Opinion

Adam Anderson 

Genome sequencing and the future of medicine in Florida | Column

Genome sequencing in infants saves lives and improves health outcomes.

Genome sequencing provides answers quickly, providing the opportunity for early access to treatment. [ FRANK AUGSTEIN | AP ]

Published April 11

The American Dream is built on opportunity — the opportunity to lead, innovate and change lives. Nowhere is that opportunity more profound than in medicine, where scientific breakthroughs can mean the difference between life and death. Florida stands on the precipice of becoming a national leader in medical research and innovation, and we are seizing this moment to transform health care for generations to come.

More than 30 million Americans suffer from rare diseases — many of them children who never get the chance to live full, healthy lives. But we have the power to change that. Advances in genetic testing offer the opportunity to diagnose and treat diseases at birth, yet too many families still endure years of uncertainty, misdiagnoses, and unnecessary suffering. Florida is stepping up to end that diagnostic odyssey.

We have a moral and economic imperative to act. That’s why, on National Rare Disease Day 2025, I announced HB 907, the Sunshine Genetics Act, at the Florida State University Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases Symposium. This landmark legislation establishes a free, opt-in newborn genetic testing program capable of diagnosing over 600 disorders at birth. It also unites Florida’s top research institutions, specialty children’s hospitals, and biotech leaders in a first-of-its-kind consortium dedicated to advancing genetic research and finding cures. This is how we turn Florida into a hub for scientific discovery, where the best and brightest come to tackle the most demanding medical challenges of our time.

The science is clear: genome sequencing in infants saves lives and improves health outcomes. It takes, on average, four to five years and seven or more trips to specialists plus overnight states in the NICU to diagnose a child with a rare disease. Genome sequencing provides answers in a few short days, providing the opportunity for early access to treatment. Turning away from that opportunity would be inexcusable. Beyond the moral imperative, this is also a sound investment — genetic testing could save our health care system several $100s of millions annually by reducing the need for costly specialist visits and NICU stays. The future of medicine is coming to Florida, and we are ensuring our state leads the way.

Our commitment to this vision is already being recognized. At last year’s Florida State University Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases Symposium, the FSU Center received a $5 million award, a testament to Florida’s dedication to medical research. This investment signals that we are ready to take things to the next level.

However, government alone cannot meet this challenge. We are building an ecosystem where the private sector and research institutions work hand-in-hand to push the boundaries of what’s possible. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals has invested $119.5 million in the Truveta Genome Project, leveraging AI and big data to advance genetic research. Baylor College of Medicine was awarded a $3.5 million grant to bring genomic medicine to NICUs in underserved communities. Florida must attract these types of investments. By fostering a cutting-edge research environment, we will bring the best minds, the most ambitious projects, and the most significant scientific advancements to our state.

Florida has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to lead. We are not just investing in science; we are investing in hope — the hope that no parent will have to endure years of unanswered questions, the hope that the next significant medical breakthrough will come from our labs, and the hope that Florida will stand at the forefront of the most transformative advancements in medicine in history.

To every scientist, investor, and innovator looking for the next frontier — Florida welcomes you. The future of medicine is being written right here, and together, we will change lives.

Rep. Adam Anderson represents parts of Pinellas County and serves as the Chairman of the Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee.