Precision Genomics Laboratory Established at CUMC

The Institute for Genomic Medicine (IGM) and the Department of Pathology and Cell Biology are pleased to announce the formation of a new joint initiative designed to enhance patient care through genomic diagnostics, research, and education at CUMC.

The Precision Genomics Laboratory (PGL), by combining next-generation sequencing in a certified clinical laboratory (CLIA and CAP-accredited), will provide patients, families and physicians with unprecedented information with which to make informed health decisions. The PGL will additionally enhance the University-wide, interdisciplinary, Precision Medicine Initiative by offering unique training opportunities and new avenues for novel diagnostic genomics test development. The overarching mission of the PGL is to apply advanced genomic science in a clinically actionable setting to improve the diagnosis and treatment of human disease.

Initially, the PGL will offer New York State Department of Health approved assays for diagnostic exomes and specific carrier screening tests. In close partnership with CUMC clinical departments, the PGL plans to rapidly expand its test offerings to meet the growing clinical need for complex and accurate genomics testing. If you have questions or suggestions for PGL partnerships and/or high priority test development, please contact Vimla Aggarwal, MBBS, FACMG (vsa2105@cumc.columbia.edu).

The PGL will be co-led by the IGM and the Department of Pathology and Cell Biology. The clinical laboratory will be under the supervision of Steven Spitalnik, MD, Vice-Chair of Laboratory Medicine; and Vimla Aggarwal, MBBS, FACMG, Assistant Professor of Pathology and Cell Biology (in the IGM), will serve as the PGL Medical Director. We are grateful to Tom Maniatis, PhD, Director of the Columbia Precision Medicine Initiative (CPMI), who welcomes the PGL as an integral pillar of Precision Medicine activities at Columbia.