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April 23, 2006
VA proposes large-scale DNA database
The Department of Veterans Affairs is planning a DNA database that will dwarf those in existence. The National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control, and other organizations and universities now have databases with hundreds or thousands of samples. The VA envisions collecting millions of samples, beginning with 100,000 in fiscal 2007.
VA patients will be asked to volunteer their DNA to the database, which will be used for research and ultimately to identify those at risk for particular diseases. A panel of geneticists has been assembled to establish rules regarding the handling of this sensitive information.
Posted by Karen Harmel at April 23, 2006 10:34 AM
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