NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Meharry Medical College has launched a global effort to create the world’s largest repository of genetic data from people of African ancestry, a project intended to close research gaps and advance targeted care.
“I’m really excited. This is probably one of the most exciting things I’ve been a part of,” said Dr. James E.K. Hildreth, Meharry’s president and CEO, who marked the kickoff by donating his own sample.
The Genomics Research Advancing Transformational (GREAT) health study plans to enroll 500,000 participants over the next decade. Leaders say the work responds to chronic underrepresentation in genomics, with people of African ancestry comprising only a small share of existing datasets — a shortfall that can ripple into diagnostics, drug development and clinical decision-making.
“The human genome holds secrets for treating diseases, understanding diseases, but more importantly, it’s going to make sure that all of us benefit from the amazing sciences that’s about to be done,” Hildreth said.
Participants will be recruited through clinical visits and partnerships with faith and community organizations in the U.S. and abroad. Samples will be de-identified to protect privacy. The resulting database is expected to sharpen risk assessment, illuminate disease mechanisms and guide therapies for conditions that disproportionately affect people with African ancestry.
Hildreth launched the study on Monday by becoming the first participant to donate his DNA. He was followed by members of Meharry’s executive leadership, including board chair Dr. Nelson Adams and Dr. Jeannette South-Paul, executive vice president and provost.
“To know that my DNA becomes part of this large data set, we’ll have to provide answers for rare diseases and diseases that we don’t understand, you’ll have solutions for, is a pretty amazing feeling,” Hildreth said.
