College will Give ASCO’s CancerLinQ® Platform Additional Expertise from Genetics and Genomics Field
CancerLinQ LLC and the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), the medical specialty society for clinical and laboratory genetics professionals, have entered into a programmatic collaboration. CancerLinQ®, the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s (ASCO) health information technology platform designed by oncologists for oncologists to leverage the power of big data to help improve the quality of care for patients with cancer, will benefit from the knowledge and expertise of ACMG leadership and members.
“The field of medical genetics and genomic medicine is on the leading edge in preventing, diagnosing, and treating diseases, including cancer,” said CancerLinQ LLC Chief Executive Officer Kevin Fitzpatrick. “Having the benefit of working with leaders in this pioneering field offers great possibilities for CancerLinQ® as we work to enhance the quality and value of oncology care.”
ACMG is an interdisciplinary professional membership organization that represents the interests of the entire medical genetics team, including clinical geneticists, clinical laboratory geneticists, and genetic counselors. The organization is committed to developing and sustaining genetic and genomic initiatives in clinical and laboratory practice, education, and advocacy.
“Many ACMG members are integrally involved in assisting patients and their families in diagnosing hereditary cancer syndromes. We look forward to what we believe will be a mutually beneficial collaboration with CancerLinQ,” said ACMG President Dr. Louanne Hudgins, FACMG.
Peter J. Hulick, MD, MMSc, FACMG, Medical Director of the Center for Personalized Medicine and Center for Medical Genetics at NorthShore University HealthSystem and Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Genetics at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, will serve as ACMG’s representative on the CancerLinQ Oncology Leadership Council, the strategic advisory body comprised of all official partner organizations that guides the growth and direction of CancerLinQ®. ACMG will have the ability to access CancerLinQ Discovery™ — which provides access to curated sets of statistically de-identified clinical data from the CancerLinQ® platform — for the association’s internal learning about and analysis of the current, real-world state of cancer care.
The collaboration with ACMG is one of many that CancerLinQ LLC, a wholly owned nonprofit subsidiary of ASCO, has entered into with a coalition of partners and thought leaders, including government agencies, medical specialty societies, and life sciences companies. Since 2016, the American Academy of PAs, American Society of Radiation Oncology, Association for Molecular Pathology, Cancer Informatics for Cancer Centers, College of American Pathologists, DIA, Food and Drug Administration, Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association, National Cancer Institute, National Society of Genetic Counselors, Oncology Nursing Society, and Society of Gynecologic Oncology have joined forces with CancerLinQ LLC. Additionally, in November 2016, AstraZeneca became a founding enterprise partner with CancerLinQ Discovery™. These partnerships offer the CancerLinQ team guidance and insights that ultimately can contribute to the quality and efficiency of the cancer care delivery system.
At present, more than 110 practices in 40 states and the District of Columbia, representing thousands of oncologists, have signed agreements to participate in CancerLinQ®.