Westat, Inc.

NHLBI recognizes Westat's expertise in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), in-depth knowledge of omics data, and proven experience establishing and managing collaborative research networks. ROCKVILLE, Md., Oct. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) has selected Westat to establish the Artificial Intelligence Coordinating Center (AI-CC), recognizing Westat's extensive expertise in AI and ML. The AI-CC will serve as a central hub for coordinating various research initiatives, bringing together AI and scientific experts to collaborate on innovative approaches to analyzing and interpreting the vast omics data resources available through the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) program. TOPMed, for which Westat serves as the Administrative Coordinating Center (ACC), integrates whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and other omics data (e.g., metabolic profiles, epigenomics, protein and RNA expression patterns) with molecular, behavioral, imaging, environmental, and clinical data from large, well-characterized cohorts. This comprehensive dataset supports precision medicine by providing insights tailored to individuals' unique genetic and environmental backgrounds. As the AI-CC for NHLBI Westat will: Enhance data integration and analysis: Apply advanced AI and ML techniques to integrate and analyze diverse datasets, providing deeper insights into biological processes. Promote collaborative research: Foster collaboration among AI and scientific experts to develop innovative solutions for analyzing TOPMed data. Improve health outcomes: Apply AI-driven insights to identify sex and gender-related differences in health outcomes, leading to more effective medical interventions. Support broader NHLBI research: Extend AI applications to other NHLBI research areas, such as imaging and omics data in radiomics and radiogenomics, to advance the understanding of chronic lung diseases like idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Westat's Clinical Research Practice is well-positioned to implement and operate the AI-CC, leveraging its strong team of AI and ML experts, established processes, and familiarity with TOPMed data. "Our expertise in AI and ML methods, knowledge of multi-omics health data, and experience in managing large-scale biomedical research projects like TOPMed, uniquely positions us to lead the AI-CC," notes Kevin Wilson, PhD, a Vice President in the Clinical Research Practice. "We are excited to bring our multidisciplinary approach and apply our advanced analytical techniques to TOPMed data to improve research outcomes." Sunitha Mathew, MS, who heads Westat's Clinical Research Practice, stated, "Our experience with the TOPMed ACC and the OTA mechanism allows us to efficiently and effectively leverage existing infrastructure and procedures for soliciting, supporting, and monitoring research. As the TOPMed ACC, we bring hands-on experience with TOPMed data access, availability, and structure." In addition to the AI-CC, Westat supports other NHLBI Coordinating Centers, including the Recipient Epidemiology and Donor Evaluation Study IV–Pediatric (REDS-IV-P) DCC, the Maternal Morbidity and Mortality (3M) ACC, and the Community Engagement Technical Assistance Center (CETAC)/Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL) CC. About Westat () Westat is a leader in research, data collection and analysis, technical assistance, evaluation, and communications. Our evidence-based findings help clients in government and the private sector accelerate advancements in health, education, transportation, and social and economic policy. Since 1963, our dedication to improving lives through research and our approach to projects grounded in investigative curiosity, equity, statistical and data rigor, adaptive methods, and advanced technology are why clients find exceptional value in our work. SOURCE Westat WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED

Westat is committed to continuing the trusted partnership with NIH/NIDA and FDA/CTP on the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study to understand tobacco use patterns and impacts on public health. ROCKVILLE, Md., Feb. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Institutes of Health's (NIH's) National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) have announced the award of a third contract to Westat to continue to support the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study. Westat has supported the study since its inception in 2011. The PATH Study is a uniquely large, long-term study of tobacco use and health in the United States. It provides the ability to follow participants over time, looking at how and why people start, continue, discontinue, and re-start using tobacco. It examines how the use of different tobacco products affects health, including cardiovascular and respiratory health. Findings help inform FDA's actions related to tobacco products under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. Westat's team is a seamless integration of hundreds of Westat staff experts—tobacco regulatory scientists, survey statisticians and methodologists, data and biospecimen collection experts, data scientists and IT staff, and experienced field interviewers—who have contributed to the PATH Study for many years in collaboration with distinguished academic organizations and industry-leading operational subcontractors. For this new contract, Westat will continue using innovative design and data collection approaches for data continuity and higher response rates to deliver useful data and analysis products to NIH/NIDA and FDA/CTP. "Our work will build on the knowledge we have gained during the past 12 years of supporting the PATH Study and a foundation of over 35 years of tobacco research," notes Charles Carusi, PhD, a Westat Vice President and the project director for the PATH Study. "We are honored to continue this work and enhance and extend the PATH Study's impact on tobacco regulatory science while meeting NIDA's and FDA's need for sound science." This project is supported with Federal funds from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Center for Tobacco Products (CTP), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Department of Health and Human Services, under contract to Westat (Contract Nos. HHSN271201600001C and 75N95024C00003) and through interagency agreements between NIH NIDA and FDA CTP and is also supported through a collaboration between NIDA and the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, the Office of Disease Prevention, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, and the National Library of Medicine. About Westat () Westat is a leader in research, data collection and analysis, technical assistance, evaluation, and communications. Our evidence-based findings help clients in government and the private sector accelerate advancements in health, education, transportation, and social and economic policy. Since 1963, our dedication to improving lives through research and our approach to projects grounded in investigative curiosity, equity, statistical and data rigor, adaptive methods, and advanced technology are why clients find exceptional value in our work. SOURCE Westat

