Establish a Center of Excellence to Enhance Disease Detection in Newborns Through Implementation of Innovative Technologies, Enhanced Data Infrastructure and Cross-Collaboration with Academic Partners - Strengthening Newborn Screening in Florida and Beyond. The Florida Department of Health will establish a Center of Excellence for Newborn Screening. This collaborative effort, involving the Bureau of Public Health Laboratories (BPHL), Children’s Medical Services (CMS) Newborn Screening (NBS) Program, the University of Florida Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine (UF), and partner jurisdictions in the southeast United States, will work hand-in-hand with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Newborn Screening and Molecular Biology Branch. Building upon Florida's Robust Foundation: Florida has a historically strong NBS program, with core and additional screening testing conducted at the BPHL and coordinated follow-up testing by CMS. This program is guided by the Florida Genetics and Newborn Screening Advisory Council (GNSAC), ensuring its continued success and improvement. Currently, the program screens for 35 core and 23 secondary conditions, safeguarding the health of countless newborns. A Vision for the Future - The Center of Excellence will focus on four key strategies to further enhance Florida's NBS program and support its expansion to partner jurisdictions. 1) Innovation in Technology: Implementing cutting-edge technologies like next-generation sequencing (NGS) and high-resolution mass spectrometry to improve the accuracy and timeliness of testing methods, leading to earlier diagnoses and better patient outcomes. 2) Data Infrastructure Enhancements: The Center will prioritize data harmonization and standardization and improve electronic ordering, reporting, analysis, and exchange of data, particularly complex biochemical and molecular information. This data will be crucial for detecting new and existing diseases and effective implementation of new technologies. 3)Capacity Building and Public Outreach: Utilizing new technologies to expand public health NBS capacity within Florida and translate this to partner jurisdictions. This includes offering expanded screening services and engaging with the public health community.4) Impact Assessment: By meticulously reviewing data, the Center will evaluate the impact of incorporating advanced technologies like NGS and MS into NBS programs to inform further program development and guide future advancements. By establishing this Center of Excellence, Florida aims to be a leader in newborn screening, ultimately saving lives and improving health outcomes for newborns across the state and beyond.
