Ariadne Labs is pleased to announce the appointment of Jason Vassy, MD, MPH, MS, as Director of Precision Population Health, ushering in the next chapter of the program’s work to advance the responsible and equitable integration of genomic medicine into health care.
Dr. Vassy is a clinician-investigator at the VA Boston Healthcare System and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and a founding member of Precision Population Health at Ariadne Labs. A primary care physician and genomic medicine outcomes researcher, he has dedicated his career to understanding how genomic information can be effectively integrated into routine clinical care to improve health outcomes. At the VA, he leads the Genomes2Veterans research program, which bridges the expertise of Genomes2People with the mission of bringing 21st-century genomic medicine to Veterans.
As Director, Dr. Vassy will lead the program’s efforts to design, test, and spread approaches that help health systems use genomic and precision medicine tools in ways that are evidence-based, patient-centered, and accessible to diverse populations.
“I am honored to lead Precision Population Health and grateful for the opportunity to build on the program’s strong foundation,” said Dr. Vassy. “As genomic medicine continues to evolve, our focus will remain on generating evidence that helps health systems deliver these innovations responsibly, effectively, and equitably. I look forward to advancing this work alongside my colleagues and partners in support of Ariadne Labs’ mission to improve health and health care for all.”
Dr. Vassy brings extensive expertise in the implementation and evaluation of genomic medicine interventions, including pharmacogenomic testing, return of monogenic disease results, and polygenic risk scores. His research focuses on the real-world processes and outcomes of integrating genomic medicine into primary care and large health systems, particularly within the Veterans Health Administration.
Jason is an exceptional leader, scientist, and clinician whose work exemplifies Ariadne Labs’ commitment to improving health and health care at scale
Asaf Bitton, MD, MPH, Executive Director of Ariadne Labs
“Jason is an exceptional leader, scientist, and clinician whose work exemplifies Ariadne Labs’ commitment to improving health and health care at scale,” said Asaf Bitton, MD, MPH, Executive Director of Ariadne Labs. “As a founding member of Precision Population Health, he brings deep knowledge of the field, a strong commitment to rigorous evidence generation, and a clear vision for how precision medicine can better serve patients and populations.”
Dr. Vassy succeeds Robert C. Green, MD, MPH, who founded and led Precision Population Health and helped establish Ariadne Labs as a national leader in genomic medicine implementation and population screening research. Under Dr. Green’s leadership, the program generated pioneering evidence on the use of genomic information in clinical care and contributed to shaping the future of precision medicine. Robert Green began the BabySeq initiative in 2013– the first program in the world to sequence healthy babies. He also is a contact and co-lead investigator of BRIDGES-NBS initiative (previously called BEACONS-NBS) – the first award of the Newborn Screening by Whole Genome Sequencing (NBSxWGS) Collaboratory. An initiative of the NIH Common Fund Venture Program, it is the nation’s first coordinated, multi-state genomic newborn screening effort.
“Jason has been an integral part of Precision Population Health since its earliest days, and I can think of no one better suited to lead the program into its next chapter,” said Dr. Robert C. Green, MD, MPH. “His deep expertise, thoughtful leadership, and commitment to improving patient care through rigorous science will ensure the program continues to thrive and expand its impact.”
Dr. Green will continue to be involved with Precision Population Health, supporting the program’s ongoing research and strategic direction.
Since its founding, Precision Population Health has worked to bridge the gap between advances in genomic science and their practical application in health care settings. Through research, implementation, and partnerships, the program seeks to ensure that genomic innovations improve outcomes for patients and populations while advancing health equity.
Under Dr. Vassy’s leadership, Precision Population Health will continue its mission of helping health systems responsibly integrate genomic medicine into routine care, improving health outcomes while ensuring that the benefits of scientific innovation reach all populations.