The power of healthcare data gives rise to novel markers of cardiovascular disease and stroke in the earliest, preventable stages
CHICAGO, Nov. 11, 2018 — Developing novel approaches to understand cardiovascular health and pre-disease is the cornerstone strategy of One Brave Idea™, a research initiative led by Dr. Calum MacRae, vice chair for Scientific Innovation in the department of Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital.
In a move to advance the ground-breaking work to identify coronary heart disease at the earliest transition from wellness to disease, Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX) will contribute biomarker implementation, population health analytics and a national lab platform as a pillar supporter of One Brave Idea, the research initiative co-founded by the American Heart Association (AHA) and Verily Life Sciences with significant support from AstraZeneca.
“As the leader in cardiovascular diagnostic insights, Quest Diagnostics brings a remarkable network of just-in-time clinical and consumer diagnostics, access to rich longitudinal data and the logistical framework to quickly translate science into actionable insights for the people who seek ways to pre-empt heart disease,” said Nancy Brown, American Heart Association chief executive officer, who announced the news today from the stage in Chicago at the organization’s 91st annual Scientific Sessions, the ultimate assembly of global influencers in cardiovascular research and medicine. “There is great value in bringing Quest Diagnostics biomarker development experiences to One Brave Idea research that has the potential to predict early signs of coronary heart disease.”
The One Brave Idea team includes experts from a diverse background, including engineering and data sciences as well as many prestigious institutions such as Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Stanford University and Northwestern. One Brave Idea is working to create a coronary heart disease early warning system by investigating what happens 10-20 years before any risk factors typically appear. A key aim is to develop novel diagnostic techniques to identify cardiovascular disease, including stroke, in stages where discreet forms can be identified, and preventive measures initiated to stop or reverse disease progression.
“We share the commitment of One Brave Idea and its member organizations and scientists in establishing the path to heart disease prevention,” said Steve Rusckowski, chairman, president and CEO for Quest Diagnostics and a member of the American Heart Association CEO Roundtable. “For far too many people, the first sign of heart disease is a fatal event, such as a myocardial infarction (heart attack) or stroke. Our collaboration in One Brave Idea aims to change that. Quest Diagnostics brings robust biomarker and medical expertise, population health analytics and national presence to accelerate discovery of early disease biomarkers and biology changes and fast-track prevention measures that can create a healthier world.”
Consumers are more engaged in their health than ever before and healthcare innovation is happening at every corner, opening up a whole new world for evidence-based diagnostics that can be broadly scaled across hospitals and clinics for real-world implementation.
Quest Diagnostics will provide state-of-the-art diagnostic services and population health analytics in support of OBI research. Through its Cleveland HeartLab, Quest Diagnostics maintains a pipeline of early-stage genetic and biological markers in cardiometabolic disorders with the potential for future diagnostic services for clinical use and pharmaceutical research.
Additionally, Quest Diagnostics deep biomarker expertise and rich dataset of de-identified laboratory testing on millions of patients for cardiovascular, metabolic and other disorders is expected to inform OBI research. Quest Diagnostics also maintains avenues to directly engage patients and providers, a common impediment to scale research. These avenues include Quest Quanum™ connectivity to about half the physicians in the United States, a network of 2,200 patient service centers, and the MyQuest™ patient app, which has six million subscribers.
"Through Verily's informatic capabilities, AstraZeneca's proprietary data, the AHA’s ecosystem of patient centered research and scientific networks and now Quest’s diagnostic expertise and rich datasets, we will enhance our progress toward ending coronary heart disease and its consequences,” said MacRae.
Heart disease is the number 1 killer worldwide. Stroke ranks second globally and is the leading cause of severe disability. An estimated 17.7 million people die from cardiovascular disease annually, representing 31 percent of all global deaths. Precision medicine offers the promise of better patient outcomes through earlier prediction of disease and targeted treatments for individuals.
About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a leading force for a world of longer, healthier lives. With nearly a century of lifesaving work, the Dallas-based association is dedicated to ensuring equitable health for all. We are a trustworthy source empowering people to improve their heart health, brain health and well-being. We collaborate with numerous organizations and millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, advocate for stronger public health policies, and share lifesaving resources and information. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics empowers people to take action to improve health outcomes. Derived from the world's largest database of clinical lab results, our diagnostic insights reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, inspire healthy behaviors and improve health care management. Quest annually serves one in three adult Americans and half the physicians and hospitals in the United States, and our 45,000 employees understand that, in the right hands and with the right context, our diagnostic insights can inspire actions that transform lives.