(December 19, 2024) GREENWOOD, SC – The Fullerton Foundation of Gaffney, SC awarded a $300,000 grant to support the Greenwood Genetic Center’s (GGC) Innovation Initiative to identify novel testing technologies for undiagnosed patients.
“Currently, families with a rare disease are waiting an average of seven years for an accurate diagnosis,” said Cady Nell Keener, Executive Director of the GGC Foundation. “Through the GGC Innovation Initiative, we are seeking new testing methodologies to find answers for patients when traditional testing methods fall short.”
The Fullerton Foundation funding supported the acquisition of a Pac Bio Revio long-read sequencing system for the Center’s Diagnostic Laboratories.
Long-read sequencing analyzes longer DNA fragments, providing more detailed and accurate genetic information than the current short-read sequencing technology allows. GGC is currently validating this instrument and aims to be the first laboratory in the Southeastern US to offer this testing on a clinical basis.
“At the Fullerton Foundation, we are committed to improving the quality of life for those in the Carolinas, and we are pleased to be able to support the Greenwood Genetic Center’s efforts to find answers for patients who, despite exhaustive testing, remain undiagnosed,” said Chris Steed, Executive Director of the Fullerton Foundation.
GGC’s Innovation Initiative is a critical part of the Center’s Precision Medicine Initiative, which is defined through the Four “A”s: Access, Analysis, Answers, and Action. These four pillars represent the patient’s journey at the Greenwood Genetic Center, guiding the entire process of personalized care. Access connects the patient with the necessary services while analysis (through the Innovation Initiative) enhances GGC’s ability to detect genetic variations with greater accuracy. These efforts provide answers and ultimately action in the form of treatments and therapies to improve the quality of life.
“By exploring new technologies like long-read sequencing, we will be better able to make timely and accurate diagnoses which will lead to improved care for countless patients and their families impacted by genetic disorders,” said Mike Lyons, MD, GGC’s Chief Genomics Officer. “We are incredibly grateful for the Fullerton Foundation’s support of our efforts to identify and deliver these novel technologies.”