17 health systems invest in Truveta Genome Project

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Seventeen health systems have launched the Truveta Genome Project to create what Truveta is calling the largest and most diverse database of genotypic and phenotypic information ever assembled. 

The health systems, with Illumina and Regeneron, have invested $320M in Truveta preferred equity at a valuation exceeding $1 billion, according to Truveta. 

Health systems making the investment include Advocate Health, CommonSpirit Health, Henry Ford Health, Northwell Health, Providence and Trinity Health.

Regeneron has invested $119.5 million to enable the discovery and development of new therapies, as well as next-generation solutions for healthcare delivery and population health management. 

Illumina, which does DNA sequencing, invested $20 million. 

Microsoft Azure will be the cloud provider for the Truveta Genome Project.

This builds on the previously announced strategic investment Microsoft made into Truveta.

A key component of the project is the Truveta Language Model, an AI system designed to process and standardize large volumes of genetic and clinical data, built on Microsoft's Azure. By applying AI to this dataset, researchers hope to better understand genetic contributions to health and disease.

Truveta and its member health systems will partner with the Regeneron Genetics Center to sequence the exomes of the first 10 million volunteers. This is expected to expand to include data on tens of millions of consented and de-identified volunteers.

The Truveta Genome Project uses the Truveta Language Model, a large-language, multi-modal AI model, to transform billions of data points with industry-leading normalization, built on Microsoft Azure. 

WHY THIS MATTERS

The Truveta Genome Project and AI will accelerate drug discovery and value-based care, Truveta said.

Advancements from genomic medicine have been limited to date due to the lack of large and representative databases required to apply today's AI to discover the connections between genetics and medical outcomes.

Healthcare sites across the United States will obtain patient consent to use leftover biospecimens from routine lab tests linked to their de-identified medical records for anonymized genetic research. The biospecimens will be sent to the Regeneron Genetics Center to conduct genetic sequencing. Patient anonymity will be maintained, Truveta said. 

At over 10 times the scale of previous endeavors, the project ensures comprehensive representation across ancestries, ethnicities, genders and other social drivers of health, unlocking profound insights into how genetics impact health, according to Truveta. 

After initial sequencing, leftover biospecimens will be stored to support future multi-omics sequencing. 

All de-identified sequencing data will be added to Truveta Data, enabling biopharma and academic research to develop AI in order to accelerate drug discovery, Truveta said.

THE LARGER TREND

Truveta was founded in 2020 in a data-driven collaboration between 30 health systems. 

Together, de-identified electronic health record data from their patients' care create Truveta Data, which now represents more than 120 million patients. 

Truveta Data is driving advancements in cardiovascular, neurology, oncology, metabolic and other critical areas of medical research from life science, public health, healthcare and academic research organizations, Truveta said.

Truveta said it would partner with life science to advance drug discovery, improve clinical trials and train AI models. It would also partner with healthcare innovators to apply this data to improve patient care.

Truveta is a collective of US health systems with a mission of Saving Lives with Data.

Truveta membership includes Providence, Advocate Health, Trinity Health, Tenet Healthcare, Northwell Health, AdventHealth, Baptist Health of Northeast Florida, Baylor Scott & White Health, Bon Secours Mercy Health, CommonSpirit Health, Hawaii Pacific Health, HealthPartners, Henry Ford Health, HonorHealth, Inova, Lehigh Valley Health Network, MedStar Health, Memorial Hermann Health System, MetroHealth, Novant Health, Ochsner Health, Premier Health, Saint Luke's Health System, Sanford Health, Sentara Healthcare, Texas Health Resources, TriHealth, UnityPoint Health, Virtua Health and WellSpan Health.

ON THE RECORD

"Nations have spent decades and billions of dollars to try and uncover the mysteries of biology to advance healthcare," said Terry Myerson, CEO and cofounder, Truveta. "Just like volunteering to be an organ donor on your driver's license is a simple act of service with a profound impact, the Truveta Genome Project enables each of us to anonymously contribute to dramatically accelerate progress in discovering the science of humanity, improving the health of our families and communities, and lowering the cost of care.

"As health system leaders, we aspire to protect and care for the health of our communities – not just treat diseases once they are already afflicted," said Michael Dowling, Northwell Health CEO. "The Truveta Genome Project has the potential to transform healthcare from treating disease to preventing disease, and we are excited to make it happen."

Eugene A. Woods, CEO of Advocate Health, said, "With this research into how genetic factors affect our health, based on tens of millions of records and harnessing the power of AI, we can then deliver tailored treatments based on patients' unique genetic makeup. In other words, we can help more people get healthy and stay healthy."

Email the writer: SMorse@himss.org