Staff Report
Published Feb. 2, 2012

The Greenwood Genetic Center, which comprises the Department of Medical Genetics at Self Regional Healthcare, has been awarded a two-year, $600,000 grant from The Duke Endowment to fund an expansion of Next-Generation Gene Sequencing technology.

This technology allows for the development of diagnostic testing panels to simultaneously analyze all known genes responsible for a genetic condition, rather than conducting analysis gene by gene. Currently, Greenwood Genetic Center is one of only a few laboratories in the United States to offer the technology on a clinical basis.

Support from the Duke Endowment will allow for testing panels on autism, seizures, birth defects and skeletal disorders. Collectively these disorders affect one in 14 South Carolinians.

“Having a clear diagnosis is the necessary first step to improved health care management and recurrence risk assessment for these patients and their families,” said Dr. Steve Skinner, director of the Greenwood Genetic Center.

The autism and seizure panels are expected to be clinically available in 2012, followed by the birth defects and skeletal disorders panels.

“Very few medical institutions have the ability to use this NGGS technology effectively,” said Jim Pfeiffer, president and CEO of Self Regional Healthcare. “Our Department of Medical Genetics at GGC has assembled the necessary molecular geneticists, technical expertise, and data analysis capability to become the NGGS resource for all of South Carolina.”