SYDNEY, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- A major health project to screen 10,000 Australian couples for the likelihood of having children with severe genetic conditions was launched on Thursday.
The project, touted as the first of its kind under a national medical research initiative, will focus on identifying couples who are "carriers" of faulty genes that could cause in their children debilitating and often fatal conditions, such as spinal muscular atrophy and cystic fibrosis, according to a statement from the government-funded Australian Genomics research group administering the rollout.
It will work with the University of New South Wales, the University of Western Australia and the Murdoch Children's Research Institute in the screenings.
"This is such an important project for the future health of our children, for the health of our society," said the group's lead professor Kathryn North, who is also director of the institute.
"Prevention and early diagnosis are the keys to managing and treating medical conditions, and genomic testing enables us to do that. Genomics is transforming the way we approach health."
The volunteer couples who are thinking of having a baby or are in the early stages of pregnancy are set to be screened for about 500 genetic conditions during the three-year study, according to the research group.
The project was about giving people information and options, including better access to treatment and support, said Professor Edwin Kirk from the University of New South Wales.
"If we can offer a safe and simple test to couples thinking of having a baby, we can make a difference to the lives of thousands of future families," he said.
