UCLA clinical site for the investigation of undiagnosed disorders

Project Summary / Abstract Undiagnosed diseases take a disproportionate toll on the health care system and on affected patients and families. The Administrative Supplement for the UCLA Clinical Site of the UDN supports ongoing work within the UDN, a collaborative network of researchers and healthcare providers, all with a stake in improving

healthcare and outcomes for persons affected by various rare genetic disorders, and bridges to a Sustainable Clinic Model for the UCLA Clinical Site. Our approach synergizes basic and clinical research and patient care with the use of cutting-edge phenotyping technologies, an array of world class experts, and the translation of

genome sequencing to the bedside. This results in a greatly improved diagnostic process for rare genetic diseases and facilitates novel discovery in clinical practice. Investigating rare diseases involving multiple systems and incorporating comprehensive genomic data into clinical care creates considerable challenges,

from the interpretation of vast amounts of genetic variants to their relevance to the symptoms, to the communication issues linked to their disclosure, and to their impact on clinical management. The Administrative Supplement of the UCLA Clinical Site of the UDN supports ongoing communications with participants and their families and completion of initiated work on gene/disease discovery with UDN

collaborators. We will reach these overarching goals by implementing the following specific aims: Aim 1: Implement a UDN clinic model that functions locally and network-wide; Aim 2: Investigate the clinical phenotypes of new and rare disorders; Aim 3: Investigate the underlying mechanisms of new and rare

disorders; Aim 4: Build a network-wide sustainable infrastructure for translational research on new and rare disorders. Substantial David Geffen School of Medicine resources are available within the California Center for Rare Diseases to facilitate the transition and maintenance of the sustainable clinic model that serves an

essential need with the UCLA Health System, the School of Medicine, and the Institute for Precision Health. The UCLA approach is an efficient model for accelerating translational and clinical research while improving care delivery and augmenting the educational mission of UCLA. Our project integrates the resources of (1) the

infrastructure of the California Center for Rare Diseases, (2) an experienced team of clinicians from all specialty fields, (3) expertise in the combined interrogation of DNA and RNA sequencing data for novel gene discovery; (4) expertise in the investigation of environmental effects on clinical symptoms; (5) expertise in

outcomes of genetic counseling and testing, (6) access to a large, ethnically varied population and (7) a sustainable approach that includes training clinicians, genetic counselors, and basic scientists in the multidisciplinary approach to solve undiagnosed diseases.