Huntsman Cancer Institute researchers receive $8.3 million grant for genetic testing

A research team from the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah has been awarded an $8.3 million Research Program Project (P01) grant from the National Cancer Institute. The multidisciplinary project, titled 2DETECT, aims to expand access to genetic testing to improve cancer prevention and care.

Lead investigators Sean Tavtigian, PhD, Guilherme Del Fiol, MD, PhD, and Kimberly Kaphingst, ScD, will focus on using AI-based algorithms and electronic health records to identify patients eligible for genetic testing based on family history. The goal is to move from case-by-case identification to identifying eligible individuals at scale, allowing for medical and lifestyle interventions before cancer develops.