Overview

I am a researcher, educator, manager, and nurse. The common threads throughout my career have been a desire to improve access, equity, and quality of family-centred clinical care; and my interest in the relationship dynamics between consumers and providers of health care.

Currently co-leading various GELS projects relating to genomics, decisional science, health economics, shared decision-making, and family-oriented research. E.g. DECIDE project: an interactive online educational tool and decision aid for families making genomic sequencing choices; SCOPE project: development and testing of a cost calculator for families' costs of caring for a child with developmental disabilities; OPTION project: assessment of the degree which genetic counselors practice shared decision-making.

Publications

Genetic counselling resources in non-english languages: A scoping review
PEC Innovation
Rhea Beauchesne and Patricia Birch and Alison M. Elliott
DOI: 10.1016/j.pecinn.2023.100135
12/2023

After genomic testing results: Parents’ long-term views
Journal of Genetic Counseling
Liang, N.S.Y. and Adam, S. and Elliott, A.M. and Siemens, A. and du Souich, C. and Friedman, J.M. and Birch, P.
DOI: 10.1002/jgc4.1454
2022

The long-term impact of receiving incidental findings on parents undergoing genome-wide sequencing
Journal of Genetic Counseling
Cheung, F. and Birch, P. and Friedman, J.M. and Elliott, A.M. and Adam, S.
DOI: 10.1002/jgc4.1558
2022

Correction to: The stepwise process of integrating a genetic counsellor into primary care (European Journal of Human Genetics, (2022), 30, 7, (772-781), 10.1038/s41431-022-01040-x)
European Journal of Human Genetics
Slomp, C. and Morris, E. and Knoppers, B.M. and Lynd, L.D. and Dey, A. and Adam, S. and Bansback, N. and Birch, P. and Clarke, L. and Dragojlovic, N. and Friedman, J. and Lambert, D. and Pullman, D. and Virani, A. and Wasserman, W. and Zawati, M.H. and Price, M. and Elliott, A.M. and Austin, J.
DOI: 10.1038/s41431-022-01063-4
2022

The stepwise process of integrating a genetic counsellor into primary care
European Journal of Human Genetics
Slomp, C. and Morris, E. and Knoppers, B.M. and Lynd, L.D. and Dey, A. and Adam, S. and Bansback, N. and Birch, P. and Clarke, L. and Dragojlovic, N. and Friedman, J. and Lambert, D. and Pullman, D. and Virani, A. and Wasserman, W. and Zawati, M.H. and Price, M. and Elliott, A.M. and Austin, J.
DOI: 10.1038/s41431-022-01040-x
2022

Genetic counseling research and COVID-19: A lesson in resiliency
Journal of Genetic Counseling
Borle, K. and Dey, A. and Carrion, P. and Austin, J. and Elliott, A.M. and Knoppers, B. and Lynd, L.D. and Adam, S. and Bansback, N. and Birch, P. and Clarke, L. and Dragojlovic, N. and Friedman, J. and Lambert, D. and Pullman, D. and Virani, A. and Wasserman, W. and Zawati, M. and Myers, M.
DOI: 10.1002/jgc4.1502
2021

Development and Evaluation of Decision Aids to Guide Families’ Predictive Testing Choices for Children at Risk for Arrhythmia or Cardiomyopathy
Canadian Journal of Cardiology
Christian, S. and Welsh, A. and Yetman, J. and Birch, P. and Bartels, K. and Burnell, L. and Curtis, F. and Huculak, C. and Zahavich, L. and Arbour, L. and Marcadier, J. and Atallah, J.
DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2021.05.018
2021

Utilization and uptake of clinical genetics services in high-income countries: A scoping review
Health Policy
Dragojlovic, N. and Kopac, N. and Borle, K. and Tandun, R. and Salmasi, S. and Ellis, U. and Birch, P. and Adam, S. and Friedman, J.M. and Elliott, A.M. and Lynd, L.D.
DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2021.04.010
2021

