Bryan Dechairo on Genomics, Rare Disease Diagnosis, and the Future of Precision Care

*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:b0f35b17-a284-4974-b16a-e4d12aedf304-2" data-testid= "conversation-turn-2" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> In this episode of QuickHITs, Tyler Smith and Ken Booth are joined by Bryan Dechairo, COO of GeneDx, to explore how genomic testing is transforming the diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases. Bryan shares insights from his 30-year career in diagnostics—from the early days of PCR technology to the emergence of CRISPR and today's rapidly advancing genomic medicine. He explains how GeneDx is working to shorten the "diagnostic odyssey" many families face, where it can take five to six years for children with rare diseases to receive an accurate diagnosis. The conversation goes into how genomic data, large-scale testing, and advanced analytics are helping clinicians uncover answers faster. Bryan also discusses the importance of integrating genomic diagnostics into clinical workflows through EHR platforms like Epic, enabling providers to identify patients sooner and act on complex genetic information more effectively. Looking ahead, Bryan shares his vision for "genomes for life"—a future in which genomic information helps guide care from birth through adulthood, improving outcomes through earlier detection, personalized treatments, and proactive healthcare decisions. Tune in to hear how advances in genomics, data integration, and collaboration across the healthcare ecosystem are helping move the industry closer to faster diagnoses and better care for patients with rare diseases.