Ignite

The Implementing GeNomics In pracTiCe (IGNITE) Pragmatic Clinical Trials Network is an NIH-funded network dedicated to supporting the implementation of genomics in healthcare.

The network is comprised of five research sites that help promote the mission of IGNITE through support from a coordinating center, working groups, affiliate members, and an external scientific panel.

Coordinating Center
Indiana University
Mount Sinai
Duke University
University of Florida
Vanderbilt University


Data and Safety Monitoring Board
Patient/Participant Advisory Board

RESEARCH SITES

Coordinating Center

Housed within the Duke Center for Applied Genomics and Precision Medicine and the Duke Clinical Research Institute, the overarching goal of the Coordinating Center (CC) is to ensure the success of IGNITE in designing, implementing and completing its genomic medicine pragmatic clinical trial (PCT) agenda. The CC will do this by providing genomic medicine and clinical trials expertise and leadership as well as the infrastructure, processes, state-of-the-art technology and data science solutions. The CC will serve as a catalyst for collaboration, both within and externally to IGNITE with the goal of demonstrating the network’s value to a broader group of genomic medicine stakeholders in order to promote a more rapid uptake of genomic medicine in clinical practice.

The CC provides a wide range of supporting activities, including:

  • Providing strategic organizational leadership to develop a novel, flexible and adaptable genomic PCT network;
  • Implementing an administrative management structure for the network that enables seamless communication, information sharing and optimum network productivity;
  • Ensuring optimal and adaptable PCT design, participant recruitment and data collection;
  • Developing a comprehensive analysis framework for evaluating the implementation and clinical effectiveness of the genomic medicine interventions; and
  • Communicating and disseminating knowledge beyond the network.

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS:

Geoffrey Ginsburg, M.D., Ph.D. – Director of the Duke Center for Applied Genomics & Precision Medicine and the MEDx Initiative; Professor of Medicine, Pathology and Biomedical Engineering

Hrishikesh Chakraborty, DrPH – Associate Professor, Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics; Director, Pragmatic Clinical Trial Biostatistics, Duke Clinical Research Institute; Co-Director, Quantitative Core, Duke Center for AIDS Research (CFAR)

KEY PERSONNEL

Geoffrey Ginsburg, M.D., Ph.D. – Director of the Duke Center for Applied Genomics & Precision Medicine and the MEDx Initiative; Professor of Medicine, Pathology and Biomedical Engineering

Hrishikesh Chakraborty, DrPH – Associate Director of the Duke Clinical Research Institute; Co-Director of Biostatistics and Computational Biology Core, Center for AIDS Research (CFAR)

Bhargav Srinivas Adagarla – Senior Bioinformatician

Beth Harris – Project Leader

Ashton Taylor Spicer, MA– Communications Specialist

Lola Martin – Program Coordinator

Peter Merrill, Ph.D. –  Biostatistician

Rachel Myers, Ph.D. – Research Scientist

Lori Orlando, M.D., MHS – Associate Professor of Medicine

Wanda Parker, R.N., MSN – Project Leader on ADOPT Protocol

Gayle Passmore, MBA/MHA, PMP – Register/Maintain Trial Updates

Carol Pereira, B.S. – Clinical Data Specialist

Teji Rakhra-Burris, M.A. – Senior Research Program Leader, Program Manager

Jennifer Shepherd – Study Monitor Clinical Research Associate

Nina Sperber, Ph.D. – Assistant Professor in Population Health Sciences

Kady-Ann Steen-Burrell, Ph.D. – Program Director

James Topping – Bioinformatician

Jun Wen, M.S. – Analytics

 

Indiana University Health

Indiana University Health is a nonprofit healthcare system located in Indiana. It is the largest and most comprehensive healthcare system in the state with 16 hospitals under its IU Health brand and almost 30,000 employees. A unique partnership with Indiana University School of Medicine, one of the nation’s leading medical schools, gives patients access to leading-edge medicine and treatment options that are available first, and often only, at IU Health. The IU Health system has a total capacity of 2,696 beds with annual admissions of over 115,000 and more than 2.8 million outpatient visits per year.

