Kurt D Christensen, Ph.D.
Title Assistant Professor of Population Medicine Institution Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare Department Population Medicine Address Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute
Landmark Center, Department of Population Medicine
401 Park Dr
Boston MA 02215
ORCID
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Overview
A future where genomic information is readily available is rapidly approaching. Whether this information improves public health by improving patient care and empowering prevention, or whether it diminishes public health by motivating unnecessary follow-up testing and screening is unclear. I use my training in health economics, biochemistry, public health, and health behavior and health education to address these issues by focusing on three interrelated questions: 1) How do patients and physicians respond, behaviorally and psychologically, to information generated from emerging genomic technologies like whole genome sequencing? 2) What is the healthcare service and economic impact of integrating genomics into the everyday practice of medicine? 3) How can programs be improved to maximize the benefits and minimize the harms of genomic testing? The answers to these questions are essential as healthcare providers and policymakers make decisions about how to offer and support new genomic services.
Research
The research activities and funding listed below are automatically derived from
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OT2OD031925
(CHRISTENSEN, KURT DEREK ;HENDRICKS-STURRUP, RACHELE)
Sep 15, 2022 - Aug 31, 2023
Developing a Grassroot Engagement Framework to Overcome Barriers to African American Participation in Precision Medicine Research
Role Description: The overall aim of this grant is to refine and finalize a set of actionable engagement strategies, preliminarily developed in a pilot project based on African American nurse perspectives, for engaging African American communities in precision medicine research.
Role: Principal Investigator
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U01TR003201
(GREEN, ROBERT C. ;HOLM, INGRID ADELE)
Jul 1, 2021 - Jun 30, 2025
Implementation of Whole Genome Sequencing as Screening in a Diverse Cohort of Healthy Infants
Role Description: The goal of this multi-site randomized controlled trial is to implement early childhood genomic screening in "real-world" primary care settings with families with diverse racial backgrounds. This study will evaluate the medical an psychosocial impact of genomic sequencing on children and their families.
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R01HL143295
(GREEN, ROBERT C.)
Jul 1, 2019 - Jun 30, 2024
Return of Genomic Results and Estimating Penetrance in Population-Based Cohorts
Role Description: The overall goal of the proposed research is to develop and implement a genomic return of result process in the Framingham Heart Study and Jackson Heart Study cohorts and explore associated medical, behavioral and economic outcomes. We will also develop ways to automate and streamline genomic variant interpretation at scale, and develop analyses to aid assessment of penetrance.
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20182750
(CHRISTENSEN, KURT DEREK)
Feb 12, 2019 - Dec 31, 2022
Medical/Economic ImpactT and Behavioral Responses to Integrating the Sanford ChipS (METRICS) Study
Role Description: This goal of this research agreement is to summarize the impact of integrating
pharmacogenetic and disease predisposition information into patient care within primary
care settings, including the effect on clinician preparedness, provider and patient
behaviors, medical and economic outcomes, and familial outcomes.
Role: Principal Investigators
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R01HG009922
(GREEN, ROBERT C.)
Sep 21, 2018 - Jun 30, 2021
Experiences and Outcomes in Early Adopters of Predispositional Sequencing
Role Description: The objective of this research is to aggregate data from, and assess the value of, personal predispositional genome sequencing among participants in present day projects focused on sequencing apparently healthy individuals.
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R01HD090019
(Ann Wu)
Sep 11, 2017 - Feb 29, 2028
Precision Medicine Policy and Treatment (PreEMPT) Model
Role Description: With hundreds of genetic tests becoming available for clinical use, adding genomic sequencing for all newborns at birth to predict and prevent future diseases is becoming a possibility. Our research aims to extend the Precision Medicine Policy and Treatment (PreEMPT) Model – a sophisticated computer model capable of simulating short- and long-term clinical benefits and estimating the cost-effectiveness of integrating different genomic sequencing strategies into clinical care for newborns for a wide variety of heritable conditions – to evaluate outcomes through adulthood and testing of siblings of newborns with mutations. We will also evaluate targeted strategies for newborn genomic sequencing with the goal of reducing race-based medical care disparities.
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FA8650-17-2-6704
(GREEN, ROBERT C.)
Jan 1, 2017 - Dec 31, 2019
MilSeq: Enabling Personalized Medicine through Exome Sequencing in the U.S. Air Force
Role Description: The goal of this project is to test a pilot protocol for integrating genomic sequencing into
the care of active duty airmen.
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K01HG009173
(CHRISTENSEN, KURT DEREK)
Sep 9, 2016 - Jun 30, 2021
Cost-effectiveness of Whole Genome Sequencing of Healthy Adults
Role Description: The central goal of this research is to determine the cost-effectiveness of integrating
whole genome sequencing into the care of healthy adults. One project will assess the
health impact and cumulative healthcare costs of whole genome sequencing five years
after participants of a randomized controlled trial received results. A second project will
extend these analyses over patients’ lifetimes using decision analytic models. Findings
will inform development of clinical guidelines and reimbursement strategies to accelerate
the integration of sequencing into medical care.
Role: Principal Investigator
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U19HD077671
(GREEN, ROBERT C.)
Sep 5, 2013 - Aug 31, 2019
Genome Sequence-Based Screening for Childhood Risk and Newborn Illness
Role Description: The goal of this project is to develop a process for analyzing and reporting the results of
genome sequencing in the newborn period.
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F32HG006993
(CHRISTENSEN, KURT DEREK)
Aug 7, 2012 - Aug 6, 2014
Incidental Finding Preferences in Whole Genome Sequencing: A Randomized Trial
Role Description: The goal of this training grant was to understand how different types of incidental findings from genomic sequencing may affect the interactions between primary care providers and their patients.
Role: Principal Investigator
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U01HG006500
(GREEN, ROBERT C.)
Dec 5, 2011 - Nov 30, 2017
Integration of Whole Genome Sequencing into Clinical Medicine
Role Description: This project explored the application of genomic sequence data to the care of patients
within an active clinical setting. We are randomizing primary care and cardiology
patients to receive clinical information derived from whole genome sequencing versus
current standard of care.
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R01HG002213
(GREEN, ROBERT C.)
Sep 30, 1999 - Jun 30, 2014
Risk Evaluation and Education for Alzheimer's Disease (REVEAL IV)
Role Description: The goal of this project was to assess the impact of disclosing genetic risk information about Alzheimer’s disease, including strategies for streamlining counseling, education and disclosure, the effects of disclosing secondary findings, and the impact of disclosure on individuals with mild cognitive impairment.
Role: Co-Investigator (2006-2014)
Bibliographic
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