Genetic Counseling Shared Resource

The goal of the Genetic Counseling (GC) Shared Resource is to facilitate clinical, behavioral, and basic science research involving cancer genetics and inherited susceptibility.

Genetic counselors and physicians work with patients who have a family history of cancer to provide personalized cancer risk assessment and tailored recommendations for cancer screening and prevention. For some patients and families, genetic testing may be offered to more accurately clarify the cause of the cancer risk in families. Patients are also informed of research studies in which they may be eligible to participate.

Services

The GC Shared Resource provides the following services:

• Study consultation with investigators
• Recruitment of high-risk individuals into studies and registries so data and biospecimens are readily available for clinical and basic researchers
• Expertise necessary for cancer syndrome diagnosis, genetic counseling, and genetic testing so investigators can incorporate genetic variation into study design and interpretation
• Education for researchers about the role of genetic susceptibility in cancer

The GC Shared Resource assists with studies to define the genetics and phenotype of hereditary cancer syndromes, identify new high- and low-penetrant cancer predisposition genes, evaluate the psychosocial implications of genetic diagnoses, and evaluate screening and management approaches for high-risk patients.