DNAnexus Inc., and Sutter Health network have started a large-scale clinico-genomic multiple sclerosis research effort.

Around 9% of MS patients are over age 65, and they often suffer from urinary tract infections, pneumonia, septicemia or cellulitis, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

More than 500 MS patients will enroll in the first phase of the DNAnexus study, designed to collect electronic health record data, patient-reported outcomes, imaging data and blood samples. Sutter Health clinicians and researchers can use the platform to assess patients’ clinical and genomic features that correlate with MS subtypes, disability progression, staging, symptoms, MRI changes and differential response to disease-modifying therapies.

Scientists at the Sutter Health Center for Precision Medicine also will input de-identified clinico-genomic datasets from more than 3,000 patients to the DNAnexus Apollo™ Platform. The Genome Center at UPMC will generate clinical-grade genomic data from samples contributed by the participants.

“Datasets generated in a real-world setting will propel Sutter Health to the forefront of MS research worldwide,” says Gregory Tranah, Ph.D., Director of the Center for Precision Medicine at Sutter Health. “Collaborating with DNAnexus allows access to cutting-edge bioinformatics tools to better understand our clinically meaningful ‘big data.’ This is an important step to advance precision medicine efforts across Sutter and, ultimately, to improve treatments for people with MS in our community and the millions of people affected with the disease worldwide.”

Through this project, DNAnexus is launching its new Clinico-Genomic Data Solution, a program looking at high-quality, longitudinal, disease-specific datasets, with a goal to improve treatment.

“With its diverse patient population and powerful EHR data on long-term MS patients, the team at Sutter Health is poised to lead this next era of precision medicine for MS,” said Richard Daly, CEO of DNAnexus.