To illustrate how we used
these genotype-specific risks for clinical research, I will talk
about the GIFT-D project, which was funded by the Department of
Defense. Predictive genetic
testing for T1D is being performed for several natural history
studies. Therefore, we
developed a theory-based web education and risk communication
program for families with T1D.
Our concern was with the ethics of performing HLA testing on
healthy children who have a sibling with T1D, given that the disease
cannot be prevented.
Therefore, we wanted to make sure that families were well informed
of the risks and benefits of predictive genetic testing for T1D.
