August 23, 2016

Discussing Precision Medicine

U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), center, speaks with members of the media during a visit last week to Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), where he hosted a roundtable discussion on Vanderbilt’s prominent role in President Obama’s Precision Medicine Initiative.

SA Alexander visit 8

U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), center, speaks with members of the media during a visit last week to Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), where he hosted a roundtable discussion on Vanderbilt’s prominent role in President Obama’s Precision Medicine Initiative. Panel participants included VUMC’s Jeff Balser, M.D., Ph.D., left, Jennifer Pietenpol, Ph.D., Dan Roden, M.D., and Josh Denny, M.D., M.S.

In addition to the panel discussion, Alexander toured Vanderbilt’s Pathology laboratory to learn more about procedures and regulations related to laboratory testing.

VUMC was recently chosen to be the Data and Research Support Center for the Precision Medicine Initiative Cohort Program, a landmark study of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors affecting the health of a million or more people, federal officials have announced.

The NIH will provide $71.6 million over five years to VUMC to establish and operate the center, making it the largest research grant the Medical Center has ever received from any source.