St. George is the headquarters for Intermountain Healthcare researchers who study individual genetic characteristics to personalize treatment based on a patient’s DNA.
Southern Utah Breakthroughs In Precision Health By David De Rurange, Intermountain Healthcare
W
hen Tabitha Pattison isn’t at Bryce Canyon National Park, she can sometimes be found sequencing genetic data in a machine nicknamed “Bryce Canyon.”
“What better names for these powerhouse machines than after some of the most impressive natural wonders here in Utah?” said Pattison, an associate scientist for research and development at Intermountain Healthcare. “Bryce Canyon, Lake Powell, Goblin Valley, Zion, and Arches allow us to sequence patients’ DNA quickly and accurately.” Pattison is one of more than 200 employees at Intermountain Healthcare’s precision genomics department. Organized in 2014, Intermountain Precision Genomics (IPG) is headquartered inside the Cancer Center on St. George Regional Hospital’s campus. It is shifting healthcare worldwide to predict and prevent disease rather than treating patients after symptoms are felt. Continued on Page 20 Fall 2021 :: Southern Utah Business Magazine 19
