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Genetic ConditionsTRIAGE-GSNCT06935019

TRIAGE-GS: Towards Reducing Inefficiencies Affecting Genetics Encounters Through Genome Sequencing

A study testing Genome sequencing pre-geneticist evaluation in people with Genetic Conditions, run by The Hospital for Sick Children at 2 sites in Canada.

Enrolling by invitation

Enrolling by invitation. The study team selects and invites participants, usually from an existing group of patients.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

Individually rare genetic diseases are collectively common, and affect many Canadian families. Making the right diagnosis is both important and challenging. Healthcare providers and families often remain in the dark for too long, limited by the scope and speed of current genetic testing. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages Up to 18 years
Conditions the study is for
Genetic Conditions
What is being tested?
Genome sequencing pre-geneticist evaluation
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
200 participants
Where
2 sitesCanada
Study dates
14 May 2025to May 2028
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages Up to 18 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Child, Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Referral accepted to the Genetics Clinic at SickKids or CHEO within 7 days of screening for study eligibility.
  • Referral is for a patient that is ≤18 years old.
  • Reason for referral is a suspected but as-yet-undiagnosed RD
  • A genetic aetiology is a possible explanation for the phenotype such that genetic testing is likely to be offered in Genetics Clinic, as determined by the research team.

Who cannot join

  • Patient has a known or suspected clinical diagnosis using established criteria of a genetic condition with low locus heterogeneity (e.g., HHT, fCCM, NF1, TSC, others)
  • Referral considered "Urgent" using established site criteria.
  • Genome-wide sequencing (exome sequencing or GS) or a comprehensive panel that encompasses all genes relevant for the reported phenotype previously completed on a clinical or research basis.
  • Patient or family member previously assessed by a medical geneticist within the last 2 years for the same phenotype(s).
  • Patient lacks Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) or comparable coverage (as this will limit options for standard genetic testing).
  • Referral is solely to facilitate familial variant testing or for genetic counselling.
  • A family member is already enrolled in the study and was referred for the same indication.
  • Patient/family does not provide informed consent to participate within 2 weeks of being approached.

Trial locations and contacts

2 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Canada2 sites
  • Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario

    Ottawa, Ontario, K1H 5B2

  • The Hospital for Sick Children

    Toronto, Ontario, M5G 0A4

Other trials in Canada

About this study

Official title: TRIAGE-GS: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Genomics-first Approach to Rare Disease Diagnosis

Individually rare genetic diseases are collectively common, and affect many Canadian families. Making the right diagnosis is both important and challenging. Healthcare providers and families often remain in the dark for too long, limited by the scope and speed of current genetic testing.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if performing genome sequencing (a comprehensive genetic test) as soon as a rare genetic disease is suspected is more effective than usual care, where a person waits to see a genetics specialist and then typically gets offered more targeted testing. Researchers will compare a "genome-sequencing first" approach to the standard-of-care in individuals who were referred to the Genetics Clinic at either SickKids or CHEO and recently had their referral accepted by the clinic.

Read more

The main questions this clinical trial aims to answer are:

  1. Are there more and faster diagnoses with a "genome sequencing first" approach compared to standard-of-care?
  2. What do patients, families, and healthcare providers think about a "genome sequencing first" approach compared to standard-of-care?
  3. What is the financial impact of a "genome sequencing first" approach compared to standard-of-care on the healthcare system?

Participants will be asked to:

  • Let us review their medical records.
  • Complete up to 5 questionnaires over the course of the study.
  • Give a blood sample for clinical genome sequencing (if in the genome sequencing first group).

This study aims to provide the robust evidence needed to improve care pathways for rare disease diagnosis in Canada. The findings also promise to help translate new genetic technologies into the clinic. Earlier diagnosis is a key first step towards personalized care, targeted treatments, and better outcomes.

Read the detailed description

This is a multi-centre, prospective, interventional, open randomized controlled trial that compares patient outcomes generated by clinical whole genome sequencing (GS) initiated at time of referral triage (i.e., prior to evaluation with a medical geneticist) to standard-of-care, where genetic testing is ordered post-evaluation. 200 individuals referred to SickKids or CHEO for suspected undiagnosed rare disease (RD) will be enrolled, along with their biological parents when possible. The purpose of this study is to examine the safety, utility, and feasibility of a "genomics first" diagnostic pathway for RD. The investigators hypothesize that a GS-first pathway will have non-inferior diagnostic yield and lead to a shorter duration of time to RD diagnosis, fewer diagnostics-focused clinic visits, and improved stakeholder satisfaction.

Being tested
Genome sequencing pre-geneticist evaluation
Keywords
TRIAGE-GS

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Genome sequencing pre-geneticist evaluationGenetic

    The intervention is receiving immediate clinical routine GS, prior to evaluation by a medical geneticist. Pre-test counselling will be done by a research genetic counsellor. Results of GS will be returned during the participant's first visit to Genetics Clinic by their clinical team. Subsequent clinical care (including any other clinically indicated genetic testing or workup) will be arranged by the medical geneticist in clinic.

Study groups in NCT06935019
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
GS-first armExperimentalThe intervention is receiving immediate clinical routine GS, prior to evaluation by a medical geneticist. Pre-test counselling will be done by a research genetic counsellor. Results of GS will be returned during the participant's first visit to Genetics Clinic by their clinical team. Subsequent clinical care (including any other clinically indicated genetic testing or workup) will be arranged by the medical geneticist in clinic.
Receives: Genetic: Genome sequencing pre-geneticist evaluation
Standard-of-care armNo interventionThe intervention group will be compared to the standard-of-care group, where evaluation by a medical geneticist in Genetics Clinic is a prerequisite to ordering of genetic testing. Clinical workups and genetic testing are ordered at the discretion of the medical geneticist involved in their clinical care, following evaluation.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Determine the time-to-event (diagnosis or no active follow-up) of a GS-first (pre-geneticist evaluation) outpatient care model for rare disease compared to standard of care.

