Leveraging their large database of exome sequenced, research-consented individuals, Helix’s research team set out to perform a longitudinal survey to collect data about potential COVID-19 symptoms, duration, and confounding variables. To do this, the team needed a mechanism for distributing the survey as well as survey findings to research participants. Throughout the study, I’ve helped create blogs and emails to encourage participation in the survey, and have helped maintain data organization. Survey and de-identified genetic data have been contributed to the Host Genomics Initiative and has been used in several research projects. Below is a list of articles that our data contributed to.

Our researchers took a look at a sequence of DNA known as the ACE2 gene. This gene is most well known for its role in regulating blood pressure. But in recent times, it’s drawn a lot of attention from the scientific community because it may also serve as a doorway of sorts, enabling viruses like SARS-CoV-2 to infect cells. Our researchers looked at the ACE2 gene in more than 200,000 people, comparing their exact DNA sequences to see where there are differences among people.

Building from trends that are currently taking shape, this article looks just over a decade into the future—to 2030—to provide a description of how the field of genetics and genetic counseling will be changed, as well as advice for genetic counselors for how to prepare.