The Heart Rhythm Society, assisted by members Sumeet Chugh, MD and Richard Fogel, MD, submitted comments to the Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health and Society (SACGHS) on the Draft Report on Policy Issues Associated with Undertaking a Large U.S. Population Cohort Project on Genes, Environment and Disease. The purpose of the report is to illuminate the complex array of policy issues associated with large-scale studies that directly assesses gene-environment interactions and their relationship to disease. The Heart Rhythm Society strongly supports the endeavor and agrees, as outlined in the draft, that ethical considerations warrant special attention. The Society cautioned that funds for this type of study should not be appropriated at the expense of currently available federal scientific funding.

If you have any questions, please contact Nevena Minor at nminor@hrsonline.org.