RENO, Nev. (AP) — Nevada's Desert Research Institute and a Reno hospital are teaming up with a personal genetics company to launch one of the first community health studies of its kind in the country.
Gov. Brian Sandoval, DRI and the Renown Health Foundation announced the collaborative effort Thursday with 23andMe — a company founded in 2006 with 1 million customers nationwide.
The first 5,000 qualifying Nevadans who sign up for the pilot project will receive free, at-home DNA test kits that 23andMe typically sells for $199.
The study will combine health, population and genetic information with environmental data, which will be shared with the participants.
Sandoval was one of the first to volunteer. He says the project creates unprecedented opportunities for new scientific discoveries linking genetics to future policy decisions aimed at improving public health.