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS:

Todd Skaar, Ph.D. – Professor of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology

Paul Dexter, M.D. – Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine

KEY PERSONNEL:

Todd Skaar, Ph.D., Professor of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Indiana University School of Medicine

Paul Dexter, M.D., Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine

Zeruesenay Desta, Ph.D., Professor of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Indiana University School of Medicine

Michael Eadon, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Indiana University School of Medicine

David Haas, M.D., Professor of Ob/Gyn, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indiana University School of Medicine

Ann Holmes, Ph.D., Associate Professor – Department of Health Policy and Management, Indiana University Purdue University Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health

Victoria Pratt, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine

Senthilkumar Sadhasivam, M.D., M.P.H., Professor of Anesthesia, Department of Anesthesia, Indiana University School of Medicine

Yong Zang, Ph.D., Assistant Professor Biostatistics, Indiana University School of Medicine

RELATED EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES:

The Division of Clinical Pharmacology T32-Fellowship Program at the IU School of Medicine is dedicated to training physicians, pharmacists and related health-care professionals in clinical pharmacology. The two-year minimum curriculum is designed to generate independent investigators for careers in academia, government and industry. This fellowship program is one of the few in the United States funded by the National Institute of Health, certified by the American Board of Clinical Pharmacology, and a recipient of the Center of Excellence in Clinical Pharmacology grant from the Pharmaceutical Manufacturer’s Foundation.

The IU School of Medicine Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics prepares trainees for successful careers in biomedical genetic research—in clinical medicine, industry and academics—through courses for medical students, masters students, and Ph.D. candidates as well as residency and fellowship training for post-graduates. The mission of the Medical and Molecular Genetics educational programs is to improve human health through research in genetics and apply the knowledge gained to further training and clinical service. This mission facilitates an understanding of the bench to bedside approach to medical science. Since the late 1960s, the department has trained more than 300 graduate students and fellows. The department offers a Ph.D. degree in Medical and Molecular Genetics, a Master of Science degree in Medical and Molecular Genetics, and a Master of Science degree with an emphasis in genetic counseling.

CLINICAL SITE:

Eskenazi Health
Principal Investigators: Todd Skaar and Paul Dexter 

Eskenazi Health System, partnering with the Indiana University School of Medicine, serves as the public hospital division of the Health & Hospital Corporation of Marion County. Eskenazi Health provides a comprehensive range of primary and specialty care services at the 315-bed hospital and outpatient facilities both on and off the Eskenazi Health downtown campus as well as at 10 Eskenazi Health Center and 30 primary care clinics located throughout Indianapolis. Eskenazi Health’s programs have received national recognition while also offering new health care opportunities to the local community. As the sponsoring hospital for Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services, the city’s primary EMS provider, Eskenazi Health is also home to the first adult Level I trauma center in Indiana, the only verified adult burn center in Indiana, the first community mental health center in Indiana and the Eskenazi Health Center Primary Care.  

Eskenazi Health serves approximately 250,000 vulnerable individuals (>40% minority) who are most commonly under-insured, uninsured, or on Medicaid. Per annual survey data: 

  • ER visits: 94,733 
  • Outpatient visits: 804,189
  • Admissions: 15,492 admissions
  • Surgeries: 3,503 inpatient and 4,838 outpatient

Mount Sinai

Mount Sinai is an integrated health system committed to providing distinguished care, conducting transformative research and advancing biomedical education. Structured around seven member hospital campuses and a single medical school, the Health System has an extensive ambulatory network and a range of inpatient and outpatient services, from community-based facilities to tertiary and quaternary care.

The Health System’s seven member hospital campuses include Mount Sinai Beth Israel, Mount Sinai Queens, Mount Sinai West, Mount Sinai St. Luke’s, Mount Sinai Brooklyn, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai, and The Mount Sinai Hospital.

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR:

Carol Horowitz, M.D., M.P.H. – Professor, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Department of Medicine, Center for Community-Academic Research Partnerships

KEY PERSONNEL

Carol Horowitz, M.D., M.P.H., Principal Investigator, Professor, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Department of Medicine, Center for Community-Academic Research Partnerships, Dean for Gender Equity in Science and Medicine

Neil Calman, M.D., FAAFP, Site Principal Investigator, President and CEO, The Institute for Family Health

Bart Ferket, M.D., Ph.D, Co-Investigator, Assistant Professor, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Department of Population Health Science and Policy

Joseph Kannry, M.D., Co-Investigator, Professor, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Department of Medicine, Lead Technical Informaticist, EMR Clinical Transformation Group, Mount Sinai Health System

Patricia Kovatch, Ph.D., Co-Investigator, Senior Associate Dean of Scientific Computing and Data Science, Associate Professor, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Department of Pharmacological Sciences