Rapid genome-wide sequencing in a neonatal intensive care unit: A retrospective qualitative exploration of parental experiences
Journal of Genetic Counseling
Aldridge, C.E. and Osiovich, H. and Siden, H. and Elliott, A.M. and Candido, T. and Christilaw, J. and Dragojlovic, N. and du Souich, C. and Evans, D.M. and Farrer, M.J. and Friedman, J.M. and Guella, I. and Lehman, A. and Lynd, L. and Tooman, L. and Austin, J. and Knoppers, B. and Lynd, L.D. and Dey, A. and Adam, S. and Bansback, N. and Birch, P. and Clarke, L. and Friedman, J. and Lambert, D. and Pullman, D. and Virani, A. and Wasserman, W. and Zawati, M.
DOI: 10.1002/jgc4.1353
2021

Out-of-pocket and private pay in clinical genetic testing: A scoping review
Clinical Genetics
Grant, P. and Langlois, S. and Lynd, L.D. and Austin, J.C. and Elliott, A.M. and Dragojlovic, N. and Knoppers, B. and Dey, A. and Adam, S. and Bansback, N. and Birch, P. and Clarke, L. and Friedman, J. and Lambert, D. and Pullman, D. and Virani, A. and Wasserman, W. and Zawati, Z.
DOI: 10.1111/cge.14006
2021

Genome-wide sequencing as a first-tier screening test for short tandem repeat expansions
Genome Medicine
Rajan-Babu, I.-S. and Peng, J.J. and Chiu, R. and Adam, S. and Souich, C.D. and Elliott, A. and Lehman, A. and Mwenifumbo, J. and Nelson, T. and van Karnebeek, C. and Friedman, J. and Birch, P. and Couse, M. and Guimond, C. and Mwenifumbo, J. and van Karnebeek, C. and Friedman, J. and Li, C. and Mohajeri, A. and Dolzhenko, E. and Eberle, M.A. and Birol, I. and Friedman, J.M.
DOI: 10.1186/s13073-021-00932-9
2021

Far and wide: Exploring provider utilization of remote service provision for genome-wide sequencing in Canada
Molecular Genetics and Genomic Medicine
Enns, E.A. and Wainstein, T. and Dragojlovic, N. and Kopac, N. and Lynd, L.D. and Elliott, A.M. and Austin, J. and Knoppers, B. and Dey, A. and Adam, S. and Bansback, N. and Birch, P. and Clarke, L. and Friedman, J. and Lambert, D. and Pullman, D. and Virani, A. and Wasserman, W. and Zawati, M.
DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.1784
2021

Genetic counselors and legal recognition: A made-for-Canada approach
Journal of Genetic Counseling
Lambert, D.M. and Patrinos, D. and Knoppers, B.M. and Zawati, M.H. and Elliott, A.M. and Austin, J. and Lynd, L.D. and Dey, A. and Adam, S. and Bansback, N. and Birch, P. and Clarke, L. and Dragojlovic, N. and Friedman, J. and Pullman, D. and Virani, A. and Wasserman, W.
DOI: 10.1002/jgc4.1468
2021

Correction to: Genome-wide sequencing as a first-tier screening test for short tandem repeat expansions (Genome Medicine, (2021), 13, 1, (126), 10.1186/s13073-021-00932-9)
Genome Medicine
Rajan-Babu, I.-S. and Peng, J.J. and Chiu, R. and Birch, P. and Couse, M. and Guimond, C. and Lehman, A. and Mwenifumbo, J. and van Karnebeek, C. and Friedman, J. and Adam, S. and Du Souich, C. and Elliott, A. and Lehman, A. and Mwenifumbo, J. and Nelson, T. and van Karnebeek, C. and Rajan-Babu and Friedman, J. and Li, C. and Mohajeri, A. and Dolzhenko, E. and Eberle, M.A. and Birol, I. and Friedman, J.M.
DOI: 10.1186/s13073-021-00961-4
2021

The composition and capacity of the clinical genetics workforce in high-income countries: a scoping review.
Genetics in medicine : official journal of the American College of Medical Genetics
Dragojlovic N and Borle K and Kopac N and Ellis U and Birch P and Adam S and Friedman JM and Nisselle A and GenCOUNSEL Study and Elliott AM and Lynd LD
DOI: 10.1038/s41436-020-0825-2
PubMed: 32576987
06/2020

