A Glimpse Into the Rare Disease Landscape of Barbados: Through Intentional Collaboration
Overview
Despite significant advances in genomic medicine, equitable access to genetic testing and rare disease diagnostics remains limited in many underserved regions of the world. This presentation explores the current rare disease and genomic healthcare landscape in Barbados and the English-speaking Caribbean, highlighting the challenges associated with limited genetic infrastructure, workforce shortages, and barriers to diagnostic testing.
Presenter
Sharri Cyrus, M.B.B.S., Ph.D.
Resident, Division of Laboratory Genetics and Genomics
Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
Learning objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:
- Describe the current challenges and gaps in rare disease genetic testing within the Caribbean, with a focus on the Barbadian healthcare context.
- Describe practical challenges in designing and conducting rare disease research within an underserved population.
- Discuss how intentional research collaborations can shorten the diagnostic odyssey and inform genomic healthcare implementation in underserved and underrepresented populations.
Intended audience
This activity is intended for medical laboratory professionals, pathologists, genetic counselors, molecular diagnostics personnel, physicians, researchers, and other healthcare professionals interested in rare diseases, genomic medicine, and genetic testing.
Credit
The following types of credit are offered for this event:
ASCLS P.A.C.E.®
Mayo Clinic Laboratories is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the Clinical Laboratory Sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.® program. This program has been approved for a maximum of 1.0 P.A.C.E.® contact hour.
State of Florida
Mayo Clinic Laboratories is approved as a Continuing Education Accrediting Agency for the Clinical Laboratory Sciences for the State of Florida. Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel has designated this program for General credit. This program has been approved for 1.0 contact hour.
To obtain credit
1. Watch the video.
2. Complete the posttest and evaluation that launches immediately following the video.
3. Generate and print your certificate(s).
Level of instruction for this program is basic.
Credit for this recording expires on 7/1/2028.
Faculty disclosure
Course director(s), planning committee, faculty, and all others who are in a position to control the content of this educational activity are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest related to the subject matter of the educational activity. Safeguards against commercial bias have been put in place. Faculty members also will disclose any off-label and/or investigational use of pharmaceuticals or instruments discussed in their presentations. Disclosure of this information will be published in course materials so those participants in the activity may formulate their own judgments regarding the presentations.
Questions
Contact us: mcleducation@mayo.edu
