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Pagnamenta AT, Camps C, Giacopuzzi E, Taylor JM, Hashim M, Calpena E, Kaisaki PJ, Hashimoto A, Yu J, Sanders E, Schwessinger R, Hughes JR, Lunter G, Dreau H, Ferla M, Lange L, Kesim Y, Ragoussis V, Vavoulis DV, Allroggen H, Ansorge O, Babbs C, Banka S, Baños-Piñero B, Beeson D, Ben-Ami T, Bennett DL, Bento C, Blair E, Brasch-Andersen C, Bull KR, Cario H, Cilliers D, Conti V, Davies EG, Dhalla F, Dacal BD, Dong Y, Dunford JE, Guerrini R, Harris AL, Hartley J, Hollander G, Javaid K, Kane M, Kelly D, Kelly D, Knight SJL, Kreins AY, Kvikstad EM, Langman CB, Lester T, Lines KE, Lord SR, Lu X, Mansour S, Manzur A, Maroofian R, Marsden B, Mason J, McGowan SJ, Mei D, Mlcochova H, Murakami Y, Németh AH, Okoli S, Ormondroyd E, Ousager LB, Palace J, Patel SY, Pentony MM, Pugh C, Rad A, Ramesh A, Riva SG, Roberts I, Roy N, Salminen O, Schilling KD, Scott C, Sen A, Smith C, Stevenson M, Thakker RV, Twigg SRF, Uhlig HH, van Wijk R, Vona B, Wall S, Wang J, Watkins H, Zak J, Schuh AH, Kini U, Wilkie AOM, Popitsch N, Taylor JC. Structural and non-coding variants increase the diagnostic yield of clinical whole genome sequencing for rare diseases. Genome Med 2023; 15:94. [PMID: 37946251 PMCID: PMC10636885 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-023-01240-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Whole genome sequencing is increasingly being used for the diagnosis of patients with rare diseases. However, the diagnostic yields of many studies, particularly those conducted in a healthcare setting, are often disappointingly low, at 25-30%. This is in part because although entire genomes are sequenced, analysis is often confined to in silico gene panels or coding regions of the genome. METHODS We undertook WGS on a cohort of 122 unrelated rare disease patients and their relatives (300 genomes) who had been pre-screened by gene panels or arrays. Patients were recruited from a broad spectrum of clinical specialties. We applied a bioinformatics pipeline that would allow comprehensive analysis of all variant types. We combined established bioinformatics tools for phenotypic and genomic analysis with our novel algorithms (SVRare, ALTSPLICE and GREEN-DB) to detect and annotate structural, splice site and non-coding variants. RESULTS Our diagnostic yield was 43/122 cases (35%), although 47/122 cases (39%) were considered solved when considering novel candidate genes with supporting functional data into account. Structural, splice site and deep intronic variants contributed to 20/47 (43%) of our solved cases. Five genes that are novel, or were novel at the time of discovery, were identified, whilst a further three genes are putative novel disease genes with evidence of causality. We identified variants of uncertain significance in a further fourteen candidate genes. The phenotypic spectrum associated with RMND1 was expanded to include polymicrogyria. Two patients with secondary findings in FBN1 and KCNQ1 were confirmed to have previously unidentified Marfan and long QT syndromes, respectively, and were referred for further clinical interventions. Clinical diagnoses were changed in six patients and treatment adjustments made for eight individuals, which for five patients was considered life-saving. CONCLUSIONS Genome sequencing is increasingly being considered as a first-line genetic test in routine clinical settings and can make a substantial contribution to rapidly identifying a causal aetiology for many patients, shortening their diagnostic odyssey. We have demonstrated that structural, splice site and intronic variants make a significant contribution to diagnostic yield and that comprehensive analysis of the entire genome is essential to maximise the value of clinical genome sequencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alistair T Pagnamenta
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Carme Camps
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Edoardo Giacopuzzi
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
- Human Technopole, Viale Rita Levi Montalcini 1, 20157, Milan, Italy
| | - John M Taylor
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
- Oxford Genetics Laboratories, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Churchill Hospital, Old Road, Oxford, OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Mona Hashim
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Eduardo Calpena
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Pamela J Kaisaki
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Akiko Hashimoto
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Jing Yu
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Edward Sanders
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Ron Schwessinger
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Jim R Hughes
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Gerton Lunter
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK
- University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen University, PO Box 72, 9700 AB, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Helene Dreau
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
- Department of Oncology, Oxford Molecular Diagnostics Centre, University of Oxford, Level 4, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Matteo Ferla
