The Desert Research Institute in Nevada and Reno, Nev.-based Renown Health Foundation have unveiled a collaborative initiative with personal genetics company 23andMe to unroll one of the first community health studies of its kind in the U.S., according to the Centre Daily Times.
The first 5,000 Nevada residents who enroll in the pilot project will receive free, at-home DNA test kits that 23andMe typically sells for $199, according to the report. The study aims to combine and analyze health, population and genetic information with environmental data. The findings will be shared with the participants, according to the report.
Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval (R) was one of the first to volunteer, saying the project creates unprecedented opportunities for new scientific discoveries tying genetics to health policy decisions.