Geisinger researchers receive $1.9 million NIH grant to study genetic basis of disease

DANVILLE, PA – Geisinger investigators Tooraj Mirshahi, Ph.D., and Janet Robishaw, Ph.D., have been awarded $1,928,660 by the National Institutes of Health to study human genetic variants that contribute to diseases.

These studies will examine the clinical impact of individual genetic variants that contribute to disease risk or disease progression.

“Using our integrative approach, we have already identified a precise mechanism for a specific genetic variation linked to skin cancer,” the scientists at Geisinger Health System’s Weis Center for Research noted. They hope to identify not only other genetic variants, but also how each variant changes cell function to contribute to specific aspects of disease susceptibility and progression.

Integrating functional genomic information into mainstream medical practice is a significant component of the broader precision medicine efforts underway at Geisinger.

One of those efforts is the genetics research collaboration with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., in which Geisinger has collected blood and/or saliva samples from more than 80,000 consented volunteer participants. Regeneron is sequencing the samples to generate de-identified genomic data. If analysis of the genomic data indicates that the participant has a genomic results that could result in a medical condition that can be treated, the participant will be provided information on the condition, as well as education resources and guidance.

About Geisinger
Geisinger is among the nation’s leading providers of value-based care, serving 1.2 million people in urban and rural communities across Pennsylvania. Founded in 1915 by philanthropist Abigail Geisinger, the non-profit system generates $10 billion in annual revenues across 134 care sites - including 10 hospital campuses, and Geisinger Health Plan, with 600,000 members in commercial and government plans. The Geisinger College of Health Sciences educates more than 5,000 medical professionals annually and conducts more than 1,400 clinical research studies. With 26,000 employees, including 1,600 employed physicians, Geisinger is among Pennsylvania’s largest employers with an estimated economic impact of $14 billion to the state’s economy. On March 31, 2024, Geisinger became the first member of Risant Health, a new nonprofit charitable organization created to expand and accelerate value-based care across the country.  Learn more at geisinger.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.