UCD Med Center Offering Free Genetic Testing For Some Children Covered By Medi-Cal
Medi-Cal provides limited access to genetic testing, often leaving families to pay out-of-pocket for it. The testing will be covered by a two-year grant.
The Sacramento Bee:
‘Not Experimental Anymore’: UCD Med Center Expands Free Testing For Medi-Cal Families
Families on Medi-Cal can now receive free genomic testing to diagnose rare genetic disorders at UC Davis Medical Center, according to an announcement Thursday. “Children with rare genetic disorders that come to our clinic and many times they don’t have an answer,” said Dr. Suma Shankar, associate professor of pediatrics and director of the Precision Genomics Clinic at UC Davis. (The genomic testing) helps us come to a definite diagnosis.” (Sullivan, 3/1)
In other news from across the state —
The San Diego Union-Tribune:
'Dementia Challenge' Sheds Light On What Alzheimer's Feel Like
Allowing caregivers of people living with Alzheimer’s to see the world through the eyes of someone with dementia is one of the goals of an upcoming, three-part program Glenner is co-presenting with the Alzheimer’s Association San Diego/Imperial County chapter starting Monday. While much of the general focus on Alzheimer’s centers on memory loss, participants of the interactive Dementia Challenge will experience — albeit temporarily — how a person’s perception, attention span, language skills, ability to control emotions and use reason and judgment, deteriorate with the disease and affect daily life. (Parente, 3/1)
San Francisco Chronicle:
Helix, A Startup That Stores Your Genetic Data Online, Nets $200 Million
Helix, a San Carlos startup that analyzes and stores customers’ genetic information online, has raised $200 million from venture capital and private equity funds, the company is slated to announce Thursday. Led by DFJ Growth — an investor in Tesla, Tumblr and Coinbase — the new financing brings Helix’s total funding to at least $320 million, signaling investors’ continued interest in the growing genetic testing market. (Ho, 2/28)