"To date, efforts to collect health histories have resulted in development of disparate tools and technologies to gather and disseminate information from patients to caregivers to researchers," noted Brent Gendleman, 5AM Solutions CEO. "We were happy to provide initial support of Family Helix, where people can exchange ideas and information on the best and most efficient ways to define and accurately collect family health data in a standardized manner."

5AM and Family Helix are working closely with the National Coalition for Health Integration, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing a robust, accessible, integrated health information platform that supports the comprehensive management and secure exchange of biomedical data on a national scale. The strategic partnership creates the relationship to assure that important tools, access and content are provided to the public that support improved health for all.

The site will offer the latest news related to family health history initiatives, technology updates, and relevant professional meetings. It will also offer interactive forums and blogs, providing an opportunity for professionals to exchange insights and information in real time.

The systematic collection of family health histories is an important element in the personalization of medical care. An individual's family history has the potential to capture information about shared factors that contribute to the risk for developing common diseases such as diabetes, stroke, cancer, and heart disease.

"The collection and use of family health history to predict risk and plan medical care is being improved on many fronts," said Grant M. Wood, the Senior IT Strategist for the Clinical Genetics Institute at Intermountain Healthcare in Salt Lake City, Utah. "A web-based community like Family Helix can promote the adoption of data standards to allow for the sharing of electronic family history information between patients and healthcare providers. This is a step toward the era of personalized medicine."

5AM Solutions has provided initial funding for Family Helix, a nonprofit organization to develop and manage the Family Helix Community and a web tool for the collection of family health history. The Family Helix community can be accessed at www.familyhelix.org.

About 5AM Solutions

5AM Solutions develops innovative software solutions for academic, government, commercial, and non-profit life sciences organizations. The company helps evolve the way biomedical researchers work and collaborate by using software to reveal new insights hidden in vast amounts of data, facilitate translational research, and solve workflow challenges. The company's solutions can overcome IT-based roadblocks to discovery and accelerate progress toward the ultimate goal of better health and improved patient outcomes. www.5amsolutions.com

About Family Helix

Family Helix is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people use family history to improve human health. The group aims to foster awareness, communication, and collaborative use of family health history to further scientific research, medical treatment, and patient health. To serve patients, Family Helix provides a free online tool to securely record, track and store their family health history online. To serve professionals, Family Helix provides an open forum to share information, collaborate and further research, public policy, and individual health. www.familyhelix.org

About the National Coalition for Health Integration

The National Coalition for Health Integration (NCHI) is a non-profit organization focused on changing the way health information is shared. The NCHI is building a public-private coalition dedicated to working with partners to improve health and transform health care by enhancing the availability, privacy and integration of health information across the country. www.nchiconnect.org