Correction: The composition and capacity of the clinical genetics workforce in high-income countries: a scoping review (Genetics in Medicine, (2020), 22, 9, (1437-1449), 10.1038/s41436-020-0825-2)
Genetics in Medicine
Dragojlovic, N. and Borle, K. and Kopac, N. and Ellis, U. and Birch, P. and Adam, S. and Friedman, J.M. and Nisselle, A. and Elliott, A.M. and Austin, J. and Knoppers, B. and Lynd, L.D. and Dey, A. and Bansback, N. and Clarke, L. and Lambert, D. and Pullman, D. and Virani, A. and Wasserman, W. and Zawati, M.
DOI: 10.1038/s41436-020-0903-5
2020

The cost trajectory of the diagnostic care pathway for children with suspected genetic disorders
Genetics in Medicine
Dragojlovic, N. and van Karnebeek, C.D.M. and Ghani, A. and Genereaux, D. and Kim, E. and Birch, P. and Adam, S. and Dragojlovic, N. and du Souich, C. and Elliott, A.M. and Lehman, A. and Lynd, L. and Mwenifumbo, J. and Nelson, T.N. and van Karnebeek, C. and Friedman, J.M. and Elliott, A.M. and Friedman, J.M. and Lynd, L.D.
DOI: 10.1038/s41436-019-0635-6
2020

Indigenous Peoples and genomics: Starting a conversation
Journal of Genetic Counseling
Jenny Morgan and Rachel R. Coe and Rochelle Lesueur and Ruth Kenny and Roberta Price and Nancy Makela and Patricia H. Birch
DOI: 10.1002/jgc4.1073
04/2019

Assessing an Interactive Online Tool to Support Parents' Genomic Testing Decisions
Journal of Genetic Counseling
Shelin Adam and Patricia H. Birch and Rachel R. Coe and Nick Bansback and Adrian L. Jones and Mary B. Connolly and Michelle K. Demos and Eric B. Toyota and Matthew J. Farrer and Jan M. Friedman
DOI: 10.1007/s10897-018-0281-1
02/2019

Assessing Shared Decision-Making Clinical Behaviors Among Genetic Counsellors
Journal of Genetic Counseling
Birch, P.H. and Adam, S. and Coe, R.R. and Port, A.V. and Vortel, M. and Friedman, J.M. and Légaré, F.
DOI: 10.1007/s10897-018-0285-x
2019

Serial MRIs provide novel insight into natural history of optic pathway gliomas in patients with neurofibromatosis 1.
Orphanet journal of rare diseases
DOI: 10.1186/s13023-018-0811-9
PubMed: 29685181
04/2018

Non-optic glioma in adults and children with neurofibromatosis 1
Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases
Laura Sellmer and Said Farschtschi and Marco Marangoni and Manraj K. S. Heran and Patricia Birch and Ralph Wenzel and Jan M. Friedman and Victor-Felix Mautner
DOI: 10.1186/s13023-017-0588-2
02/2017

Pharmacogenomics and e-learning: evaluation of an online tool to improve knowledge among practicing nurses
Nurse Education Today
2017

Survey of BC Physicians: Exploring current knowledge and impact of genomic technologies on clinical practice
UBC Medical Journal
2017

Comparing the ability of OPTION12 and OPTION5 to assess shared decision-making in genetic counselling.
Patient Education and Counseling
Martina A. Vortel and Shelin Adam and Ashley V. Port-Thompson and Jan M. Friedman and Stuart W. Grande and Patricia H. Birch
DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2016.03.024
10/2016

DECIDE: a Decision Support Tool to Facilitate Parents’ Choices Regarding Genome-Wide Sequencing
Journal of Genetic Counseling
Patricia Birch and S. Adam and N. Bansback and R. R. Coe and J. Hicklin and A. Lehman and K. C. Li and J. M. Friedman
DOI: 10.1007/s10897-016-9971-8
05/2016

Parents’ Perspectives on Supporting Their Decision Making in Genome-Wide Sequencing
Journal of Nursing Scholarship
Karen C. Li and Patricia H. Birch and Bernard M. Garrett and Maura MacPhee and Shelin Adam and Jan M. Friedman
DOI: 10.1111/jnu.12207
04/2016

