"Improving Genetic Testing for Health Equity Across Diverse Populations"

Researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health have improved genetic testing methods called polygenic risk scores to provide a more accurate assessment of disease risk across diverse populations. By recalibrating these tests using ancestrally diverse genomic data, the researchers aim to prevent health disparities caused by false results and inequitable genetic tools. The optimized scores, developed using data from the All of Us Research Program, have shown effectiveness across various ancestral backgrounds, representing a step towards routine use of polygenic risk scores in the clinic to benefit all people.