Genomic Competency Initiative

Division Of Basic Sciences - Nci

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

Project 1) Nursing Capacity in PGx: The national study of advanced practice nurses (APRN) assessing PGx capacity is a collaborative study with Dr. Cathy Fulton at Indiana University (IU). Findings are published PMID: 38595133 which found only 29% of nurses with prescriptive privileges ordered a PGx within the past year and most (84%) reported never using CPIC Guidelines despite 48% reporting PGx in their curriculum. Notably, curricular content did not influence PGx ordering (p=0.9493). That led to the follow-up study to assess APRN PGx curricular content; APRN PGx educational resources; and nursing faculty capacity to teach PGx. This is a descriptive study involving an online cross-sectional survey followed by a qualitative interview targeting the Big 10 Academic Alliance nursing schools (N=14-18 [actively expanding]) with an APRN program. Accrual to this study is ongoing but remains slow. The Dean targeted requirement strategy had to be revised as the Deans were challenged with rescinded grants and other administrative changes when this study was approved. The modified recruitment relied on us to search for who taught this content followed by direct solicitation has had only minimal success: 3-responded to the survey and Interview; 2-completed the survey but not an interview thus far; 1-opened the survey but did not complete it. 3 received the link to the survey but did not complete it. In discussions with the Dean who on this study and was the recruitment point for engaging the Big 10 Deans, we are actively discussing returning to the original recruitment strategy to attempt to increase our response rate. Project 2) Global Genomics Nursing Alliance (G2NA): G2NA, established in 2017 led by the US, UK, and 23 global nursing leaders has grown to 188 nursing leaders from 23 countries. The G2NA website https://g2na.org/ has funding and support from the University of South Wales (USW). However, Emma Tonkin, PhD from USW who leads G2NA with me is losing her faculty position due to university financial issues, so her role and USW support remains uncertain and we are working on a sustainability plan. G2NA conducts quarterly education webinars; has broad international representation; established a strategic plan; communicates through a listserv; completed or are conducting research projects. The work to establish Global Minimal Genomic Competencies for nurses and midwives is delayed. The steering group includes representatives from Africa, Brazil, Israel, and Japan but meetings have slowed given Dr. Tonkin's upcoming position change. I am investigating whether we can still collaborate with USW for use of the Group Concept Mapping software, or I can afford to purchase the software to take the lead for this project. This is in process. The International GENomics Enabled ONCology Education Programme Health Research Board All Ireland NCI Cancer Consortium (AICC) Research and Innovation Grant Scheme was funded. The application required applicants and collaborators from Northern Ireland, the US National Cancer Institute, and Southern Ireland. The aims of this study are to support the genomic education of current and future oncology health-care providers. The aims are: 1-co-design cancer genomics units that can be integrated into undergraduate curricula; 2-explore innovative and active pedagogies that are effective in teaching genomic concepts;3-support faculty education to improve the integration of cancer genomics within undergraduate healthcare curricula; 4-support ongoing continuous professional development of healthcare professionals who act as clinically-based educators in relation to cancer genomics. All materials developed from this grant will be open access. Funding is going through principal investigator, Dr. Josephine Hegarty at the University of College Cork (UCC), Ireland. The project is held up as the funder and UCC navigate a contract to transfer the funds. Establishing an update to the Global Genomic Nursing Science Blueprint is active. The systematic reviews that inform this initiative are almost complete. These are led by G2NA collaborator Dr. Andrew Dwyer, Boston College and his doctoral student. The reviews are: Healthcare Provider Outcomes PMID: 38002957; Consumer Outcomes PMID: 39678377; Health Service Delivery Outcomes almost ready for submission. Once the final evidence review is approved for publication, the Blueprint update panel will be convened. Project 3) Genomic Nursing Competencies: With my collaborators Laurie Badzek and the American Nurses Association (ANA), a national nursing precision health and genomic competency initiative continues. The updated Genomic Nursing Competencies are available by ANA, the update published PMID: 38797885 and the National Nursing Workforce Study manuscript was submitted but the determination is pending. ANA is also supporting the update the Genetic and Genomic Competencies for Graduate Nurses as the competency refinement was ongoing. The Delphi study is planned to launch in mid September 2025-delayed due to academic funding challenges that meant key contributors were not available. Once the Delphi is completed and updated, ANA will convene a panel of practice, education, and policy nursing leaders to establish an action plan to address the persistent nursing deficits. This meeting is actively being planned. Project 4) NCI/CCR Summer Genetics Institute. This one-week training is a collaboration between CCR Genetics Branch, the University of Pittsburgh, Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Cedars Sinai and received CCR RRS funding which is greatly appreciated. The meeting will be held 7/27-31/2026 in building 35 and will require pre-course online modules. In-person content will include: Core Molecular Presentations; Research and Laboratory Methodologies; Clinical Presentations; Supporting Sessions including NCBI Resources and Data Sharing/Repositories. Concluding sessions will include how to identify investigators for bench experiences needed to supplement didactic content with pre-identified investigators willing to consider accepting a learner in their lab. The planning team meets monthly and will begin advertising at the International Society of Nurses in Genetics meeting 11/13-16/2025. We plan on evaluating each element of this program to determine strengths including what attendees are able to do with this training. Additionally we will evaluate weaknesses/areas for improvement. If the model is successful, we will attempt to seek extramural sources of funding to continue the program on an annual basis.