRIDAY MAY 21, 2010 8:00AM TO 3:00PM

SUMMARY OF EVENT

The CEGeM Advisory Board met on Friday, May 21 to discuss the future of the Center. The meeting was directed by Dr. Katrina Armstrong and Dr. Susan Domchek and attended by CEGeM advisors, faculty, and research staff. Presentations were given by Dr. Armstrong, Dr. Susan Domchek, Dr. Karen Glanz, Dr. Anil Vachani, Dr. David Asch, Sean McElligott, and Elizabeth Handorf. Dr. Armstrong discussed the purpose of the center, the four pilot projects, and the infrastructure development plans. The four pilot projects introduced are the (1) pharmacogenomics and tobacco cessation, (2) the use of SNPs to improve breast cancer risk prevention at time of mammography screening and improving outcomes, (3) personalized lung cancer treatment and use in a clinical setting, and (4) the usefulness of genetic testing (p16) in high-risk melanoma families. 

The first project discussed in detail was project #2 for Breast Cancer Prediction Models with Traditional Methods and SNPs by Dr. Domchek. Her presentation described the progress of the project thus far and especially emphasized the racial disparity issue between African Americans and Whites.  Moving forward, the project aims to re-open recruitment, follow women enrolled, and reduce harms caused by screening programs. Next, Dr. Glanz presented on project #4, the CKDN2A/p16 testing, and Adherence to Melanoma Prevention Behaviors. She emphasized offering people with higher risk of melanoma genetic counseling and a melanoma risk assessment and feedback questionnaire in a primary care setting. Enrollment for this study has progressed throughout the summer. Next, Dr. Vachani presented on project #3, the Personalized Therapy for NSCLC with an emphasis on different types of personalized therapies, including Erlotnib, Gefitinib, and a comparison of EGRF and KRAS. Lastly, Dr. Armstrong presented on project #1, the Personalized Approach to Nicotine Addiction Treatment versus Standard of Care. She emphasized the availability of multiple potential treatments, the benefit of decreasing the options for treatment, personalized treatment adherence, the ineffectiveness of some treatments, and the marketing of such personalized treatments.

In addition to the project presentations, Dr. Asch, Elizabeth Handorf, and Sean McElligott presented on the Evidence Synthesis aspect of these projects, including the cost effectiveness analysis, communication, use by stakeholders, and more specifically Testing Unaffected Persons in Genetic Diagnostic Centers (S.T.U.P.i.D.) and the NSCLC Decision Tree for Treatment. Additional discussions centered on racial disparities and Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry in terms of significant genetic factors. After the presentations concluded, the group held a question and answer session and discussed each project again briefly as well as adding new ideas and input. Dr Armstrong concluded the meeting with a discussion of cost-benefit analysis for physicians, EGAPP, the importance of multidisciplinary projects, and the Center for Evidence Based Practice (CEBP). Overall, the meeting was very productive and successful. Projects have continued and have progressed throughout the summer months.