Introducing HomeRNA
An EDGE pilot grant supported the development of an innovative approach to blood collection that represents a new paradigm for research
Theberge's homeRNA kit includes a Tasso-SST device to collect blood from the arm as well as a tube filled with RNAlater, a stabilizer that protects the integrity of RNA during shipment. Figure adapted from Haack et al 2021.
Does It Work?
When Ashleigh Theberge and her team first applied for approval from the UW IRB to test their homeRNA kit on volunteers, they had no idea that that approval would come in February 2020 just at the cusp of dramatic global change.
“So obviously we didn’t do any in-person demonstrations. We quickly pivoted to a fully remote study, just to see if the technology worked,” said Theberge.
The team also shifted their focus from asthma to COVID. “We were getting interest from the U.S. Department of Defense and various top universities from around the country, as well as UW and Fred Hutch [the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center]. They all wanted to use the kit for COVID research.”
As a result of the demand for their kit, the team’s work was designated as “mission critical,” allowing them to have two researchers working on campus in isolation. “Actually, some of it was developed in my student’s apartment when she was working remotely before we were allowed to come back,” said Theberge.
By the summer of 2020, homeRNA was ready for a fully remote test. Theberge’s team sent the kit to 47 volunteers of varied age, body mass index, and gender living in single family homes and large apartment complexes, in rural, urban, and suburban areas, on both coasts and in the Midwest. Kits included instructions on how to collect blood samples, combine the blood with the stabilizer, and mail the samples back to the lab. Once the samples reached the lab, Theberge’s team extracted the RNA and assessed it for total amount and quality.
They found that it worked! Almost all participants found the kit easy to use and relatively painless and all samples were sufficient for analysis of targeted gene activity. Over 80 percent would also be sufficient for analysis of genome-wide patterns of transcription.
This map shows the locations of the pilot study participants and local Air Quality Indexes reflecting PM 2.5 smoke exposure during the 2021 wildfire season. Each participant is represented by a circle and the shading of each state is based on the number of participants in that state. Colored contours overlaying the states show the local Air Quality Indexes. The map was generated using ArcGIS software, with data taken from the EPA AirNow interactive map from August 13, 2021 (AirNow.gov). On this day, participants were sent homeRNA kits to sample their blood during this smoke exposure event. Figure courtesy of Lauren Brown and Ingrid Jeacopello.
Each year the EDGE Center provides pilot grants of $40,000 to three or more University of Washington research teams with innovative approaches to advance environmental health science or its translation. An additional $10,000 is available for projects that feature community engagement.
