DNA screening for risk of disease that can be prevented or treated (like some cancers or heart disease) is being offered to 10,000 Australians, aged 18 to 40 years, through the DNA Screen Pilot Study led by Monash University.
However, nearly two-thirds of Australians believe that gene testing does not necessarily contribute to effective cancer or disease treatment, found a survey by Lonergan on behalf of gene technology company Illumina.
At the same time, researchers from 50 countries have gathered at the International Congress of Genetics, running from now till 21 Jul in Melbourne, to discuss how genetic testing is helping with a wide range of diseases including stuttering, mitochondrial disease, cerebral palsy, and many cancers.
"Gene testing and genomic medicine are already transforming lives," said Prof Phil Batterham, co-convenor of the Congress.
"Gene testing is helping to save the lives of critically-ill kids and explains the causes of genetic diseases.
"Today, in Melbourne, your genome can be sequenced for a few thousand dollars in a few days.
"And the information can be used to identify your risk of disease, and to create a unique treatment for your cancer."
The survey showed that the majority of people had concerns around genomics from anxiety over potential disease (38%), data leakage (34%), discoveries raising insurance premiums (24%), to genetic information being used in cloning (23%), and gene editing (24%).
"The survey illustrates the need for further education around the benefits of genomics, and the vital and growing role it plays in medicine," explained Batterham.
"Public understanding of genetic concepts and policy issues are key to enabling informed deliberation and decision-making."
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