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Open access testing, counseling available for inherited retinal disease patients
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A new open access program from Blueprint Genetics, InformedDNA and the Foundation Fighting Blindness will allow patients with inherited retinal disease to receive no-cost genetic testing and genetic counseling in the United States, according to a press release.
The program, an expansion of the My Retina Tracker genetic testing program, is expected to streamline clinical workflow by providing the highest possible diagnostic yield, the release said.
“With the increasing number of therapies being developed, an accurate genetic diagnosis is critical for any person affected with an inherited retinal disease. We are also encouraged by the large number of patients enrolling in the registry who are continuing to drive progress in the field, including access to clinical trials,” Brian Mansfield, executive vice president research, interim chief scientific officer at the Foundation Fighting Blindness, said in the release. “Our goal is to test over 20,000 [inherited retinal disease] patients in this program within the next few years.”
Through the program, which is funded by Foundation Fighting Blindness, Blueprint Genetics will provide genetic testing with a more than 260-gene Retinal Dystrophy Panel and clinical interpretation, while InformedDNA will provide genetic counseling with inherited retinal disease experts.