Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38253783›Full record

ArticleEuropean journal of human genetics : EJHG2024

Diagnostic outcome of pro bono neurogenetic diagnostic service in Sri Lanka: A wealth creation.

Lakmal Gonawala, Nalaka Wijekoon, Darshika Attanayake, Pyara Ratnayake, Darshana Sirisena, Harsha Gunasekara, Athula Dissanayake, Ajantha Keshavaraj, Chandra Mohan, Harry W M Steinbusch and 3 more

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in European journal of human genetics : EJHG, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
2.2field-weighted citation impact, top 13% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 4 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
  2. Genomic testing in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC).European journal of human genetics : EJHG · 2024
    Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors at 9 institutions in 4 countries.

Lakmal Gonawala *Centre for Innovations in Biotechnology and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka.
Nalaka Wijekoon *Centre for Innovations in Biotechnology and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka.
Darshika AttanayakeCentre for Innovations in Biotechnology and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka.
Pyara RatnayakeLady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Darshana SirisenaColombo North Teaching Hospital, Ragama, Sri Lanka.
Harsha GunasekaraSri Jayewardenepura General Hospital, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Athula DissanayakeTeaching Hospital Karapitiya, Galle, Sri Lanka.
Ajantha KeshavarajTeaching Hospital Jaffna, Jaffna, Sri Lanka.
Chandra MohanDepartment of Bioengineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
Harry W M SteinbuschDepartment of Cellular and Translational Neuroscience, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Faculty of Health, Medicine & Life Sciences, Maastricht University, 6200, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Eric P HoffmanSchool of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, New York, USA.
Ashwin DalalDiagnostics Division, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.ORCID 0000-0001-5929-745X
K Ranil D de SilvaCentre for Innovations in Biotechnology and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka. ranil@sjp.ac.lk.ORCID 0000-0002-8738-9412
University of Sri Jayewardenepura · LKBinghamton University · USCentre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics · INColombo North Teaching Hospital · LKJaffna Teaching Hospital · LKLady Ridgeway Hospital for Children · LKMaastricht University · NLTeaching Hospital Kandy · LKUniversity of Houston · US

Funding

Muscular Dystrophy Association (Muscular Dystrophy Association Inc.) FMS/7090/2010University of Sri Jayewardenepura (USJP) WCUP/Ph. D./19/2013, WCUP/Ph. D./19B/2013, ASP/06/RE/2010/07,ASP/06/RE/2012/18, ASP/06/RE/2013/28World Health Organization (WHO) 2010/81594-0
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The inherited disease community in Sri Lanka has been widely neglected. This article aimed to present accumulated knowledge in establishing a pro bono cost-effective national, island-wide, free-of-charge molecular diagnostic service, suggesting a model for other developing countries. The project provided 637 molecular diagnostic tests and reports free of charge to a nation with limited resources. We pioneered the implementation of mobile clinics and home visits, where the research team acted as barefoot doctors with the concept of the doctor and the researcher at the patient's doorstep. Establishing pro bono, cost-effective molecular diagnostics is feasible in developing countries with limited resources and state funding through the effort of dedicated postgraduate students. This service could provide an accurate molecular diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Huntington's disease, Spinocerebellar ataxia, and Spinal muscular atrophy, a diagnostic yield of 54% (343/637), of which 43% (147/343) of the patients identified as amenable for available gene therapies. Initiated human resource development by double doctoral degree opportunities with international collaborations. Established a neurobiobank and a national registry in Sri Lanka, a rich and unique repository, wealth creation for translational collaborative research and sharing of information in neurological diseases, as well as a lodestar for aspiring initiatives from other developing countries.

Indexed as

Genetic TestingHumansHuntington DiseaseMolecular Diagnostic TechniquesMuscular Dystrophy, DuchenneSri Lanka

Identifiers

PMID38253783
PMCPMC11500083
OpenAlexW4391134803

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.