International Cooperation to Enable the Diagnosis of All Rare Genetic Diseases.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-4-2017
Keywords
Databases, Factual, Exome, Genome, Human, Humans, International Cooperation, Rare Diseases
JAX Source
Am J Hum Genet 2017 May 4; 100(5):695-705
Volume
100
Issue
5
First Page
695
Last Page
705
ISSN
1537-6605
PMID
28475856
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajhg.2017.04.003
Abstract
Provision of a molecularly confirmed diagnosis in a timely manner for children and adults with rare genetic diseases shortens their "diagnostic odyssey," improves disease management, and fosters genetic counseling with respect to recurrence risks while assuring reproductive choices. In a general clinical genetics setting, the current diagnostic rate is approximately 50%, but for those who do not receive a molecular diagnosis after the initial genetics evaluation, that rate is much lower. Diagnostic success for these more challenging affected individuals depends to a large extent on progress in the discovery of genes associated with, and mechanisms underlying, rare diseases. Thus, continued research is required for moving toward a more complete catalog of disease-related genes and variants. The International Rare Diseases Research Consortium (IRDiRC) was established in 2011 to bring together researchers and organizations invested in rare disease research to develop a means of achieving molecular diagnosis for all rare diseases. Here, we review the current and future bottlenecks to gene discovery and suggest strategies for enabling progress in this regard. Each successful discovery will define potential diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic opportunities for the corresponding rare disease, enabling precision medicine for this patient population. Am J Hum Genet 2017 May 4; 100(5):695-705.
Recommended Citation
Boycott K,
Rath A,
Chong J,
Hartley T,
Alkuraya F,
Baynam G,
Brookes A,
Brudno M,
Carracedo A,
den Dunnen J,
Dyke S,
Estivill X,
Goldblatt J,
Gonthier C,
Groft S,
Gut I,
Hamosh A,
Hieter P,
Höhn S,
Hurles M,
Kaufmann P,
Knoppers B,
Krischer J,
Macek M,
Matthijs G,
Olry A,
Parker S,
Paschall J,
Philippakis A,
Rehm H,
Robinson P,
Sham P,
Stefanov R,
Taruscio D,
Unni D,
Vanstone M,
Zhang F,
Brunner H,
Bamshad M,
Lochmüller H.
International Cooperation to Enable the Diagnosis of All Rare Genetic Diseases. Am J Hum Genet 2017 May 4; 100(5):695-705