MD Health System Launches Statewide Precision Medicine Research Initiative

The University of Maryland Medicine, the joint enterprise of the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), the University of Maryland Medical Center, and the University of Maryland Medical System, has launched the My Healthy Maryland Precision Medicine Research initiative, which aims to gather diverse data from state residents to study how genes and lifestyle factors impact an individual's health.

The initiative will focus on underserved populations who often experience health disparities, which can negatively impact care outcomes and overall lifespan. By collecting a broad range of health data, including genetic information, researchers hope to better understand human genomic variation and how it relates to disease and treatment.

“My Healthy Maryland is a pioneering initiative that aims to advance discovery related to health and disease and to accelerate the implementation of these discoveries… that can improve the health of Marylanders for generations to come,” said study principal investigator Stephen Davis, the Theodore E. Woodward professor and chair of the department of medicine at UMSOM, in the press release.

The project aims to enroll at least 250,000 Maryland residents over the next 10 years, with a particular focus on reflecting the diversity of the state's population.

Nearly one-third of Marylanders identify as African American, more than 10 percent identify as Hispanic or Latino, and 6 percent identify as Asian. The state is also home to a large immigrant population. One in seven Marylanders were born in another country, with El Salvador, India, China, and Nigeria among the top nations represented in the state. Additionally, a large percentage of the state’s residents live in rural communities, and many live in coastal communities with differing environmental exposures and dietary habits compared to the US as a whole.

“This is an opportunity for the diverse Maryland community to team up with researchers to better understand how our biology, lifestyle, and local environment affect our health,” said study co-leader Toni Pollin, PhD, associate professor of medicine at UMSOM, in the press release. “We also expect it will help us accelerate our understanding of how individuals and their healthcare providers can use information about genetic variation to predict, prevent, detect, and treat disease.”

Enrollment in 'My Healthy Maryland' began earlier this week. Study participants will receive periodic reports on the initiative’s progress, including any research results that may lead to better methods to treat or prevent disease. Participants can also enroll in future research studies. The researchers hope to eventually offer participants the ability to learn about their own genetic variations that may warrant medical follow-up.

The University of Maryland Medicine has partnered with digital health research company Vibrent Health to host the study on its platform, which is designed to collect participant data from surveys, genomics, biosamples, EHRs, wearables, and other sources. Study participants will utilize mail-in services to submit genetic samples and will complete surveys related to the study on their mobile devices or computers.