For those who have waited decades for answers, a genetic diagnosis comes as a relief, even if no treatment is available. It may allow families to access community supports for their loved ones, or prevent the disorder from recurring in their family tree.
To date, about 7,000 genetic disorders have been clinically described globally, but not all have a gene attached or a cause established. “There is still a lot of work to do, and all of us are just adding one little brick at a time,” Caluseriu says.
In the three years since it launched, the TGH has expanded the repertoire of tests it offers. This is good news for those still waiting for answers — like the large family with whom Caluseriu has been working to identify a fatal, genetic disorder that has afflicted five generations. After identifying a promising gene, she used an online platform — “kind of a dating app for researchers” — that matched her with colleagues from around the world who have found the same gene in their patients. She swiped right on a research group in Australia and a scientist in Calgary, and a fruitful collaboration ensued.
“It has taken years and a lot of effort, but we are now getting ready to write the manuscript and describe a new genetic disorder,” she says. “It’s a very complex process, but once we convincingly demonstrate our findings, we will be able to work with the family to avoid the devastating outcomes that have ravaged so many lives. And the same will happen for any other family carrying the same faulty gene anywhere in the world who accesses a genetic service.”