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Profile

Karen Grinzaid MS/CGC/CCRC

  • Department of Human Genetics
    Adjunct Associate Professor
  • JScreen at Emory University
    5115 New Peachtree Road, Suite 301
    Atlanta, GA 30341
Head shot of Karen Grinzaid

Overview

Ms. Grinzaid received her master's degree in human genetics from Sarah Lawrence College in 1984 and her bachelor's degree in psychology from Northwestern University in 1982.

Grinzaid was certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling in 1987 and by the Association of Clinical Research Professionals in 2007.

Since joining the Emory Division of Medical Genetics in 1986, Grinzaid has specialized in multiple program areas including prenatal, pediatric, and adult genetic counseling, newborn screening, lysosomal storage disease clinical care and research, and Jewish genetic disease screening.

She is currently the executive director for JScreen, a national online Jewish genetic disease screening program based out of the Department of Human Genetics. She also serves as an instructor and mentor in Emorys Genetic Counselor Training Program.

Research

My primary research focus over the past several years has been facilitating national access to education, reproductive carrier screening and genetic counseling for high-risk ethnic groups. In July 2019, we launched an Emory IRB-approved pilot study evaluating BRCA-related risks and testing in the Ashkenazi Jewish (AJ) community in Atlanta. The study is evaluating whether the well-established Ashkenazi Jewish carrier rate of 1 in 40 applies to AJs with no significant personal and/or family history of related cancers, whether this rate applies to those with full versus partial AJ ancestry, the adequacy of screening for three common mutations in BRCA1/2 versus sequencing of the genes, and the impact of an education and screening campaign. Our goal was to enroll 500 participants within one year. We are also conducting a related survey study entitled "Attitudes about genetic testing for hereditary cancer risk among JScreen participants" with Georgetown University. JScreen plans to launch cancer genetic testing nationally in 2020.

Academic Appointment

  • Adjunct Associate Professor, Emory University

Education

Degrees

  • BA in Psychology from Northwestern University
  • MS in Human Genetics from Sarah Lawrence College

Research

Publications

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