Demystifying Genetics with Susan Manley

Demystifying Genetics

This year, I was given a six month contract to work as a consultant medical science liaison at Myriad Genetics. I must admit, I was apprehensive; Myriad has a contentious reputation, especially amongst the genetic counseling community in North America. This is mainly due to Myriad's involvement in the patenting of the BRCA genes in the USA and Myriad's decision to not submit data to ClinVar unlike most other genetic testing laboratories. It is not uncommon for contractors to feel as though they are not treated as well as employees and unfortunately this was my experience at Myriad. It surprised me, as a genetic counselor and knowing Myriad's own subpar reputation, I thought my experience would be positive, however this was not the case. Although not unique to Myriad, I witnessed low morale, staff layoffs, restructuring, and staff concerned for their ongoing employment. Communication between departments was lacking and nonchalance and apathy abounded. The good news is Myriad has lots of room for improvement and I truly believe they can be leaders in genetic medicine and lead with integrity.
Myriad Genetics has a suite of fantastic, industry leading genetic tests, that help thousands of people each month. However, a lab is more than it's tests. Cultural change is needed. One bright star at Myriad is genetic counselor Susan Manley, the Senior Vice President of Medical Services.
Join us as we uncover Myriad's evolving stance on ClinVar, a public database for genetic variant information. From initial reluctance to eventual contribution, discover the driving forces behind this monumental decision. Learn about the challenges faced by Myriad, the strategies used to reclassify variants, and the complexities they grapple with when explaining uncertain results to patients. As we wrap up, Susan offers her forward-looking views on the future of genetic medicine, leaving us with plenty to ponder. Embark on this enlightening exploration with us, and prepare to see genetic medicine through a new lens.

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Chapters

1. Controversial Gene Patenting and Myriad's Involvement (00:00:00)

2. Gene Patents and Their Implications (00:08:56)

3. Myriad's Decision on Contributing to ClinVar (00:20:50)

4. The Changing Landscape of Genetic Medicine (00:31:11)