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Lukas Lange
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Yesim Kesim
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Vassilis Ragoussis
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Dimitrios V Vavoulis
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
- Department of Oncology, Oxford Molecular Diagnostics Centre, University of Oxford, Level 4, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Holger Allroggen
- Neurosciences Department, UHCW NHS Trust, Clifford Bridge Road, Coventry, CV2 2DX, UK
| | - Olaf Ansorge
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Christian Babbs
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Siddharth Banka
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, Saint Mary's Hospital, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK
| | - Benito Baños-Piñero
- Oxford Genetics Laboratories, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Churchill Hospital, Old Road, Oxford, OX3 7LE, UK
| | - David Beeson
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Tal Ben-Ami
- Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Unit, Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot, Israel
| | - David L Bennett
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Celeste Bento
- Hematology Department, Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Edward Blair
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
- Oxford Centre for Genomic Medicine, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Charlotte Brasch-Andersen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital and Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Katherine R Bull
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Holger Cario
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center, Eythstrasse 24, 89075, Ulm, Germany
| | - Deirdre Cilliers
- Oxford Centre for Genomic Medicine, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Valerio Conti
- Neuroscience Department, Meyer Children's Hospital IRCCS, Viale Pieraccini 24, 50139, Florence, Italy
| | - E Graham Davies
- Department of Immunology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust and UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Zayed Centre for Research, 2Nd Floor, 20C Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1DZ, UK
| | - Fatima Dhalla
- Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, IMS-Tetsuya Nakamura Building, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7TY, UK
| | - Beatriz Diez Dacal
- Oxford Genetics Laboratories, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Churchill Hospital, Old Road, Oxford, OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Yin Dong
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - James E Dunford
- Oxford NIHR Musculoskeletal BRC and Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Old Road, Oxford, OX3 7HE, UK
| | - Renzo Guerrini
- Neuroscience Department, Meyer Children's Hospital IRCCS, Viale Pieraccini 24, 50139, Florence, Italy
| | - Adrian L Harris
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Jane Hartley
- Liver Unit, Birmingham Women's & Children's Hospital and University of Birmingham, Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham, B4 6NH, UK
| | - Georg Hollander
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Level 2, Children's Hospital, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Kassim Javaid
- Oxford NIHR Musculoskeletal BRC and Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Old Road, Oxford, OX3 7HE, UK
| | - Maureen Kane
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Maryland, Pharmacy Hall North, Room 731, 20 N. Pine Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Deirdre Kelly
- Liver Unit, Birmingham Women's & Children's Hospital and University of Birmingham, Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham, B4 6NH, UK
| | - Dominic Kelly
- Children's Hospital, OUH NHS Foundation Trust, NIHR Oxford BRC, Headley Way, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Samantha J L Knight
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Alexandra Y Kreins
- Department of Immunology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust and UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Zayed Centre for Research, 2Nd Floor, 20C Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1DZ, UK
| | - Erika M Kvikstad
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Craig B Langman
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 211 E Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL, MS37, USA
| | - Tracy Lester
- Oxford Genetics Laboratories, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Churchill Hospital, Old Road, Oxford, OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Kate E Lines
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
- University of Oxford, Academic Endocrine Unit, OCDEM, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7LJ, UK
| | - Simon R Lord
- Early Phase Clinical Trials Unit, Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Cancer and Haematology Centre, Level 2 Administration Area, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7LJ, UK
| | - Xin Lu
