When UNCG became the first university in the state to offer a master’s in genetic counseling, Vince Henrich saw great potential. Through the Guilford Genomic Medicine Initiative (GGMI), UNCG is at the forefront of an exciting and influential program with significant implications for healthcare and economic development in North Carolina and across the nation.

A unique partnership involving UNCG’s Institute for Health, Science and Society, Moses Cone Health System and the Duke Center for Human Genetics, GGMI’s focus is the incorporation of genomic information into everyday healthcare.“Ours is the first integrated program to introduce genomic medicine to community health. There is no partnership like this. We will be a template for healthcare systems everywhere,” says Vince, the institute’s director.

UNCG is the lead institution for the education component of GGMI. “One of the early aspects of the initiative is genomic literacy. Before you can expand genomic medicine, there must be a level of understanding within the community and among healthcare professionals. UNCG specializes in community education and has a great deal of research in life-limiting diseases and disorders, which represent the next wave of genomics.

The positive outcomes of GGMI are limitless, from groundbreaking progress in healthcare to job creation within a variety of industries. The nation and the world will have their eyes on North Carolina as UNCG and its partners utilize genetic research to create a more personalized and preventive health care system for the 21st century.