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Am J Transl Res 2012;4(3):291-301
Original Article
The MURDOCK Study: a long-term initiative for disease
reclassification through advanced biomarker discovery and
integration with electronic health records
Jessica D Tenenbaum*, Victoria Christian*, Melissa A Cornish, Rowena J Dolor, Ashley A Dunham, Geoffrey S
Ginsburg, Virginia B Kraus, John G McHutchison, Meredith L Nahm, L Kristin Newby, Laura P Svetkey, Krishna
Udayakumar, Robert M Califf
Duke Translational Medicine Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC; Department of Medicine, Duke University
Medical Center, Durham, NC; Institute for Genome Science and Policy, Duke University, Durham, NC; Gilead
Pharmaceuticals, Foster City, CA; Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine and Duke Clinical Research
Institute, Durham, NC; Stedman Nutrition Center, Duke University, Durham, NC. *These authors contributed
equally to this work.
Received June 6, 2012; accepted July 21, 2012; Epub July 23, 2012; Published August 15, 2012
Abstract: Background: Facing critically low return per dollar invested on clinical research and clinical care, the
American biomedical enterprise is in need of a significant transformation. A confluence of high-throughput “omic”
technologies and increasing adoption of the electronic health record has fueled excitement for a new paradigm
for biomedical research and practice. The ability to simultaneously measure thousands of molecular variables
and assess their relationships with clinical data collected during the course of care could enable reclassification
of disease not only by gross phenotypic observation but according to underlying molecular mechanism and
influence of social determinants. In turn, this reclassification could enable development of targeted therapeutic
interventions as well as disease prevention strategies at the individual and population levels. Methods/Design:
The MURDOCK Study consists of distinct project “horizons” or stages. Horizon 1 entailed the generation and
analysis of molecular data for existing large, clinically well-annotated cohorts in four disease areas. Horizon 1.5
involves creating and maintaining a 50,000-person, community volunteer registry for biomarker signature
validation and prospective studies, including integration of environmental and social data. Horizon 2 leverages
and prospectively recruits Horizon 1.5 volunteers, and extends the study to additional disease areas of interest.
Horizon 3 will expand the study through regional, national, and international partnerships. Discussion: The
MURDOCK Study embodies a new model of team science investigation and represents a significant resource for
translational research. The study team invites inquiries to form new collaborations to exploit the rich resources
provided by these biospecimens and associated study data. (AJTR1206004).
Keywords: Stratified medicine, personalized medicine, biomarkers, disease reclassification, community registry,
biorepository
Address all correspondence to:
Dr. Jessica D Tenenbaum
Duke Translational Medicine Institute
Duke University, PO Box 17969
Durham, NC 27715, USA.
E-mail: jessie.tenenbaum@duke.edu
Original Article
The MURDOCK Study: a long-term initiative for disease
reclassification through advanced biomarker discovery and
integration with electronic health records
Jessica D Tenenbaum*, Victoria Christian*, Melissa A Cornish, Rowena J Dolor, Ashley A Dunham, Geoffrey S
Ginsburg, Virginia B Kraus, John G McHutchison, Meredith L Nahm, L Kristin Newby, Laura P Svetkey, Krishna
Udayakumar, Robert M Califf
Duke Translational Medicine Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC; Department of Medicine, Duke University
Medical Center, Durham, NC; Institute for Genome Science and Policy, Duke University, Durham, NC; Gilead
Pharmaceuticals, Foster City, CA; Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine and Duke Clinical Research
Institute, Durham, NC; Stedman Nutrition Center, Duke University, Durham, NC. *These authors contributed
equally to this work.
Received June 6, 2012; accepted July 21, 2012; Epub July 23, 2012; Published August 15, 2012
Abstract: Background: Facing critically low return per dollar invested on clinical research and clinical care, the
American biomedical enterprise is in need of a significant transformation. A confluence of high-throughput “omic”
technologies and increasing adoption of the electronic health record has fueled excitement for a new paradigm
for biomedical research and practice. The ability to simultaneously measure thousands of molecular variables
and assess their relationships with clinical data collected during the course of care could enable reclassification
of disease not only by gross phenotypic observation but according to underlying molecular mechanism and
influence of social determinants. In turn, this reclassification could enable development of targeted therapeutic
interventions as well as disease prevention strategies at the individual and population levels. Methods/Design:
The MURDOCK Study consists of distinct project “horizons” or stages. Horizon 1 entailed the generation and
analysis of molecular data for existing large, clinically well-annotated cohorts in four disease areas. Horizon 1.5
involves creating and maintaining a 50,000-person, community volunteer registry for biomarker signature
validation and prospective studies, including integration of environmental and social data. Horizon 2 leverages
and prospectively recruits Horizon 1.5 volunteers, and extends the study to additional disease areas of interest.
Horizon 3 will expand the study through regional, national, and international partnerships. Discussion: The
MURDOCK Study embodies a new model of team science investigation and represents a significant resource for
translational research. The study team invites inquiries to form new collaborations to exploit the rich resources
provided by these biospecimens and associated study data. (AJTR1206004).
Keywords: Stratified medicine, personalized medicine, biomarkers, disease reclassification, community registry,
biorepository
Address all correspondence to:
Dr. Jessica D Tenenbaum
Duke Translational Medicine Institute
Duke University, PO Box 17969
Durham, NC 27715, USA.
E-mail: jessie.tenenbaum@duke.edu
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