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Sahar Mansour
- St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Blackshore Road, Tooting, London, SW17 0QT, UK
| | - Adnan Manzur
- MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Reza Maroofian
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Brian Marsden
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Kennedy Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Joanne Mason
- Yourgene Health Headquarters, Skelton House, Lloyd Street North, Manchester Science Park, Manchester, M15 6SH, UK
| | - Simon J McGowan
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Davide Mei
- Neuroscience Department, Meyer Children's Hospital IRCCS, Viale Pieraccini 24, 50139, Florence, Italy
| | - Hana Mlcochova
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Yoshiko Murakami
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Andrea H Németh
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
- Oxford Centre for Genomic Medicine, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Steven Okoli
- Imperial College NHS Trust, Department of Haematology, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0HS, UK
| | - Elizabeth Ormondroyd
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
- University of Oxford, Level 6 West Wing, Oxford, OX3 9DU, JR, UK
| | - Lilian Bomme Ousager
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital and Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Jacqueline Palace
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Smita Y Patel
- Clinical Immunology, John Radcliffe Hospital, Level 4A, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Melissa M Pentony
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Chris Pugh
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Aboulfazl Rad
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, Eberhard Karls University, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Str. 5, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Archana Ramesh
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Simone G Riva
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Irene Roberts
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Level 2, Children's Hospital, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Noémi Roy
- Department of Haematology, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Level 4, Haematology, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Outi Salminen
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
- Department of Oncology, Oxford Molecular Diagnostics Centre, University of Oxford, Level 4, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Kyleen D Schilling
- Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, 225 E Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Caroline Scott
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Arjune Sen
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Conrad Smith
- Oxford Genetics Laboratories, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Churchill Hospital, Old Road, Oxford, OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Mark Stevenson
- University of Oxford, Academic Endocrine Unit, OCDEM, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7LJ, UK
| | - Rajesh V Thakker
- University of Oxford, Academic Endocrine Unit, OCDEM, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7LJ, UK
| | - Stephen R F Twigg
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Holm H Uhlig
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Level 2, Children's Hospital, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
- Translational Gastroenterology Unit, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Richard van Wijk
- UMC Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Barbara Vona
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, Eberhard Karls University, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Str. 5, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Heinrich-Düker-Weg 12, 37073, Göttingen, Germany
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Steven Wall
- Oxford Craniofacial Unit, John Radcliffe Hospital, Level LG1, West Wing, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Jing Wang
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Hugh Watkins
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
- University of Oxford, Level 6 West Wing, Oxford, OX3 9DU, JR, UK
| | - Jaroslav Zak
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, OX3 7DQ, UK
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Anna H Schuh
- Department of Oncology, Oxford Molecular Diagnostics Centre, University of Oxford, Level 4, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Usha Kini
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
- Oxford Centre for Genomic Medicine, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Andrew O M Wilkie
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Niko Popitsch
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Max Perutz Labs, University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenter(VBC), Dr.-Bohr-Gasse 9, 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jenny C Taylor
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK.
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK.
