Rapid Whole Genome Sequencing Study

Rapid Whole Genome Sequencing (rWGS) is a new technology that is able to deliver symptom-driven diagnoses of childhood-onset genetic diseases in as little as 26 hours. Investigators at RCIGM have shown that rWGS has higher diagnostic rates than traditional molecular testing in acutely ill infants suspected of a genetic diagnosis, with diagnostic rates up to 57%. Similarly, in the infant population, RCIGM researchers have shown that these diagnoses are useful in directing clinical care, with up to 70% of infants who receive a diagnosis having a subsequent change in management. In some cases, a timely diagnosis results in treatments that are lifesaving. RCIGM investigators have shown that up to 25% of infants who receive a diagnosis have a subsequent change in management that prevents morbidity. More data is needed to determine whether these results are found at other institutions, among other ethnic and racial groups, and in larger numbers of patients. More data is needed to examine the acute and long-term clinical utility of such testing, both in newborns and older children, as well as to determine the cost-effectiveness of this testing for other institutions. As such, this study will be a collaboration of multiple sites to share data and experiences of rWGS with the scientific community as well as hospital administrations, insurance companies and other key stakeholders who may be interested in promoting rWGS as a first-line clinical test in the future.

The study will provide clinical laboratory-confirmed results related to the affected patient's symptoms, including optional incidental findings unless subjects opt-out for these additional results, to allow for these research findings to be used in clinical care. Furthermore, this study will aggregate data regarding standard clinical genetic testing from multiple sites as well as cost measures to not only identify differences in diagnostic rates, diagnostic accuracy, and times to diagnoses, but to determine the cost-effectiveness of this testing and subsequent changes in care management. Clinical utility will be defined as changes in care that follow directly from results of genetic testing (both positive and negative), including standard clinical tests and rWGS. This data will be used to further examine the analytic, diagnostic, and clinical utility and cost-effectiveness of this testing.

rWGS methods continue to improve, and pediatric genomic medicine is a very new field of medical practice. This study will also inform investigators regarding best practices, both in terms of traditional medical outcomes and patient-centered outcomes. Consequently, this study will also act as a biorepository for samples and data as the ability to share genomic and phenotypic data amongst researchers is critical to progressing our understanding of the nascent field of pediatric genomic medicine.

Specific Aims:

• To collect biological samples and associated clinical data from acutely ill pediatric patients who may have a genetic disease and their family members (Phenome).
• To create, analyze and store genomic data from the biological samples. Genomic data will include genomic (gDNA) sequences, RNA sequences, and/or other related 'omic data (including, but not limited to, pharmacogenomics, transcriptomics, and epigenomics). Genomic data from rWGS will include single nucleotide calls (SNVs), structural variants such as copy number testing, genomic rearrangements, gene expression , the "whole transcriptome" or more limited DNA sequencing panels of specific genes or of all exons of genes (the "Exome").
• To evaluate the diagnosis rate of genetic diseases by rWGS in an acutely ill population enrolling from multiple sites with comparisons to standard clinical genetic testing.
• To assess the clinical utility of rapid genetic diagnoses in the care and management of patients.
• To examine the health economics and cost-effectiveness of this rapid testing across many sites.
• To investigate and improve genomics technologies and software to enhance understanding and testing abilities related to childhood diseases and potential treatment responses.
• To make specimens and data available for qualified researchers and collaborators to further the understanding of rare childhood diseases and treatment responses.
• To collect and correlate genomic data from a wide variety of populations and clinical presentations.
• To provide sample and data collections with uniform consent, methods of acquisition, storage for genome-based research studies with subsequent IRB approvals.
• To analyze and report clinically-confirmed genomic diagnoses and treatment guidance through use of new research technologies.
• To identify and study novel gene and disease processes.

Inclusion criteria

• The Repository will be comprised of samples from symptomatic patients, individuals reported to be their (symptomatic or asymptomatic) biologic family members, and control individuals. In this context a "symptomatic patient" is characterized as a patient whose treating physician has identified phenotypic features and/or signs of illness potentially attributable to a genetic disorder (also referred to as "Affected" or "Proband"). There will be no age, gender, race, or health restrictions for this Biorepository Study. However, since this study will be performed at children's hospitals and since genetic disorders are more likely to be present in children less than 4 months of age these cases will likely be preferentially enrolled. Preference will also be given to those who are acutely ill, suspected of a genetic condition, and for whom a diagnosis may result in change of clinical management.

Exclusion criteria

• Participants will be excluded if they are unwilling to consent to research.

A patient may be determined ineligible if there is a prior diagnosis that explains their clinical presentation, if other traditional clinical genetic testing is more appropriate at the time of referral, if the clinical presentation is insufficient at the time of referral to suggest a genetic etiology, if the parents are unable or unwilling to provide permission for participation, if child protective services is involved in the case unless the child's life is in immediate danger and research holds out a prospect of direct benefit that is important to the health or well-being of the child and is available only in the context of the research in which case permission will be obtained from the party legally responsible for medical decisions.