Development and pilot testing of a tool to calculate parental and societal costs of raising a child with intellectual disability
Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability
Genereaux, D. and Bansback, N. and Birch, P.
DOI: 10.3109/13668250.2015.1087479
2016

Costs of caring for children with an intellectual developmental disorder
Disability and Health Journal
Dallas Genereaux and Clara D.M. van Karnebeek and Patricia H. Birch
DOI: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2015.03.011
10/2015

Quantitative associations of scalp and body subcutaneous neurofibromas with internal plexiform tumors in neurofibromatosis 1
American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A
Kimberly Jett and Rosa Nguyen and Darian Arman and Patricia Birch and Harleen Chohan and Said Farschtschi and Carsten Fuensterer and Lan Kluwe and Jan M. Friedman and Victor F. Mautner
DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.37068
04/2015

Interactive e-counselling for genetics pre-test decisions: Where are we now?
Clinical Genetics
Birch, P.H.
DOI: 10.1111/cge.12430
2015

The costs of caring: calculating hte parental and societal costs of raising a child with intellectual disability
Canadian Association of Genetic Counsellors Annual Meeting
2014

Incidental findings from clinical genome-wide sequencing: A review
Journal of Genetic Counseling
Lohn, Z. and Adam, S. and Birch, P.H. and Friedman, J.M.
DOI: 10.1007/s10897-013-9604-4
2014

Autonomy and the patient's right 'not to know' in clinical whole-genomic sequencing
European Journal of Human Genetics
Townsend, A. and Rousseau, F. and Friedman, J. and Adam, S. and Lohn, Z. and Birch, P.
DOI: 10.1038/ejhg.2013.94
2014

Can we MOOC Genomics Medicine? INTEGRAL's Asynchronous, Scenario-Based eLearning for Health Professionals
E-Hits (eHealth and Innovative Technology Showcase)
2014

Paternalism and the ACMG recommendations on genomic incidental findings: patients seen but not heard
Genetics in Medicine
Anne Townsend and Shelin Adam and Patricia H. Birch and Jan M. Friedman
DOI: 10.1038/gim.2013.105
09/2013

The generalized bone phenotype in children with neurofibromatosis 1: A sibling matched case-control study
American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A
Linlea Armstrong and Kimberly Jett and Patricia Birch and David L. Kendler and Heather McKay and Erica Tsang and David A. Stevenson and David A. Hanley and Deetria Egeli and Melonie Burrows and J.M. Friedman
DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.36001
05/2013

Genetics professionals' perspectives on reporting incidental findings from clinical genome-wide sequencing
American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A
Zoe Lohn and Shelin Adam and Patricia Birch and Anne Townsend and Jan Friedman
DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.35794
02/2013

“I want to know what's in Pandora's box”: Comparing stakeholder perspectives on incidental findings in clinical whole genomic sequencing
American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A
Anne Townsend and Shelin Adam and Patricia H. Birch and Zoe Lohn and Francois Rousseau and Jan M. Friedman
DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.35554
08/2012

Quality of Life in NF1
Neurofibromatosis Type 1
Patricia Birch and J. M. Friedman
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-32864-0_8
2012

Valuing gene testing in children with possible neurofibromatosis 1
Clinical Genetics
Tsang, E. and Birch, P. and Friedman, J.M.
DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-0004.2011.01801.x
2012

MIA is a potential biomarker for tumour load in neurofibromatosis type 1
BMC Medicine
Kolanczyk, M. and Mautner, V. and Kossler, N. and Nguyen, R. and Kühnisch, J. and Zemojtel, T. and Jamsheer, A. and Wegener, E. and Thurisch, B. and Tinschert, S. and Holtkamp, N. and Park, S.-J. and Birch, P. and Kendler, D. and Harder, A. and Mundlos, S. and Kluwe, L.
DOI: 10.1186/1741-7015-9-82
2011

Prevalence of dental caries in children with neurofibromatosis 1
Clinical Oral Investigations
Erica S. Tsang and Patricia Birch and Jan M. Friedman and Douglas Johnston and Tracy Tucker and Linlea Armstrong
DOI: 10.1007/s00784-009-0361-6
01/2010

Parental perceived value of a diagnosis for intellectual disability (ID): A qualitative comparison of families with and without a diagnosis for their child's ID
American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A
Nancy L. Makela and Patricia H. Birch and Jan M. Friedman and Carlo A. Marra
DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.33050
11/2009

Skeletal abnormalities in neurofibromatosis type 1: Approaches to therapeutic options
American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A
Florent Elefteriou and Mateusz Kolanczyk and Aaron Schindeler and David H. Viskochil and Janet M. Hock and Elizabeth K. Schorry and Alvin H. Crawford and Jan M. Friedman and David Little and Juha Peltonen and John C. Carey and David Feldman and Xijie Yu and Linlea Armstrong and Patricia Birch and David L. Kendler and Stefan Mundlos and Feng-Chun Yang and Gina Agiostratidou and Kim Hunter-Schaedle and David A. Stevenson
DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.33045
10/2009

Detection of pathogenic copy number variants in children with idiopathic intellectual disability using 500 K SNP array genomic hybridization
BMC Genomics
JM Friedman and Shelin Adam and Laura Arbour and Linlea Armstrong and Agnes Baross and Patricia Birch and Cornelius Boerkoel and Susanna Chan and David Chai and Allen D Delaney and Stephane Flibotte and William T Gibson and Sylvie Langlois and Emmanuelle Lemyre and H Irene Li and Patrick MacLeod and Joan Mathers and Jacques L Michaud and Barbara C McGillivray and Millan S Patel and Hong Qian and Guy A Rouleau and Margot I Van Allen and Siu-Li Yong and Farah R Zahir and Patrice Eydoux and Marco A Marra
DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-10-526
2009

Increased dental caries in people with neurofibromatosis 1
Clinical Genetics
T Tucker and P Birch and DM Savoy and JM Friedman
DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-0004.2007.00886.x
08/2007

Associations of osseous abnormalities in Neurofibromatosis 1
American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A
S. Alwan and L. Armstrong and H. Joe and P.H. Birch and J. Szudek and J.M. Friedman
DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.31754
2007

Assessment of algorithms for high throughput detection of genomic copy number variation in oligonucleotide microarray data
BMC Bioinformatics
Baross, ?. and Delaney, A.D. and Li, H.I. and Nayar, T. and Flibotte, S. and Qian, H. and Chan, S.Y. and Asano, J. and Ally, A. and Cao, M. and Birch, P. and Brown-John, M. and Fernandes, N. and Go, A. and Kennedy, G. and Langlois, S. and Eydoux, P. and Friedman, J.M. and Marra, M.A.
DOI: 10.1186/1471-2105-8-368
2007

Oligonucleotide microarray analysis of genomic imbalance in children with mental retardation
American Journal of Human Genetics
Friedman, J.M. and Baross, ?. and Delaney, A.D. and Ally, A. and Arbour, L. and Asano, J. and Bailey, D.K. and Barber, S. and Birch, P. and Brown-John, M. and Cao, M. and Chan, S. and Charest, D.L. and Farnoud, N. and Fernandes, N. and Flibotte, S. and Go, A. and Gibson, W.T. and Holt, R.A. and Jones, S.J.M. and Kennedy, G.C. and Krzywinski, M. and Langlois, S. and Li, H.I. and McGillivray, B.C. and Nayar, T. and Pugh, T.J. and Rajcan-Separovic, E. and Schein, J.E. and Schnerch, A. and Siddiqui, A. and Van Allen, M.I. and Wilson, G. and Yong, S.-L. and Zahir, F. and Eydoux, P. and Marra, M.A.
DOI: 10.1086/507471
2006

Subcutaneous neurofibromas are associated with mortality in neurofibromatosis 1: A cohort study of 703 patients
American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A
Kiarash Khosrotehrani and Sylvie Bastuji-Garin and Vincent M. Riccardi and Patricia Birch and Jan M. Friedman and Pierre Wolkenstein
DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.30394
01/2005

