BabyScreen+: Genomic newborn screening for personalised lifelong healthcare in Australian babies

Project Details

In Australia, all newborns can have standard newborn screening, called, the ‘heel prick test’ which screens for a range of medical conditions. Currently, newborn screening programs do not use any form of genomic testing, but there is great potential for it to be used in the future. With the use of genomic testing as part of newborn screening the number of treatable, childhood-onset conditions that can be detected could significantly increase. This project aims to understand the importance people place on different features of newborn screening. This could include what health conditions can be detected, if treatments exist for these conditions, how well the program works, and how much it costs. Understanding how much people value these aspects will help guide the development of genomic screening programs in Australia and around the world.

Project Duration

2023–2026

Researchers

• A/Prof Ilias Goranitis
• Dr Riccarda Peters

Funding

Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) – Genomics Health Futures Mission