Genetic counseling
built into your study.
Grey Genetics works with genomic researchers, academic PIs, and clinical trial sponsors, providing genetic counseling and consulting across all stages of a study.
How we support your study
Grey Genetics provides board-certified genetic counseling as a contracted service for research studies and clinical trials — adapted to your study design, participant population, and IRB framework.
- Pre-test genetic counseling and education
- Design of pre-test educational materials
- Post-test results disclosure and guidance on next steps
- Follow-up support for participants, as needed
- Consulting on study and consent design
- Participant-facing workflow design
- Genetic test facilitation in all 50 states — through licensed GCs and, where needed, our third-party physician group
- Written documentation after every participant encounter
Whether you're in the design phase or already enrolling, we're happy to discuss what genetic counseling support could look like for your study.
info@greygenetics.comClinical trials & targeted therapies
Precision medicine trials enrolling participants based on germline variants or genetic biomarker eligibility create a genetic counseling need most trial sites cannot reliably meet on their own. A participant identified as BRCA-positive, LRRK2-eligible, or a carrier of a heritable cardiovascular variant may be encountering that information for the first time — in the context of a clinical trial, without pre-test counseling, and without a genetics provider in their care team.
A genetic counselor takes a complete personal and family history, discusses the variant in that context, and helps the participant understand what the finding means for their own health and their family's — separately from what it means for trial eligibility. A genetic counselor also discusses the difference between a research result and a clinical genetic result. When findings are research use only and clinical testing is indicated, a genetic counselor can provide resources for participants who may want to pursue additional genetic testing, outside the study. Providing this type of high-touch, clinically meaningful support may also contribute to participant satisfaction and retention.
Academic studies & investigator-initiated research
Grey Genetics works with PIs at academic medical centers and research institutions who need a flexible, contracted GC partner that fits their study's scale and timeline. We work with studies of any size — from single-site investigator-initiated research to multi-center genomic studies.
Whole genome sequencing & secondary findings
Secondary findings are incidental results — variants unrelated to the primary study question, but medically actionable for the participant. When a study uses whole genome or whole exome sequencing, they are a near certainty: 1–6% of those sequenced carry a finding on ACMG's list of reportable secondary findings. A plan for returning them is increasingly expected by participants — and some studies have shown that offering return of results is associated with greater willingness to enroll.
Bioinformatics partners can flag possible secondary findings — but from there, each subsequent step requires clinical expertise:
"It is no longer a question of whether or not results with clinical utility will be found in any research participant by ES/WGS, but rather how many such results will be identified in each participant."
Tabor HK, et al. Am J Med Genet A. 2011 Dec;155A(12):2916–24.
Thinking about returning secondary findings?
It doesn't have to be complicated — but it does require the right clinical infrastructure. If you're designing a WGS or WES study and wondering whether it's feasible for your protocol, we're happy to walk through what it could look like in practice.
info@greygenetics.com