Faceturs predictifs d'aggravation et de developpement d'une neoplasie chez le enfants atteints de neurofibromatose de type 1: suivi d'une cohorte pediatrique de 563 patients
Journees Dermatolgiques de Paris
2005

Utility and limitations of genetic disease databases in clinical genetics research: A neurofibromatosis 1 database example
American Journal of Medical Genetics
Patricia Birch and J.M. Friedman
DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.c.30007
2004

Facteurs predictifs de mortalite au cours de la neurofibromatose 1: Etude d'une cohorte de 703 cas
Journees Dermatolgiques de Paris
2004

Erratum: Genital tract and plasma human immunodeficiency virus viral load throughout the menstrual cycle in ovulatory women who are infected with human immunodeficiency virus (American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (2003) 188 (122-128))
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Money, D.M. and Arikan, Y.Y. and Remple, V. and Sherlock, C. and Craib, K. and Birch, P. and Burdge, D.R.
2003

Genital tract and plasma human immunodeficiency virus viral load throughout the menstrual cycle in women who are infected with ovulatory human immunodeficiency virus
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Money, D.M. and Arikan, Y.Y. and Remple, V. and Sherlock, C. and Craib, K. and Birch, P. and Burdge, D.R.
DOI: 10.1067/mob.2003.65
2003

Gliomas presenting after age 10 in individuals with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1)
Neurology
D. H. Gutmann and S. A. Rasmussen and P. Wolkenstein and M. M. MacCollin and A. Guha and P. D. Inskip and K. N. North and M. Poyhonen and P. H. Birch and J. M. Friedman
DOI: 10.1212/wnl.59.5.759
09/2002

Vertebral scalloping in neurofibromatosis type 1: a quantitative approach
Journal Canadien de Chirurgie
Kwok, Edmund S.H. AND Sawatzky, Bonita AND Birch, Patricia AND Friedman, Jan M. AND Tredwell, Stephen J.
2002

Gliomas presenting after age 10 in individuals with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1)
Neurology
Gutmann, D.H. and Rasmussen, S.A. and Wolkenstein, P. and MacCollin, M.M. and Guha, A. and Inskip, P.D. and North, K.N. and Poyhonen, M. and Birch, P.H. and Friedman, J.M.
DOI: 10.1212/WNL.59.5.759
2002

Vertebral scalloping in neurofibromatosis type 1: A quantitative approach
Canadian Journal of Surgery
Kwok, E.S.H. and Sawatzky, B. and Birch, P. and Friedman, J.M. and Tredwell, S.J.
2002

Growth charts for young children with neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1)
American Journal of Medical Genetics
Jacek Szudek and Patricia Birch and Jan M. Friedman
DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1096-8628(20000529)92:33.0.co;2-j
05/2000

Associations of clinical features in neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1)
Genetic Epidemiology
J. Szudek and P. Birch and V.M. Riccardi and D.G. Evans and J.M. Friedman
DOI: 10.1002/1098-2272(200012)19:43.3.co;2-e
2000

Associations of clinical features in neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1)
Genetic Epidemiology
Szudek, J. and Birch, P. and Riccardi, V.M. and Evans, D.G. and Friedman, J.M.
DOI: 10.1002/1098-2272(200012)19:43.0.CO;2-N
2000

Growth charts for young children with neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) (multiple letters)
American Journal of Medical Genetics
Szudek, J. and Birch, P. and Friedman, J.M.
DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1096-8628(20000529)92:33.0.CO;2-J
2000

Growth in North American white children with neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1)
Journal of Medical Genetics
Szudek, J. and Birch, P. and Friedman, J.M. and Burke, W. and Bennett, R. and de Campos, J.M. and Korf, B. and Krause, W. and Uhas, K. and Niimura, M. and Inaba, Y. and North, K. and Ortenberg, J. and der Kaloustian, V. and Poyhonen, M. and Rubenstein, A. and Short, P. and Bove, K. and Stine, S. and Nicholson, L. and Tenconi, R. and Zackai, E. and Carey, J. and Viskochil, D. and Bochkov, N. and Schorry, E. and Tinschert, S. and Kelly, T. and Klein, J. and Piynick, E. and Colley, A. and Schulke, M. and Signorini, M. and Wolkenstein, P. and Danek, A.
DOI: 10.1136/jmg.37.12.933
2000

