News & Articles
Color and Verily Partner to Return Actionable Genetics to Project Baseline Health Study Participants
Alicia Zhou
Today we are announcing a new partnership with Verily to return actionable genetic information to all Project Baseline Health Study participants. The partnership demonstrates a commitment by Verily and Color to further research while also recognizing an ethical responsibility for the universal return of actionable results.
Project Baseline Health Study participants will have access to Color’s physician-ordered, clinical-grade genomic services, board certified genetic counselors, and clinical pharmacists enabling them to better understand their risk for certain hereditary cancers, heart disease, and genes that impact medication response.
The initiative supports Project Baseline’s continued efforts to make it easy and engaging for people to contribute to the map of human health and participate in clinical research while showcasing a new delivery model to efficiently and cost effectively return actionable results. The unique virtual services from Color enable genetic testing to be ordered online, samples provided conveniently at home, results delivered in a matter of weeks, and genetic counseling over the phone. Participants can work with their physicians to integrate their results into care including preventive actions plans for anyone at a higher risk of a hereditary conditions covered by Color’s tests.
As with many large population studies, the collection and generation of genomic data is an essential component with great research value. However, historically, many large cohort studies have neglected to return actionable results to study participants. By making Color’s clinical-grade genomic services available to all Project Baseline Healthy Study participants, Verily aims to ensure that valuable and actionable results are returned to study participants.
Verily and Color together are demonstrating that not only is returning results the ethical thing to do, but new delivery models can efficiently and effectively recruit participants, return actionable results, and strengthen longitudinal engagement all while conducting invaluable research.
About Color
Color is the leader in delivering precision healthcare through cutting-edge technology. Color makes data-driven health programs such as clinical genetics accessible, convenient, and cost-effective for everyone. Color partners with leading health systems, premier employers, and national health initiatives around the world including the million-person All of Us program by the National Institutes of Health. For more information about Color, visit www.color.com