Barbara Murphy, M.D., Co-Investigator, Dean for Clinical Integration and Population Health, Professor and System Chair, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Department of Medicine, Department of Nephrology

James Murrough, M.D., Ph.D., Co-Investigator, Associate Professor, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Department of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience

Girish Nadkarni, M.D., Co-Investigator, Assistant Professor, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Department of Medicine, Department of Nephrology

Aniwaa Owusu Obeng, Pharm.D., Co-Investigator, Assistant Professor, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Department of Medicine, Department of General Internal Medicine

Lynne Richardson, M.D., FACEP, Co-Investigator, Professor, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Department of Emergency Medicine, Department of Population Health Science and Policy

Randi Zinberg, M.S., Co-Investigator, Assistant Professor, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science

RELATED EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES:

The Genetics and Data Science (GDS) multidisciplinary training area of the PhD. program in Biomedical Sciences, in conjunction with the Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, offers students educational and research opportunities to both expand on genetic research and the cutting edge of modern genomics as well as the integration of various disciplines of biomedical sciences with machine learning, network modeling, and big data analysis. Genetics and Data Science (GDS) is a multidisciplinary training area of the Ph.D. program in Biomedical Sciences at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Mount Sinai. GDS offers a number of graduate courses in genetics, genomics, genome analysis, and data science. The emphasis is on both the contribution of genetics to human disease and the application of biomedical data science to address disease detection, prediction, and treatment.

The Master of Science Program in Genetic Counseling is sponsored by Icahn School of Medicine’s Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, one of the largest departments of its kind in the world. Our faculty is renowned for cutting edge basic science research, as well as research in the diagnosis and treatment of genetic disorders. Our large multidisciplinary center provides clinical and laboratory services to a wide range of culturally diverse patients and their families and we have a proven commitment to the community we serve.

The Graduate School offers D., M.D./Ph.D. and Master’s degrees in Biomedical Sciences, Public Health, Genetic Counseling and Clinical Research. Ph.D. training is offered in eight multidisciplinary training areas, each of which represents an area of intense focus and growth for our basic science community.

CLINICAL SITE:

Institute for Family Health Principal Investigator: Neil Calman

The Institute for Family Health (IFH) is a federally-qualified community health center (FQHC) network committed to high-quality, affordable health care for all. IFH strives for excellence at each of their 30 practices, most of which are located in NYC, while accepting all patients regardless of their ability to pay. They offer primary care, mental health, dental care, social work and many other services to patients of all ages and train health students and professionals at all levels.

Duke University

Duke Medicine, which includes the Duke University Health System, the Duke University School of Medicine and the Duke University School of Nursing, combines research, clinical care and education at many different sites throughout the region and beyond. Duke University School of Medicine is among the most research-intensive of the U.S. medical schools, and the size, quality and scope of our research enterprise contributes substantially to the reputation of the School of Medicine, Duke University and the Duke University Health System. The entire medical campus encompasses 98 clinical, research and education buildings and employs more than 2,200 academic and clinical faculty physicians and researchers. Twenty-eight buildings on campus are dedicated to School of Medicine research and education.

The Duke Center for Applied Genomics and Precision was created to focus on developing these strategies and capabilities to enhance our ability to diagnose and predict patient outcomes across the continuum from health to disease. The Center aspires to be an intellectual home for genome-inspired biomarker discovery and development and the analytic and translational approaches to diagnostics and insights into disease biology. It is also a home for the rapidly evolving field of precision medicine – an evidence-based approach to the care of people and patients that uses innovative tools and data science to customize disease prevention, detection and treatment and improve the effectiveness and quality of care. The Center is highly interdisciplinary with ties to the health system and to university-wide faculty and students. As a hub and catalyst, the Center maintains strong, clear connections to other translational units at Duke, for example the Clinical and Translational Science Award programs, to help investigators unleash their full translational potential to advance this important area of science.

