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Translating Genetic Knowledge Into Clinical Care in Non-Autoimmune Diabetes

Conditions
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
Diabetes, Gestational
Interventions
Other: Whole genome sequencing
Registration Number
NCT05368220
Lead Sponsor
University of Copenhagen
Brief Summary

The aim of TRANSLATE is to implement genetic information directly into patient care to improve diagnosis and treatment of non-autoimmune diabetes. This project is the first large-scale implementation of systematic genetic testing within a common, non-communicable, chronic disease in Denmark, and will spearhead efforts to advance personalized medicine in Denmark.

The project will contribute to establishing technology, workflow, and evidence on how to implement and communicate actionable genetic information to clinicians and patients in a generalized format. These developments are pivotal for personalized medicine to reach broader clinical application.

Detailed Description

The TRANSLATE project is an integrative project with multifaceted goals, that can be broken down into two main columns. The foundation for both columns is the WGS analysis in a clinical diagnostic setting in order to guide patient treatment. Patients are not randomized and the inclusion and exclusion criteria are deliberately broad and minimal, respectively.

The first column is the clinical development project, which seeks to complete a novel diagnostic process. This column will develop new pipelines and uncover barriers and challenges associated with gene-based precision medicine to facilitate sustainable implementation of gene-based precision medicine beyond the TRANSLATE project.

During the project, we wish to focus on potential barriers against a broad application of gene-based precision medicine in a common disease. These may include:

* Challenges pertaining to the selection of variants that are deemed clinically actionable, automation of genetic interpretation/translation, and the feasibility of large-scale precision medicine implementation

* Ethical concerns of patients, clinicians, and other technicians with regard to the application and utility of genetic information

* Validity and limitations of current computational pipelines for variant calling including the calling of structural variants and aggregate genetic tools

* Challenges regarding the interoperability of IT systems and databases nationally in Denmark, specifically how central databases can be linked to clinical end-users

* How implementation of genetic analyses affects clinical decision-making and/or clinical trajectories, both qualitatively and quantitatively

The second column is a register-based research project in which we will utilize data from the patients to advance gene-based precision medicine. In this column we will both address how to establish comprehensive research infrastructure, as well as answer specific research questions. We will address how to combine and harmonize genetic data with other Danish registry sources. We will use the newly established methodologies to focus on the following research areas with respect to patient stratification, clinical trajectories, complication development, and other clinically relevant outcomes:

* Polygenic risk scores

* Machine learning algorithms

* Combined polygenic and monogenic traits

* Non-coding variation

* Structural variation, specifically exon deletions and duplications, which have previously been shown as a cause of monogenic diabetes

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
6500
Inclusion Criteria
  • Any case of non-T1D defined as debut >30 years of age, OR debut <30 years of age AND negative autoantibodies
  • Any case of diabetes diagnosed in pregnancy (obstetric departments)
Exclusion Criteria
  • Age <18 years
  • Inability to provide informed consent

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Patients with gestational diabetesWhole genome sequencingAny case of diabetes diagnosed in pregnancy treated at the following obstetric clinics in the Capital Region in Denmark: Rigshospitalet, Nordsjællands Hospital, Herlev Hospital, Hvidovre Hospital
Patients with non-autoimmune diabetes (type 2 diabetes)Whole genome sequencingAny case of non-T1D defined as: * Debut \>30 years of age OR * Debut \<30 years of age AND negative autoantibodies treated at Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Selection of clinically actionable genetic variation in diabetesUntil final patient inclusion (May 2025) + 2 years (May 2027)

Using mixed methods such as gene burden investigations, workgroups, interviews, etc. challenges related to the selection of clinically actionable genetic variants and automation of interpretation/translation will be delineated.

Validity and limitations of current computational pipelinesUntil final patient inclusion (May 2025) + 2 years (May 2027)

By comparing computational and analytical methods, the project will investigate the validity and limitations of different computational pipelines. This includes handling of single nucleotide variants, as well as structural variation.

Interoperability of IT systems and databasesUntil final patient inclusion (May 2025) + 2 years (May 2027)

The project will address the flow of data to and from clinical end-users, through centralized databases, both with respect to how the data flow is perceived by users and potential challenges, and how interoperability can be improved to enhance clinical utility. The project will also address how to harmonize data from different sources.

Ethical concerns regarding the application and utility of genetic informationUntil final patient inclusion (May 2025) + 2 years (May 2027)

The project will address how patients, clinicians, technicians etc. shape their understanding of the utility and challenges associated with gene-based precision medicine using ethnographic methods such as field observations and semi-structured interviews.

Impact on clinical decision-making and clinical trajectoriesUntil final patient inclusion (May 2025) + 2 years (May 2027)

Using mixed methods such as mapping of clinical trajectories through clinical registries and qualitative methods such as interviews, workgroups, etc., the project will investigate how implementation of gene-based precision diabetes impacts clinical decision making.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (5)

Hillerød Hospital

🇩🇰

Hillerød, Denmark

Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen

🇩🇰

Herlev, Denmark

Rigshospitalet

🇩🇰

Copenhagen, Denmark

Herlev Hospital

🇩🇰

Herlev, Denmark

Hvidovre Hospital

🇩🇰

Hvidovre, Denmark

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