APHL Announces Newborn Screening Funding Recipients

Silver Spring, MD, Dec. 19, 2017 -- For Immediate Release

The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) is pleased to announce the recipients of the second round of New Disorders Implementation Awards. This funding supports implementation of newborn screening for Pompe, Mucopolysaccharidosis I (MPS I) and X-linked Adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD). The selected agencies will work closely with APHL's Newborn Screening Technical assistance and Evaluation Program (NewSTEPs) for successful implementation of their awards.

The following state departments of health have been selected to receive financial support, training and technical assistance for new disorder related activities:

• Georgia Department of Public Health
• South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
• Utah Department of Health
• Virginia Department of Health
• Washington State Department of Health

"We are excited to support an additional five awardees in their efforts to advance newborn screening for Pompe, MPS I and X-ALD," said Jelili Ojodu, director, newborn screening and genetics, APHL. “This ultimately means improving the lives of even more babies.”

To date, nine states are screening for Pompe, eight states are screening for MPS I and five states are screening for X-ALD. While many other states have approved the addition of these new disorders to their newborn screening panel, they are working through considerable challenges such as integration of new laboratory methodologies, the need for greater laboratory capacity and necessary training within the broader newborn screening system. The primary goal of the New Disorders Implementation Awards is to support states in addressing and overcoming these challenges.

Funded through a $4 million two-year cooperative agreement with the Genetic Services Branch of the Maternal Child Health Bureau  and in close partnership with the Colorado School of Public Health (ColoradoSPH), APHL seeks to provide health care professionals and newborn screening laboratory personnel in all states with education and training in screening for the new disorders. Additionally, APHL's collaborative partnerships with ColoradoSPH, Baby's First Test and the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics Newborn Screening Translational Research Network support the goals of the cooperative agreement by providing resources for follow up, education and training available to state newborn screening programs.

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This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number # UG9MC30369 New Disorders Implementation Project for $4,000,000.This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government

The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) works to strengthen laboratory systems serving the public's health in the US and globally. APHL's member laboratories protect the public's health by monitoring and detecting infectious and foodborne diseases, environmental contaminants, terrorist agents, genetic disorders in newborns and other diverse health threats.

Michelle Forman
240.485.2793
[email protected]