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR:

Lori Orlando, M.D., M.H.S. – Associate Professor of Medicine; Director of the Precision Medicine Program in the Center for Applied Genomics and Precision Medicine

 

KEY PERSONNEL

Lori Orlando, M.D., M.H.S., Associate Professor of Medicine; Director of the Precision Medicine Program in the Center for Applied Genomics and Precision Medicine

Geoffrey Ginsburg, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Medicine and Biomedical Engineering; Director, Duke Center for Applied Genomics and Precision Medicine and MEDx

Susanne Haga, Ph.D., Associate Professor in Medicine

Ryanne Wu, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine

Tejinder Rakhra-Burris, M.A., Program Manager, Senior Research Program Leader

Deepak Voora, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine

RELATED EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES:

The Duke Post-Doctoral Training Program in Genomic Medicine Research (T32) provides training in a fast-growing field marked by the advent of new technologies, increased use of clinical genomic medicine, and large-scale federally- and privately-funded research efforts. The objectives of this training program are to provide postdoc trainees didactive training in the methods of clinical research and knowledge relevant to genomic medicine research; co-mentored research experience emphasizing interdisciplinary research; and training and experience to provide the necessary skills to enable the trainee to transition to an independent research program.

The Ph.D. program in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics is an integrative, multi-disciplinary Ph.D. program that trains future leaders at the interdisciplinary intersection of quantitative and biomedical sciences. Students are trained to work independently and as part of collaborative teams. They learn to conduct research responsibly, with a commitment to data sharing and reproducible analysis, and they have professional development and teaching opportunities as part of their individual development plans.

The Duke University Program in Genetics and Genomics (UPGG) is an umbrella graduate training program that spans several basic science and clinical departments and bridges the Medical Center and the College of Arts and Sciences. For several decades, UPGG has served as an important forum for genetic training and education in model systems (bacteria, yeast, fungi, drosophila, zebrafish, mouse), population genetics, and human genetics.

The Duke Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), conducted under the auspices of the Duke University Graduate School and the Duke University School of Medicine, trains highly qualified students as physician-scientists, equipping them for solving problems in human disease using the approaches and techniques of the basic biomedical and social sciences. The program, which leads to both the MD and PhD degrees and typically takes seven to eight years for completion, combines graduate education in a basic biomedical science with the full clinical curriculum of the School of Medicine. One of forty-six such programs funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Duke MSTP was the fourth such program established by the NIH in 1966 and is widely regarded as one of the best.

CLINICAL SITES:

UNC Pembroke
Principal Investigator: Cherry Beasley 

The University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP) is in rural, southeastern North Carolina in Robeson County, a large, rural (10% smaller than the state of Rhode Island) county that is home to a racially and culturally diverse population. The combined population of American IndianAfrican American, and Latino residents comprise over 70% of the total population. UNCP in general and the Department of Nursing specifically has worked collaboratively with Duke University and Southeastern Health of several research projects including Improving Outcomes for Chronic Kidney Disease in Southeastern < North Carolina, funded by the American Kidney Fund.

Louisiana Public Health Institute
Principal Investigator: Beth Nauman

Louisiana Public Health Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that translates evidence into strategy to optimize health ecosystems. LPHI is the coordinating center for the Research Action for Health Network (REACHnet), a clinical research network with partner health systems in Louisiana and Texas. REACHnet’s mission is to enable the conduct of multi-site research with enhanced efficiency in real-world healthcare delivery systems. To REACHnet partner sites are participating in GUARDD-US: Baylor Scott & White Health and University Medical Center New Orleans. 

Southeastern Healthcare
Principal Investigator: Cherry Beasley 

Southeastern Health (SH) is the largest health care provider in rural Robeson County. It has a strong history of working with Duke University as well as the University of North Carolina at Pembroke to engage in intervention science research and demonstration projects. Southeastern Health operates more than 20 primary and specialty care clinics in Robeson County. In addition, SH has additional primary care providers who are on the medical staff and participate in health and research activities whose genius is SH.

University Medical Center New Orleans
Principal Investigator: Jyotsna Fuloria 

University Medical Center New Orleans is one of 5 hospitals of the LCMC Health System and the only Level 1 trauma center in the state of Louisiana. UMCNO is the primary teaching hospital of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC) School of Medicine and the secondary teaching hospital of Tulane University School of Medicine. UMC hosts a thriving scientific community that collaborates with numerous National Institute of Health (NIH) programs and other non-profit research organizations to answer questions about new treatments and existing therapies with research spanning the biomedical spectrum, from core lab-based science and translational research to clinical trials in all major disease areas.  

Baylor Scott & White Health
Principal Investigator: Heather Kitzman 

Baylor Scott & White Health and Wellness Center, located in a large underserved urban area of Dallas, is an entity of Baylor Scott & White Health, the largest not-for-profit healthcare system in Texas. We currently have several NIH funded trials, and we are a site for All of Us, the largest study conducted by NIH to evaluate precision medicine innovations. Our research uses community participatory approaches and aims to develop innovative and cost-effective approaches to improve both patient-related and healthcare system outcomes. 

