Intermountain Healthcare and the Stanford Genome Technology Center (SGTC) have established a new collaborative research program to advance precision health.

The joint research team is composed of members of SGTC, based in Palo Alto, Calif., and the Precision Genomics Core Laboratory, based in St. George, Utah. This team of researchers, clinicians and other experts are working to identify novel biomarkers using an advanced array of technologies developed at SGTC, according to a release. The emphasis will be on solving clinical issues for patients using cutting-edge technologies that enable delivery of precision health.

This agreement also will provide scientific expertise and research support for Intermountain Healthcare’s Precision Genomics. The collaboration is part of a recently announced partnership between Intermountain Healthcare and Stanford Medicine to support revolutionary projects in research, patient care and medical education.

"We are pleased Intermountain Precision Genomics is collaborating in the area of genome technology with Stanford Medicine, one of the nation's finest academic research centers," said Terri Kane, vice president of Intermountain Healthcare's Southwest Region. "This research partnership has the potential for a direct and very positive impact on our ability to extend the lives and improve the quality of life for patients with advanced cancer among other health issues."

One of the key objectives in the collaboration is to determine the clinical benefits associated with applying molecular analysis to patient care. “The research agreement allows for the joint development of innovative technologies to enable clinical research focused on precision medicine and directly address critical questions in precision health," said Lincoln Nadauld, MD, PhD, executive director of Precision Medicine and Precision Genomics at Intermountain Healthcare. "Likewise, this will provide Stanford with an invaluable opportunity to conduct clinical population-based studies that will accelerate adoption of precision health.” 
Intermountain Precision Genomics is a service of Intermountain Healthcare, which offers genetic sequencing of solid tumors. This in-depth sequencing identifies individual mutations within a person’s cancer cells to identify specific DNA targets for personalized drugs. 

The Stanford Genome Technology Center (SGTC) is a research center at the Stanford University School of Medicine that integrates personnel and expertise from the Stanford departments of Medicine, Genetics, Biochemistry and Electrical Engineering.