About Us

About Us

Project Information

The Screening, Technology And Research in Genetics (STAR-G) Project began as a multi-state collaborative effort, led by the Hawaii Department of Health, to obtain research data, identify strategies, and develop materials for addressing the financial, ethical, legal, and social issues (FELSI) surrounding the use of tandem mass spectrometry for neonatal metabolic screening of culturally and ethnically diverse populations. The project was funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) through a Special Projects of Regional and National Significance (SPRANS) grant. Six states participated in the STAR-G project: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.

STAR-G activities included:

  • Convening focus groups of mothers to discuss the financial, ethical, legal and social issues surrounding expanded newborn screening.
  • Surveying parents about newborn screening educational materials.
  • Developing disorder fact sheets for families and health care providers.
  • Developing educational tools and guidelines for state newborn screening programs.
  • Gathering data and analyzing the cost of active informed consent for expanded newborn screening.

The STAR-G Project officially ended in 2004, but the Western States Regional Genetics Network (WSRGN) continues to maintain and update the STAR-G website and parent fact sheets. The WSRGN includes the same six states originally involved in the STAR-G project with the addition of Guam. For more information about the WSRGN, go to: www.westernstatesgenetics.org.

This website contains information and products developed during the STAR-G project. For further information about the STAR-G project, please contact us.