University of Florida (UF)

University of Florida Health is a medical network associated with the University of Florida. UF Health serves 1.5 million patients and is the largest comprehensive academic health center in the Southeastern US. OneFlorida Clinical Research Consortium is an enduring infrastructure to conduct patient-centered PCTs across Florida. Combined, the network includes health systems that provide care for approximately 15 million or 75 percent of all Floridians through 4,100 physician providers, 1,240 clinic/practice settings with a catchment area covePring all 67 Florida counties. The Nemours Foundation supports one of the largest integrated pediatric health systems in the U.S., including 50 pediatric subspecialty clinics, 16 partner hospitals, and primary care clinics throughout Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Florida.

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR:

Julie Johnson, PharmD. -Dean and Distinguished Professor, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida

 

Lari CavallariLari Cavallari, PharmD. – Associate Professor of Pharmacy and Director Center for Pharmacogenomics and Precision Medicine

KEY PERSONNEL

Julie Johnson, PharmD. -Dean and Distinguished Professor, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida

Larissa Cavallari, PharmD. – Associate Professor of Pharmacy and Director Center for Pharmacogenomics and Precision Medicine

Rhonda Cooper-DeHoff, PharmD., M.S., FAHA, FACC, FACCP – Associate Professor and University Term Professor, Dept of Pharmacotherapy and Translational Research and Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Colleges of Pharmacy and Medicine Associate Director, Center for Pharmacogenomics University of Florida

Alexander Parker, Ph.D. – Senior Associate Dean for Research, University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville

Kathryn Blake, PharmD., BCPS, FCCP, CIP – Director, Center for Pharmacogenomics and Translational Research Chair, Institutional Review Board 2, Principal Research Scientist, Nemours Children’s Specialty Care, Jacksonville, FL

RELATED EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES:

The Paradigm Training Program, or the Program for Applied Research and Development in Genomic Medicine, is funded by the National Institutes of Health’s National Human Genomic Research Institute and will prepare trainees to be leaders in genomic medicine research and implementation. Trainees will receive didactic training tailored to their needs, extensive mentoring from world-renowned scientists, valuable clinical exposure in multiple areas of genomic medicine and stimulating career development opportunities in a robust, interdisciplinary research environment at UF.

The Graduate Program in Precision Medicine offers a master’s degree and certificate program to train current and future leaders in precision medicine. Student learn the latest in genomic technologies and precision medicine therapies from well-known and highly-regarded experts.

The UF Precision Medicine Conference is an annual conference held in Orlando, Florida. Attendees learn the latest strategies and technologies for brining genomic medicine and pharmacogenomics into the clinic. The conference sessions cover a broad scope of topics encompassing both genomic medicine and pharmacogenomics and include high-level keynote addresses from world-renowned innovators and thought leaders in genomic medicine, TED-style talks, interactive panel and patient case discussions, and a peer-reviewed submitted poster session.

CLINICAL SITES:

UF Gainesville
Principal Investigator: Julie Johnson and Rhonda Cooper-DeHoff 

University of Florida Health is the Southeast’s most comprehensive academic health center and part of one of the nation’s Top 10 public research universities, unique for diverse constellation of health colleges, centers and institutes, and hospitals, faculty practices and patient care programs. UF Health is headquartered in Gainesville FL, with main campuses there and Jacksonville. UF Health includes six health colleges, nine research institutes and centers, two teaching hospitals, two specialty hospitals and a host of physician medical practices and outpatient services throughout north central and northeast Florida. UF Health represents the shared vision and commitment to patient care excellence of more than 22,000 employees. UF Health Gainesville has 1,162 licensed beds with 55,373 inpatient admissions and 1.64 million physician outpatient visits in 2018.  

UF Jacksonville
Principal Investigator: Alexander Parker 

UF Health Jacksonville is a private, not-for-profit hospital affiliated with the University of Florida. It is part of UF Health, the Southeast’s most comprehensive academic health center, with campuses in Jacksonville and Gainesville. UF Health Jacksonville is the region’s premier academic health center, a leader in the education of health professionals, a hub for clinical research and a unique provider of high-quality patient care. UF Health Jacksonville is comprised of a 695-bed academic health center near Downtown Jacksonville, an outpatient medical complex and emergency center in North Jacksonville, UF Health Science Center Jacksonville which encompasses three UF colleges, and a network of primary and specialty care centers offering exceptional patient care throughout Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia.  

