Generating solutions

T2 diabetes (T2D) is a public health challenge that affects 10% of Canadians, with treatment costs of $30 billion in 2019. People with T2D have an increased risk of developing serious health complications. Globally, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) account for one-third to half of all diabetes-related deaths. Despite overwhelming evidence showing the crucial role of blood pressure (BP) and glycemic control in T2D management, many patients do not reach recommended BP and glucose targets. This places them at a high risk for complications. The researchers, in collaboration with OPTITHERA, have used clinical and genomic information from over 4,100 Type 2 diabetes patients followed for 10 years and AI to develop the first genomic test to predict the risk of CVD—including myocardial infarction, stroke and renal complications—in T2D patients. This will bring early and personalized disease management for patients at high risk of complications and reduce overtreatment of low-risk individuals. The team has already demonstrated the benefit of testing on renal complications of T2D, delaying dialysis, lowering healthcare costs and improving patient quality of life. Building on this previous work, this project is a unique opportunity to generate prospective real-world evidence from over 3,000 T2D patients to support clinical use, adoption and diffusion of this proprietary genomic test. It will expand the test to various ethnic groups; scale up the analytical process to make the test automated, robust and secure; and use an electronic medical record platform to make results available. Health economic studies will demonstrate its cost-effectiveness. The ultimate aim is to successfully commercialize this innovative Canadian test.