User blog:Bzero/Nevada Population Health Study

RENO, Nev., April 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Nevada-based Renown Health and the Desert Research Institute (DRI) are collaborating with Extensive Genetics, a leading personal genetics company, to launch one of the first community-based population health studies in the U.S. that will combine health, population and genetic information with environmental data and return Extensive Genetics genetic results to study participants.

Funded by the Renown Health Foundation and Nevada's Knowledge Fund, this pilot study will offer community members the opportunity to volunteer for research and gain access to their individual genetic information at no cost.

Extensive Genetics' Genotyping Services for Research platform will enable researchers to review genetic data and health-related survey responses from study participants. Combining genetic data with health and population data from Renown, as well as information from environmental databases, DRI scientists will analyze and model public health risks ranging from disease and illness, to the effects of air quality on the health of Nevadans.

"This collaboration addresses one of the fundamental tensions in medicine - which is more important, nature or nurture?" explained Anthony Slonim, M.D., DrPH, Renown Health president and CEO. "Clearly, both are important and by combining Renown's de-identified health data, such as 300,000 health histories that are five years or longer and patient population demographics, with other determinants, like social and environment, we can begin to better understand the health and healthcare needs of the people and communities we serve."

The study is open to the first 5,000 northern Nevada residents that qualify.