Cardiovascular malformations and other cardiovascular abnormalities in neurofibromatosis 1
American Journal of Medical Genetics
Lin, A.E. and Birch, P.H. and Korf, B.R. and Tenconi, R. and Niimura, M. and Poyhonen, M. and Uhas, K.A. and Sigorini, M. and Virdis, R. and Romano, C. and Bonioli, E. and Wolkenstein, P. and Pivnick, E.K. and Lawrence, M. and Friedman, J.M.
DOI: 10.1002/1096-8628(20001113)95:23.0.CO;2-0
2000

Cardiovascular malformations and other cardiovascular abnormalities in neurofibromatosis 1
American Journal of Medical Genetics
Angela E. Lin and Patricia H. Birch and Bruce R. Korf and Romano Tenconi and Michihito Niimura and Minna Poyhonen and Kim Armfield Uhas and Mauro Sigorini and Raffaele Virdis and Corrado Romano and Eugenio Bonioli and Pierre Wolkenstein and Eniko K. Pivnick and Marcella Lawrence and J.M. Friedman and the NNFF International Database Participants
DOI: 10.1002/1096-8628(20001113)95:23.0.co;2-0
2000

Descriptive analysis of tibial pseudarthrosis in patients with neurofibromatosis 1
American Journal of Medical Genetics
David A. Stevenson and Patricia H. Birch and J.M. Friedman and David H. Viskochil and Paolo Balestrazzi and Stefania Boni and Annegret Buske and Bruce R. Korf and Michihito Niimura and Eniko K. Pivnick and Elizabeth K. Schorry and M. Priscilla Short and Romano Tenconi and James H. Tonsgard and John C. Carey
DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1096-8628(19990611)84:53.0.co;2-1
06/1999

Association of superficial plexiform and paraspinal neurofibromas in neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1)
Neurology
M. E. Baser and P. H. Birch and D. G. R. Evans and J. M. Friedman and J. H. Tonsgard
DOI: 10.1212/wnl.52.7.1517-d
04/1999

Association of superficial plexiform and paraspinal neurofibromas in neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) [5] (multiple letters)
Neurology
Baser, M.E. and Birch, P.H. and Evans, D.G.R. and Friedman, J.M. and Tonsgard, J.H.
1999

Descriptive analysis of tibial pseudarthrosis in patients with neurofibromatosis 1
American Journal of Medical Genetics
Stevenson, D.A. and Birch, P.H. and Friedman, J.M. and Viskochil, D.H. and Balestrazzi, P. and Boni, S. and Buske, A. and Korf, B.R. and Niimura, M. and Pivnick, E.K. and Schorry, E.K. and Short, M.P. and Tenconi, R. and Tonsgard, J.H. and Carey, J.C.
DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1096-8628(19990611)84:53.0.CO;2-1
1999

Type 1 neurofibromatosis: A descriptive analysis of the disorder in 1,728 patients
American Journal of Medical Genetics
J. M. Friedman and Patricia H. Birch
DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1096-8628(19970516)70:23.0.co;2-u
05/1997

An Association Between Optic Glioma and Other Tumours of the Central Nervous System in Neurofibromatosis Type 1
Neuropediatrics
J. Friedman and P. Birch
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-973687
04/1997

Type 1 neurofibromatosis: A descriptive analysis of the disorder in 1,728 patients
American Journal of Medical Genetics
Friedman, J.M. and Birch, P.H.
DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1096-8628(19970516)70:23.0.CO;2-U
1997

Linkage analysis of X-linked cleft palate and ankyloglossia in Manitoba Mennonite and British Columbia Native kindreds
Human Genetics
SharonM. Gorski and KarenJ. Adams and PatriciaH. Birch and BernardN. Chodirker and CherylR. Greenberg and PaulJ. Goodfellow
DOI: 10.1007/bf00202859
08/1994

