Business
Sema4 Announces Nationwide Expansion of Disparity Study to Deliver Precision Oncology Care to Underserved Communities
- The REPRESENT Study Will Create One of the Most Diverse and Comprehensive Clinico-genomic Datasets to Uncover and Address Disparities in Cancer Care -
About this update from Genedx Holdings Corp.
[{"type":"text","content":"- The REPRESENT Study Will Create One of the Most Diverse and Comprehensive Clinico-genomic Datasets to Uncover and Address Disparities in Cancer Care - Sema4’s Chief Medical Science Officer Will Discuss the Study at the Community Oncology Alliance’s Annual Conference STAMFORD, Conn., March 16, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sema4 (NYSE: SMFR), a patient-centered artificial intelligence (AI)-driven genomic and clinical data platform company, today announced the nationwide expansion of its disparities in cancer care study. The study, launched in 2021, enables access to comprehensive genetic and genomic testing for advanced cancer patients in underserved communities. It will also create one of the most diverse clinical-genomic datasets to help resolve racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in clinical trials, research, and therapeutics. William Oh, MD, Chief Medical Science Officer at Sema4, will discuss the study at the Community Oncology Alliance’s upcoming conference in Florida on March 18th. The REsearch to advance PREciSion medicine and health Equity in oNcology Treatment (REPRESENT) study, which is already enrolling patients at five locations across two sites, will run nationally in collaboration with community oncologists caring for patients with advanced cancer in diverse and traditionally understudied and underserved populations. Disparities in healthcare access and a lack of diversity in clinical trials have led to significant disparities in the standard of oncology care. For example, Black and African American individuals have higher mortality rates than all other racial and ethnic groups for many cancer types. Sema4’s study aims to better understand the factors contributing to cancer care disparities in underserved populations, including socioeconomic and genetic considerations, by creating a diverse and comprehensive patient registry and biobank. “Sema4 is committed to partnering with community-based oncologists to democratize access to somatic and germline testing in underserved communities,” said Eric Schadt, PhD, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Sema4. “We aim to break the cycle of inequity whereby underserved communities do not have access to precision oncology testing, and thus experience poorer outcomes, and are often excluded from clinical trials, research, and approved therapeutics. The question underlyin...