My Cancer Genome wins technology award
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center physician-scientists who created the new online medical decision support tool called “My Cancer Genome” have been named winners of a $20,000 health care technology award sponsored by the National Cancer Institute.
The contest, “Using Public Data for Cancer Prevention and Control: From Innovation to Impact Developer Challenge,” was presented as part of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology’s Investing in Innovation (i2) program.
The VICC winners were announced by Health 2.0, an online venue that introduces and highlights technology innovations in health care.
My Cancer Genome was created by William Pao, M.D., Ph.D., director of Personalized Cancer Medicine and the Division of Hematology and Oncology, and Mia Levy, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of Biomedical Informatics and Medicine and Cancer Clinical Informatics Officer.
My Cancer Genome is a database with information about specific types of cancer, important genes and genetic tumor mutations, with links to recent studies and information about the latest recommended therapies.
Having current information about mutations found in tumors is crucial because some mutations are linked to tumor growth.
Physicians can match patients with specific tumor mutations to new medications that block the effects of those mutations and they can find information about clinical research trials under way in the United States.
During an average week, 1,300 physicians, researchers and patients visit the MyCancerGenome.org website.
The database has now been viewed by people in 119 countries and has gained health care contributors from five countries.
My Cancer Genome was launched in 2011 with information about melanoma and lung cancer, and now contains data on six cancer types.
The database will be expanded over time to include information about additional types of cancer.