PHILADELPHIA (August 21, 2018)— Michael J. Hall, MD, MS, interim chair of Clinical Genetics at Fox Chase Cancer Center, has received an American Cancer Society research grant to improve understanding and communication of genetic risk information among physicians and cancer patients.
Hall will receive $1.4 million in research support over five years to develop a web-enabled decision support aid for African American patients, as well as a training module to increase oncologists’ knowledge of hereditary risk information and patient preferences. Additionally he will study how these aids impact decision making in physician-patient pairs, and among patients and doctors separately.
“Our study will benefit both African American cancer patients and oncologists who struggle with how to understand, communicate, and make decisions about new and complex forms of genetic testing,” said Hall. Sarah Bauerle Bass, PhD, MPH, Associate Professor, College of Public Health Temple University, is a co-investigator on the study.
Tumor Genomic Profiling (TGP) is increasingly being used to identify genetic markers in tumors to inform treatment decisions and to identify a patient’s personal and family cancer risks. However, many patients have poor knowledge of genetic risk information and its consequences. Many oncologists do not have a good understanding of how to effectively communicate secondary hereditary risks to their patients, and how to support effective informed decision-making.
“Our intention is to ensure that African American cancer patients have the support they need to confidently make decisions regarding genetic cancer risk in line with their needs, preferences, and values,” Hall said.
Michael J. Hall, MD was supported by a Research Scholar Grant, RSG-18-024-01-CPPB, from the American Cancer Society.