Nemours Jacksonville and Delaware
Principal Investigator: Kathryn Blake 

Nemours is a nonprofit pediatric health system dedicated to: life-changing medical care and research, helping kids grow up healthy, advocating for kids nationally, and training tomorrow’s pediatric experts. Nemours Health system has locations throughout Florida and Delaware. 

Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) is a comprehensive healthcare facility dedicated to patient care, research, and the education of healthcare professionals. For decades, VUMC has been at the forefront of pharmacogenomic discovery and its translation into clinical practice. In 2010, VUMC launched PREDICT (the Pharmacogenomic Resource for Enhanced Decisions in Care & Treatment) to empower providers and patients with the genetic information and electronic medical record tools to facilitate genetically-informed clinical decision-making at the point of care. Additionally, VUMC led the implementation of pharmacogenomic testing in several community and academic settings including Meharry Medical Center, Aurora Health System, and Sanford Medical Center during IGNITE I.

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS:

Josh F. Peterson, M.D., M.P.H. – Associate Professor of Biomedical Informatics and Medicine

 

 

Sara Van Driest

Sara Van Driest, M.D., Ph.D. – Assistant Professor of Pediatrics ad Medicine

KEY PERSONNEL:

Josh F. Peterson, M.D., MPH – Associate Professor of Biomedical Informatics and Medicine

Sara Van Driest, M.D., Ph.D. – Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

Dan Roden, M.D. – Professor of Medicine, Pharmacology, and Biomedical Informatics; Senior VP for Personalized Medicine

Andrea H. Ramirez, M.D., MSCI – Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism

Jonathan S. Schildcrout, Ph.D. – Professor of Biostatistics

Kerri L. Cavanaugh, M.D., MHS – Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension

Asli Weitkamp, Ph.D. – Assistant Professor of Biomedical Informatics; Director, Clinical Decision Support and Knowledge Engineering

RELATED EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES:

The Vanderbilt Genomic Medicine (VGM) training program offers postdoctoral fellowships with a focus on pharmagogenomics, precision phenotyping, medical informatics, and disease-based genomics.

The Center for Genetic Privacy and Identity in Community Settings (GetPreCiSe) offers training opportunities in the field of privacy and identity in genomic data. Major research goals of GetPreSiCe include understanding the impact of threat to privacy and identity in genomic data, measure the efficacy of efforts to protect privacy and identity, develop models to quantify risk of genomic data re-identification, and to develop interventions and policy solution.

The Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI) offers MS and PhD programs in a wide variety of fields computational biology and bioinformatics to advanced clinical information systems and data science. Additionally, the PhD Program offers a Big Biomedical Data Science (BIDS) training program that provides access to real biomedical data sets, and software tools/applications at VUMC.

CLINICAL SITES:

Meharry Medical College
Principal Investigators: Brenda Lemus, Rajbir Singh, Siddharth Pratap 

Meharry Medical College (MMC), the nation’s largest private, historically African American academic health center dedicated to educating health-care professionals and biomedical scientists, opened in 1876 to train physicians to care for freed slaves. MMC is a leader in: 1) delivering community-oriented health care to the underserved and minority populations, 2) training professionals in primary care medicine, dentistry; and 3) conducting basic, clinical and applied research emphasizing conditions that disproportionately affect minority populations, specifically African Americans. 

Nashville General Hospital
Principal Investigator: Brandi Plunkett  Sanford Health
Principal Investigators: Russell Wilke and Lindsay Hines 

Sanford Health is an integrated, rural, not-for-profit health system headquartered in the Dakotas. It is one of the largest health systems in the nation with 43 hospitals, 250 clinics and 45 senior living facilities in nine states and three countries. Our regional headquarters in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Fargo, North Dakota, Bismarck, North Dakota and Bemidji, Minnesota and network locations provide patients across our vast footprint with convenient access to expert medical care, leading-edge technologies and world-class facilities.   

Enterprise-wide, Sanford experiences an average of 5.8 million patient visits annually. Our 1,500 physicians practice in more than 80 specialty areas of medicine, collaborating with teams of other health care professionals in primary care clinics, hospitals, specialty and rehabilitation centers, laboratories, and long-term care facilities.