Full scale recruitment for the Alabama Genomic Health Initiative has begun at UAB clinics in Birmingham. The AGHI is one of the nation’s first statewide efforts to harness the power of genomic analysis to identify those at high risk for genetic disease.

The AGHI, a partnership between UAB, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, and Children's of Alabama, was announced on March 9. It will recruit a diverse group of participants from every county in Alabama and provide genomic analysis and interpretation to this group free of charge.

Following the conclusion in May of a pilot project that recruited the first 100 participants, the AGHI has now opened widespread recruitment with the intent of adding 2,000 individuals in the first year. Over a five-year period, the goal will be to increase the number of participants to more than 10,000 persons.

To learn more about the Alabama Genomic Health Initiative please visit www.aghi.org. To participate, call 1-855-462-6850.

Read the story on Childrensal.org.