Linkage analysis of X-linked cleft palate and ankyloglossia in Manitoba Mennonite and British Columbia Native kindreds
Human Genetics
Gorski, S.M. and Adams, K.J. and Birch, P.H. and Chodirker, B.N. and Greenberg, C.R. and Goodfellow, P.J.
DOI: 10.1007/BF00202859
1994

Carbamazepine poisoning in children
Pediatric Emergency Care
ANDREW J. MACNAB and PATRICIA BIRCH and JOHN MACREADY
DOI: 10.1097/00006565-199308000-00003
08/1993

National Neurofibromatosis Foundation International Database
American Journal of Medical Genetics
J. M. Friedman and Patricia Birch and Carol Greene and NNFF International Database Participants
DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.1320450121
01/1993

The gene responsible for X-linked cleft palate (CPX) in a British Columbia native kindred is localized between PGK1 and DXYS1
American Journal of Human Genetics
1992

The gene responsible for X-linked cleft palate (CPX) in a British Columbia Native kindred is localized between PGKI and DXYSI
American Journal of Human Genetics
Gorski, S.M. and Adams, K.J. and Birch, P.H. and Friedman, J.M. and Goodfellow, P.J.
1992

Research

Current Projects
The Friedman Lab’s long-term neurofibromatosis (NF) research program works to improve understanding of the natural history of NF and the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying it. This includes studies of the cardiovascular and orthopedic complications, the clinical course of optic gliomas and other brain tumours, and other manifestations of the condition. Supporting quality of life, and providing optimal clinical care is an important issue for families with NF.

Several other research projects focus on patient-centred care. The first relates to health economics, particularly the out-of-pocket costs to families , and the non-medical societal costs of caring for children with intellectual disabilities. Surprisingly, these cost data did not previously exist in Canada and are poorly studied elsewhere in the world. We have developed, tested, and published an online tool to capture families’ and society’s costs of caring for children with developmental challenges and other conditions. In this way we can assess the impact of introducing new tests or treatments for these children.

Our lab’s involvement in genome-wide sequencing provides the opportunity to assess the best ways to support families’ decisions regarding genomic testing: We have developed DECIDE, an online, interactive educational tool and decision-aid designed to improve families’ understanding of issues surrounding genome-wide sequencing, and help support their choices. Use of such decision-aids has been shown to promote informed decisions that are consistent with the user’s values. We are studying the efficacy and acceptability of DECIDE for families’ genomic testing decisions. We are also measuring the outcomes for those who choose genomic testing, including psychological benefit or burden, the impact on quality of life, empowerment, and the ability to adapt and cope for parents and other family members.

Grants

2014-2015 Principal Applicant “Diagnosing the Causes of Complex Intellectual Disability

a decision support tool for families Rare Disease Foundation, $3,500

2013-2014 Principal Applicant DECIDE-Genomics

2013-2015 Co-investigator Assessing Shared Decision Making in Genetic Counselling of High-Risk Pregnancies APOGEE/CanGene, $25,000. PI

J.M Friedman

Does Genome-Wide Sequencing Result in Cost Savings to Healthcare, Families and Society?” Rare Disease Foundation, $3,500.

2013-2014 Principal Applicant Costs of Caring for Children with Rare Diseases Rare Disease Foundation, $3,500

2015-2016 Principal Applicant What is the prevalence and natural history of optic-and non-optic glioma in adults with neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1)? Rare Disease Foundation, $3,500

Research Group Members

Shelin Adam, Investigator and Research Genetic Counsellor, BC Children's Hospital
Taghrid Aloraini, Graduate Research Assistant
Sura Alwan, Bilingual Arabic-speaking Research Coordinator
Iris Caglayan, Research Assistant
Jan Friedman, Investigator, BC Children's Hospital
Colleen Guimond, Genetic Counsellor
Jessica Ha
Kyle Jenkins, Masters Student
Liza Mak, Administrative Coordinator
Jill Mwenifumbo, Genome Analyst
Jasmine Peng, Research Assistant
Lauren T Piers, Research Genetic Counsellor
Indhu Rajan Babu, Research Associate
Riya Saju, Graduate Research Assistant
Andrew Sherrard, PhD Student
Ada Tsui
Shanik Vij, Research Assistant