Research

Mission:

The mission of the CHC research department is to advance medical knowledge and improve care for individuals, families, and populations with complex healthcare needs through excellence in genomic research, education, and advocacy.

Vision:

Improve the health of our communities through compassion and excellence in human genomic research.

The objective of the Community Health Clinic (CHC) Research Department is to engage in and coordinate research studies that reflect our community’s values and contribute meaningfully to the health and well-being of individuals, families, and populations. The Research Department achieves this by participating in a wide range of studies, from disease-specific research to broader wellness studies.

Why would a genetics clinic participate in research?

Genes play a big role in both our health and our unique traits. Some genetic changes can increase the risk of disease, like cancer or cystic fibrosis; while other genetic changes make us look or act differently, like having different hair color or height. By understanding which genetic changes cause diseases, and how these diseases affect daily life, healthcare providers and geneticists can better diagnose, treat, and prevent health problems, improving patient outcomes and overall well-being.

The CHC Research Department participates in a variety of studies that can have an impact on future generations with genetic disorders. The CHC partners with nationally accredited universities and/or pharmaceutical companies to analyze and draw conclusions on the information found throughout these studies.

Prior to any study, Research Department team members present a potential research project to the CHC’s Research and Ethics Committee (REC). This committee was established to ensure any research performed at the CHC aligns with the community values, promotes the well-being of the Plain community, and is of high quality. The REC consists of four voting members (consisting of Plain community members, healthcare professionals, and/or legal professionals). The CHC research staff review each new research project with the REC to discuss the research project’s design, value, risks, ethical issues, and ensure the protection of the potential research participants and community. The REC must provide a majority vote for the research study to begin.

Each research study follows Research Operations (Research Ops). Research Ops is the organization and optimization of people, processes, tools, and strategies to create repeatable systems that support research at scale and amplify the research study’s impact across an organization.

Once a research study is complete, the goal is that healthcare professionals will gain greater understanding about how diseases caused by genetic changes affect the body, treatments or therapies treat the symptoms of the disease best and potentially develop a cure for the disease in the future; ultimately improving the quality of life for individuals with diseases.

Meet our Research Department

• Zineb Ammous, MD, FACMG – Clinical & Biochemical Geneticist; Medical Director

• Rebecca Evans, MS, CGC – Genetic Counselor Consultant & Research Coordinator

• Grace Lewis, BS – Clinical Research Coordinator

• Emma Housholder, BS – Clinical Research Coordinator

• Stephanie McNamara, RN, FNP – Nurse Practitioner

• Abby Smith, MS, CGC – Genetic Counselor

• Erin Kline, OTD, OTR/L – Occupational Therapist