Scientists have completed the largest study of families affected by Hodgkin lymphoma and identified novel variants linked to cancer predisposition. Why did my child get cancer? Clinicians have longed for a way to help answer this question. Doctors knew Hodgkin lymphoma sometimes occurs in families, but why this happens has been a mystery. Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have now helped solve it. The researchers studied multiple families affected by Hodgkin lymphoma and identified genetic variants linked to an increased risk of developing the disease. The findings appeared as a first edition in Blood. Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system (part of the immune system) that affects lymph nodes but can spread to the spleen, liver, bone marrow and lungs. As many as 7,000 new cases of the disease are diagnosed in the United States each year. Hodgkin lymphoma is the most common type of cancer in adolescents and has a five-year survival rate of 90-95%. "We've never been able to tell these families anything other than its just bad luck because nobody knew why more than one family member would develop Hodgkin lymphoma," said co-first and co-corresponding author Jamie Flerlage, M.D., St. Jude Department of Oncology. "We took on this study because understanding what is causing cancer in these families will help us to better counsel people about their chances of passing on genetic risk to their offspring, as well as help us identify novel targets that might potentially be used to create new treatments." Family pedigrees help reveal variants To study Hodgkin lymphoma occurrences in families, the researchers created pedigrees, a type of diagram that reveals familial connections while tracking the incidences of cancer. The selection criteria required two or more first-degree relatives with Hodgkin lymphoma, one of whom needed to be younger than 21 years of age when diagnosed. Scientists performed whole genome sequencing on 234 members of 36 families and identified 44 variants (33 coding and 11 noncoding) that increase the risk of developing Hodgkin lymphoma. The findings included novel gene variants that had not been previously linked to predisposition to the disease such as PAX5, GATA3, IRF7, EEF2KMT and POLR1E as well as known variants such as KDR and KLHDC8B. "Inherited variants can be an important missing piece of the puzzle when you're trying to understand why certain people are more likely to get a type of cancer," said co-corresponding author Jun J. Yang, Ph.D., St. Jude Comprehensive Cancer Center Hematologic Malignancies Program. "Whole genome sequencing that allows you to look beyond the main genetic variants to the non-coding or epigenetic variants is a powerful tool to help explain what puts a person at a higher risk of developing Hodgkin lymphoma." Bioinformatics behind the findings A powerful bioinformatics pipeline created at St. Jude was essential to analyzing and tracking the variants through the family pedigrees. The process included running algorithms to identify the variants in every individual, and then taking the pedigree and tracing the variants back through the family tree to figure out which ones were related to the cancer. More than 40 annotation databases and pieces of software powered the effort, which resulted in a fast, robust pipeline to analyze familial data. "We married several existing tools as well as customized approaches to make a pipeline that could process data from these families in a meaningful way," said co-first author Jason Myers, St. Jude Center for Applied Bioinformatics. "The work that went into making this pipeline is not specific to Hodgkin lymphoma; the pipeline can be used for any other disease where families are involved, including other types of cancer and neurological disorders such as epilepsy." The cohort of families included patients who were treated at St. Jude as well as many families who were part of a familial lifetime cohort study pioneered by the National Cancer Institute. The analysis revealed inherited variants likely to predispose individuals to the disease in most of the families, highlighting the important role of genetic predisposition in understanding Hodgkin lymphoma. "The family pedigrees and whole genome sequencing approach set this study apart because they allowed us to throw everything in our genomics toolkit at this question to tease apart what was happening in each family," said co-corresponding author Evadnie Rampersaund, Ph.D., St. Jude Center for Applied Bioinformatics. "We had the amazing opportunity to develop a highly comprehensive bioinformatic pipeline for interrogating coding, noncoding and copy-number variants in families. This project was a large-scale collaboration that shines brightly on the interconnective opportunities and talents within St. Jude." Authors and funding The study's other authors are Lynn Goldin, Neil Caporaso, Margaret Tucker, Mary McMaster and Melissa Rotunno, National Cancer Institute and National Institutes of Health; Aurelie Vogt, Kathleen Wyatt and Jia Liu, Leidos Biomedical Research Inc.; Deborah Flamish, Westat, Inc.; Jamie Maciaszek, Ninad Oak, Sara Rashkin, Yawei Hui, Yongdong Wang, Wenan Chen, Gang Wu, Ti-Cheng Chang, Kayla Hamilton, Saima Sultana Tithi, Charles Mullighan and Kim Nichols of St. Jude; and Monika Metzger, formerly of St. Jude. The study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (R03HD104066, CA-21765), the Lymphoma Research Foundation, a Gabriella Miller Kids First X01 Grant and ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization of St. Jude.