    The primary outcome measure for Aim 1 is a time-to-event variable. The event of interest is "diagnosis or no active follow-up," as measured for each participant from the date of randomization to the date of disclosure of the diagnosis/plan. Selection of a composite event variable was based on input from patients, families, and clinicians regarding the utility of negative GS results in certain scenarios. For example, a negative GS result might lower the index of suspicion for Mendelian disorders of known genetic basis, such that no further testing or short-term follow-up is recommended, or a clinical diagnosis of exclusion is made with confidence.

    Measured: From date of randomization until the date of the disclosure of diagnosis/plan, up to 18 months.

  2. Compare clinical utility of GS-first to standard of care from the perspectives of care teams.

    The main outcome for Aim 2 will be differences in C-GUIDE total score, comparing the perceived utility of GS (in the GS-first group) with the first genetic test initiated by the geneticist for participants in the standard-of-care group.

    Measured: 0-2 weeks after the first results disclosure to the participant/family.

  3. Compare personal utility of GS-first to standard-of-care from the perspectives of patients, families, and care teams.

    The other main outcome for Aim 2 will be differences in GENE-U total score, comparing the perceived utility of GS (in the GS-first group) with the first genetic test initiated by the geneticist for participants in the standard-of-care group.

    Measured: 0-2 weeks after the first results disclosure to the participant/family.

  4. Assess cost-effectiveness as the incremental cost per additional case detected for GS-first compared to standard-of-care from a healthcare system payer perspective.

    An incremental cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) that compares GS-first to standard-of-care per additional positive finding will be undertaken from the perspectives of the healthcare system and society. The economic evaluation will use recommended methods.

    Measured: Overall during the study period (up to 18 months).

Secondary outcomes (10)
  1. Primary diagnostic yield

    Measured: Overall during the study period (up to 18 months), and within a 6-month time interval from the date of randomization.

  2. Proportion of participants with dual diagnoses

    Measured: Overall during the study period (up to 18 months).

  3. Proportion of participants with partial genetic diagnoses

    Measured: Overall during the study period (up to 18 months).

  4. Proportion of participants with potential genetic diagnoses

    Measured: Overall during the study period (up to 18 months).

  5. Proportion of participants with variants of uncertain significance deemed non-contributory by the clinician

    Measured: Overall during the study period (up to 18 months).

  6. Proportion of participants with secondary/incidental findings

    Measured: Overall during the study period (up to 18 months).

  7. Number of new informative HPO terms coded after evaluation by a geneticist (compared with data extracted from collateral records at the time of the referral)

    This can be stratified by the original referral source (i.e., internal referrals from providers at SickKids/CHEO vs. referrals from external providers).

    Measured: Overall during the study period (up to 18 months).

  8. Differences in amount of time/effort required for reporting genome sequencing

    Including time recorded by the analyst, number/type of variants unnecessarily reported due to incomplete phenotypic information, etc.

    Measured: Overall during the study period (up to 18 months).

  9. Number of diagnoses missed by GS in the intervention arm that were later made after geneticist evaluation

    Including variants seen by GS that were not reported based on phenotypic information known prior to geneticist assessment, variants identified on reanalysis using new HPO terms entered post-geneticist assessment, or variant types (e.g., repeat expansions) that were missed by GS due to technical limitations, etc.

    Measured: Overall during the study period (up to 18 months).

  10. Incremental cost per unit improvement in C-GUIDE score

    A secondary analysis under the CEA will examine the incremental cost per unit improvement in C-GUIDE score

    Measured: Overall during the study period (up to 18 months).

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted18 Apr 2025
  2. Study start14 May 2025
  3. Primary completionDec 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completionMay 2028 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Diagnosis
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
200 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06935019
Sponsor's protocol ID
CTO5061
Acronym
TRIAGE-GS
Status last verified
Apr 2026
First submitted
28 Mar 2025
Last updated
24 Apr 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: Study protocol, including statistical analysis plan, and informed consent form template will be submitted for open-access publication. Individual participant data can be shared upon request and execution of a data transfer agreement when consent was given by the participant or their substitute decision maker. Potentially identifying data (e.g., variable represented less than 5 times in the cohort) will not be shared.

Publications

  • Stanley KJ, Chisholm C, Gillespie MK, Caluseriu O, Del Signore N, Elango S, Hartley T, Hewson S, Kim RH, McSheffrey G, Mendoza-Londono R, Sawyer SL, Somerville M, Venkataramanan V, White-Brown A, Telesca S, Shickh S, Marshall CR, Ungar WJ, Hayeems RZ, Bhawra J, Boycott KM, Costain G. TRIAGE-GS: protocol for a randomised controlled trial of a genomics-first approach to rare disease diagnosis for patients awaiting assessment by a clinical geneticist. BMJ Open. 2025 Aug 10;15(8):e107603. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-107603.

    PubMed 40784761

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Genome sequencing pre-geneticist evaluation in people with Genetic Conditions, run by The Hospital for Sick Children at 2 sites in Canada.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 8 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: enrolling by invitation, as of the sponsor's last update on 24 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 2 sites in Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Determine the time-to-event (diagnosis or no active follow-up) of a GS-first (pre-geneticist evaluation) outpatient care model for rare disease compared to standard of care. (time frame: From date of randomization until the date of the disclosure of diagnosis/plan, up to 18 months.). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06935019, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 24 Apr 2026.

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