The HudsonAlpha Foundation has received a $100,000 gift from the Singhal family to support the Smith Family Clinic for Genomic Medicine. To recognize the Singhal family’s generous gift, one of the clinic’s genetic counseling rooms is named in their honor.
The Smith Family Clinic for Genomic Medicine is the first clinic in the world to use whole genome sequencing exclusively to diagnose rare, undiagnosed and misdiagnosed disease. Patients are seen by a clinical geneticist who evaluates symptoms, or patient phenotype, and determines whether whole genome sequencing is an appropriate test. The data from the genomic sequence is then interpreted clinically to identify variants, or changes in the DNA, linked to the disease. Genetic counseling rooms are comfortable areas in the clinic where patients and their families can meet with the physician and genetic counselors to discuss test results and follow-up. Large TV screens on the wall can be used to display documents, images and allow other physicians or family members to participate in the conversations remotely.
Ashok Singhal, PhD, is principal founder and chairman of HudsonAlpha associate company CFD Research Corporation (CFDRC). Singhal’s family is the first to make a donation to support a room in the clinic and they would like to encourage other individuals, families and businesses to provide additional support and investigate additional naming opportunities.
“I supported the idea of a genomic clinic from its early conceptual phase,” said Ashok. “My family made this donation to the clinic because we believe in its mission. When you believe in something, your support has to be more than words and accolades.”
The clinic’s mission is not only to help patients and physicians find answers, but also to give patients the best clinical care and a positive medical experience. The Singhal family’s donation will help support the clinic’s work.
“We are very blessed to have healthy children,” said Sangeeta Singhal, Ashok’s wife and cofounder of CFDRC. “I can imagine how hard it would be for a parent to watch a child suffer. If we can be a part of helping children and parents, that’s a very big deal to me and a very big deal to our whole family.”
“It is a real honor to have the Singhal family sponsor a room in our clinic,” said David Bick, MD, medical director of the Smith Family Clinic for Genomic Medicine. “Knowing the community is behind our work really inspires all of us.”
To learn about additional naming opportunities at the Smith Family Clinic, contact the HudsonAlpha Foundation at hudsonalpha.org/support.
The Singhal family. From left to right, Ruchi Singhal, Sameer Singhal, Ashok Singhal, Sangeeta Singhal, Anuj Singhal and Tanu Singhal.
