GREENSBORO, N.C. — When the first human genome was mapped in 2001, scientists hoped it would transform medicine.

As huge strides and advancements continue, Cone Health is preparing to launch a massive genomics testing program in the Piedmont Triad, with a goal of helping people live longer, healthier lives.

“A genomics program looks at genetics and genetic testing as it relates to individuals and the types of diseases they may have a predisposition for,” Skip Hislop, Cone Health’s Vice President of Oncology, said. “We can identify somebody who may have the potential of getting breast cancer down the road or other diseases, cardiology diseases, and so on.”

Hislop added he believes this information can help patients make clinical decisions with their doctors, catch a problem earlier on, or reduce or prevent an illness altogether.

Still relatively new, it also has the potential to help doctors better tailor treatments to each person’s unique genetic makeup.

“There are certain types of people; their genes don’t allow certain pharmaceuticals to have the impact that they’re supposed to have, positive or negative,” Hislop said. “Our pharmacy team can understand, and our MDs can understand that and say, ‘Sorry, this medication won’t impact you as much as this medication will.’”

Cone Health states it’s looking to enroll 100,000 healthy people over the next five years through a partnership with Helix, a population genomic company.

Currently in the planning stages, the first tests are expected to go live in March 2024. More information, including testing sites, is being sorted out. Volunteers will have their DNA sequenced through a blood or saliva sample.