Derek Ansel, MS, CGC, on the Growing Role of Genetic Counselors in Clinical Trials

This interview was originally published on our sister site, NeurologyLive®.

"It takes a village to run a clinical trial—and I can’t think of a better profession than genetic counselors to fill the gaps across every stage of research."

The design, execution, and interpretation of clinical trials is now part of clinical genetics, as the field has expanded rapidly from the purview of diagnostic testing alone. Indeed, genetic counselors (GCs) have grown from serving only as patient-facing educators to providing important contributions through the research continuum as research in fields like neurology and rare disease have integrated more and more genetically defined end points and biomarker-based study designs. Particularly as precision medicine becomes a key part of drug development, genetic counselors are able to bring unique value through expertise in genetics, communication, and ethical decision-making.

Notably, clinical studies as this change is occurring are becoming increasingly complex, expensive, and patient-specific, putting immense pressure on the clinical research world. Thus, data analysis, regulatory submissions, and even early-stage trial strategy are among the areas of interest where GCs are being recruited for support, especially in neurology and rare genetic disorders. Overall. GCs now have a number of newly-created opportunities to influence design, running, and interpretation of clinical trials, as a result of the expanding intersection between clinical genetics and development of new therapeutics.

At the 44th National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) Annual Conference, held November 6-10, 2025, in Seattle, Washington, Derek Ansel, MS, CGC, the vice president of rare disease strategy at Worldwide Clinical Trials, gave a presentation entitled “The Next Phase: The Evolving Role of Genetic Counselors in Clinical Trials and Research.” Ansel, spoke with CGTLive® and NeurologyLive® about the key themes from his session and about how GCs can apply their skills beyond traditional clinical settings. Throughout the conversation, he spoke on interpreting complex biomarker data, improving collaboration, and the ways GCs can bridge the gap between science, ethics, and patient care.

Click here to view more coverage of the 2025 NSGC Annual Conference.