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Taruscio D, Salvatore M, Lumaka A, Carta C, Cellai LL, Ferrari G, Sciascia S, Groft S, Alanay Y, Azam M, Baynam G, Cederroth H, Cutiongco-de la Paz EM, Dissanayake VHW, Giugliani R, Gonzaga-Jauregui C, Hettiarachchi D, Kvlividze O, Landoure G, Makay P, Melegh B, Ozbek U, Puri RD, Romero V, Scaria V, Jamuar SS, Shotelersuk V, Roccatello D, Gahl WA, Wiafe SA, Bodamer O, Posada M. Undiagnosed diseases: Needs and opportunities in 20 countries participating in the Undiagnosed Diseases Network International. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1079601. [PMID: 36935719 PMCID: PMC10017550 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1079601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Rare diseases (RD) are a health priority worldwide, overall affecting hundreds of millions of people globally. Early and accurate diagnosis is essential to support clinical care but remains challenging in many countries, especially the low- and medium-income ones. Hence, undiagnosed RD (URD) account for a significant portion of the overall RD burden. Methods In October 2020, the Developing Nations Working Group of the Undiagnosed Diseases Network International (DNWG-UDNI) launched a survey among its members, belonging to 20 countries across all continents, to map unmet needs and opportunities for patients with URD. The survey was based on questions with open answers and included eight different domains. Conflicting interpretations were resolved in contact with the partners involved. Results All members responded to the survey. The results indicated that the scientific and medical centers make substantial efforts to respond to the unmet needs of patients. In most countries, there is a high awareness of RD issues. Scarcity of resources was highlighted as a major problem, leading to reduced availability of diagnostic expertise and research. Serious equity in accessibility to services were highlighted both within and between participating countries. Regulatory problems, including securing informed consent, difficulties in sending DNA to foreign laboratories, protection of intellectual property, and conflicts of interest on the part of service providers, remain issues of concern. Finally, most respondents stressed the need to strengthen international cooperation in terms of data sharing, clinical research, and diagnostic expertise for URD patients in low and medium income countries. Discussion The survey highlighted that many countries experienced a discrepancy between the growing expertise and scientific value, the level of awareness and commitment on the part of relevant parties, and funding bodies. Country-tailored public health actions, including general syllabus of medical schools and of the education of other health professionals, are needed to reduce such gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenica Taruscio
- National Centre for Rare Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Domenica Taruscio
| | - Marco Salvatore
- National Centre for Rare Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Aimè Lumaka
- Reference Center for Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
- Service de Génétique Humaine, University Hospitals of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Claudio Carta
- National Centre for Rare Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura L. Cellai
- National Centre for Rare Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Gianluca Ferrari
- National Centre for Rare Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Savino Sciascia
- Center of Excellence on Nephrologic, Rheumatologic and Rare Diseases (ERK-Net, ERN-Reconnect and RITA-ERN Member) With Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, San Giovanni Bosco Hub Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Stephen Groft
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Yasemin Alanay
- ACURARE-Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases Center, Acibadem University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Maleeha Azam
- COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Gareth Baynam
- Rare Care, Clinical Centre of Expertise for Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases, Perth Children's Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia
| | | | - Eva Maria Cutiongco-de la Paz
- Institute of Human Genetics, National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines
| | | | - Roberto Giugliani
- House of Rares, Medical Genetics Service, HCPA, Department Genetics UFRGS and DASA, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Claudia Gonzaga-Jauregui
- International Laboratory for Human Genome Research, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Juriquilla, Queretaro, Mexico
| | - Dineshani Hettiarachchi
- Department of Anatomy, Genetics and Biomedical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | - Oleg Kvlividze
- Georgian Foundation for Genetic and Rare Diseases (GeRaD), School of Medicine, New Vision University, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Guida Landoure
- Faculté de Médecine et d'Odontostomatologie, l'Université des Sciences, des Techniques et des Technologies de Bamako, Bamako, Mali
| | - Prince Makay
- Reference Center for Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Béla Melegh
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Ugur Ozbek
- ACURARE-Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases Center, Acibadem University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ratna Dua Puri
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Genomics, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Vanessa Romero
- School of Medicine, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Vinod Scaria
- CSIR Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi, India
| | - Saumya S. Jamuar
- Singhealth Duke-NUS Genomic Medicine Centre, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
- SingHealth Duke-NUS Institute of Precision Medicine, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Vorasuk Shotelersuk
- Center of Excellence for Medical Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital and Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Dario Roccatello
- Center of Excellence on Nephrologic, Rheumatologic and Rare Diseases (ERK-Net, ERN-Reconnect and RITA-ERN Member) With Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, San Giovanni Bosco Hub Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - William A. Gahl
- National Institutes of Health, National Human Genome Research Institute, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | | | - Olaf Bodamer
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Harvard Medical School, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Manuel Posada
- Rare Diseases Research Institute (IIER), SpainUDP, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
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