eMERGE Phase IV: Using electronic health records and DNA data to study genomic risk and return of results
Official title: eMERGE Phase IV Clinical Center at Mass General Brigham
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-11514430 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A national program is testing how genomic risk results shared through health records affect care decisions for both adults and children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $770,168 |
| NIH project number | 3U01HG008685-09S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11514430 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults and children who have participated in the eMERGE IV program and receive genomically informed risk information.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not enrolled in eMERGE IV or not receiving genomic risk information may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses big health data from EHRs linked to DNA samples to study how people respond to genomic risk information. At Mass General Brigham, researchers have already returned genomically informed risk assessments to thousands of participants and are now analyzing 12-month outcomes, including actions taken by providers and patients. The work involves extracting EHR data, quality control, and using large language models to define health outcomes. The goal is to understand how genomic information can be integrated into routine care and improve decision-making for diseases common in both children and adults.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve how genomic risk information informs clinical care and patient actions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous eMERGE efforts show feasible integration of genomics with EHRs and meaningful uptake of genomic risk information in care.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Karlson, Elizabeth W — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Karlson, Elizabeth W
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.