When Kristen Vlasak chose to participate in the Genetic Insights Project, a research study by Nebraska Medicine, she didn’t think much of it. What Vlasak didn’t realize at the time was that her result would trigger a series of tests that uncovered vital information for her entire family.

Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle. Unlike problems with heart rhythm (electrical issues) or blocked arteries (blood flow issues), cardiomyopathy affects how the muscle itself works.

There are now two ways to participate in the Genetic Insights Project: A blood draw in a lab or a new at-home saliva kit.

Advancements in genetic research have paved the way for personalized medicine, and the Nebraska Medicine Genetic Insights Project is leading the charge.

Each one of us has a genetic makeup passed down to us through our family line. Good or bad, we all carry two copies of each gene (except those on the sex chromosomes X and Y). A combination of nature and nurture both play a role in the complexity of our heart health.