Categories: genomics
May 23rd, 2013 12:26 pm ET -
Marta Gwinn, Consultant, McKing Consulting Corp, Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The proposed Advanced Molecular Detection initiative aims to help CDC apply molecular sequencing and bioinformatics techniques to solving outbreaks and controlling infectious diseases. This approach has been called “genomic epidemiology”—using pathogen genome sequences to detect emerging diseases, assess their potential virulence and resistance to antibiotics, and monitor their spread in populations. The focus is on pathogen genomes, applying advances in molecular and bioinformatics methods first developed for human genome research.*
Each week, OPHG’s Genomics & Health Impact Update includes a list of articles on genomics published by CDC scientists. These articles are selected from the latest edition of Science Clips, an online bibliographic digest that CDC shares weekly with the public health community and the public. What genomic studies are CDC public health scientists doing—and which genomes are they writing about? We went to the archives to find out.
In 2012, Science Clips listed 178 articles on genomics with one or more CDC authors. Of these, 111 (62%) concerned bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasite genomes; 61 (34%) concerned the human genome; and 6 (3%) concerned genomes of other animal species (Figure).
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Categories: genomics
April 11th, 2013 2:51 pm ET -
Guest Blogger
W. Gregory Feero, MD, PhD, Maine Dartmouth Family Medicine Residency
It has been said that the folks at the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) never pass up the chance for well-deserved celebration – and I should know, I was one of them. Probably at least a few readers have noticed that the Human Genome Project (HGP) has celebrated a number of milestones and anniversaries over the years – and 2013 is no exception. April 14, 2013 marks the 10th anniversary of the completion of the Human Genome Project, and as one might expect, NHGRI has a number of commemorative events planned. Though most individuals outside of the genomics research community think only of the most obvious output of the HGP – the actual linear sequence of A’s, G’s, C’s and T’s that make up the human blueprint , the project comprised much more than that. Additional components included sequencing of several important model organisms, creation of maps of the human genome that have greatly facilitated the work of discovering mutations causal of disease, and development of technologies to make genomics research cheaper, faster, and more accurate. Reflecting on the last decade of progress in basic and biomedical research made possible by genomics, it is not too difficult to conclude that the HGP was a great public investment in science made in the second half of the 20th century.
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Categories: genomics
March 28th, 2013 3:01 pm ET -
Scott Bowen, Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers For Disease Control and Prevention
Muin J Khoury, Director, Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Sequencing is No Longer a Sleeping Controversy
In the classic Disney version of the fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty is hidden in the woods to protect her from the knowledge of an evil curse… but when she later pricks her finger on a spinning wheel, she falls under a fairy’s spell…
Unlike the mythical magic of centuries old stories, modern science is changing our lives in ways that are anything but fantasy. Advances in whole genome sequencing (WGS) promise to reveal fundamental information about our risks for various diseases. By definition WGS includes an enormous amount of data: six billion base pairs in a human’s genome. Unfortunately, we do not yet know what to do with the great majority of these data points, a fact that will become even more important in the next decade. For as sequencing technology becomes less and less expensive, it could soon be more economical and practical to simply conduct WGS rather than individual tests that assess one or a few genetic variants.
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Categories: evidence-based medicine, genomics, public health
March 21st, 2013 3:05 pm ET -
Guest Blogger
Jenna McLosky and Debra Duquette, Michigan Department of Community Health
Beverly Burke and Joan Foland, Connecticut Department of Public Health
We take the opportunity of March 22, 2013, designated as Lynch Syndrome Awareness Day by 13 U.S. state governors and counting, to highlight state public health genomics programs that are taking innovative approaches to implement evidence-based genomic testing recommendations for hereditary cancer syndromes, including Lynch syndrome.
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Categories: evidence-based medicine, genomics
February 28th, 2013 2:32 pm ET -
Michael P. Douglas, Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
W. David Dotson, Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The independent EGAPP working group (EWG) held its 26th meeting on February 11-12, 2013 at the CDC campus in Atlanta. Highlights included:
- Three EWG recommendation statements on the validity and utility of genetic tests are pending publication on:
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Categories: Population screening, genomics
February 21st, 2013 1:02 pm ET -
Muin J Khoury, Director, Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Scientific and implementation challenges
Population screening for disease is a concept that has been around for many decades. Its main purpose is early detection and treatment of asymptomatic disease, or risk assessment and prevention of future disease, in order to improve health outcomes in individuals and populations. Examples include mammography in breast cancer screening and colonoscopy in colorectal cancer screening. Principles and criteria for population screening programs have been developed by many organizations and have evolved over time. These principles ensure that the benefits of screening programs outweigh potential harms such as overdiagnosis, inappropriate interventions and anxiety.
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Categories: genomics
January 24th, 2013 2:33 pm ET -
Marta Gwinn, Consultant, McKing Consulting Corp, Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
A Public Health Role for Human Genetics
Two non-profit foundations with distinct missions recently announced that they are joining forces to support polio eradication. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) supports global health programs; the Jeffrey Modell Foundation (JMF) advocates for early diagnosis and treatment of genetic immunodeficiency disorders. How did these organizations find common cause?
During the last two decades, surveillance and strategic vaccination campaigns deployed by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative have reduced polio incidence worldwide by 99.8 percent. Wild poliovirus cases are now uncommon, with fewer than 250 new cases reported wordwide during 2012. Endemic transmission is now limited to small areas of just three countries—Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan.
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Categories: genomics, public health
January 3rd, 2013 2:17 pm ET -
Muin J Khoury, Director, Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
In 2012, the United States and the United Kingdom marked 15 years of public health genomics, a multidisciplinary field that deals with the effective and responsible translation of genome-based science to improve population health. Fifteen years ago, a new era of personalized healthcare and disease prevention seemed only around the corner. However, the promise of the Human Genome Project was mixed with unrealistic expectations. The “genomics revolution” was expected to be applied in the very near term to broad segments of the population. The public health genomics community called for a scientific approach to explore the balance of benefits and harms of the new science in both clinical and population health applications. Simultaneously, an international collaboration developed a road map for integration of emerging genomic technologies into health practice. A major achievement for public health genomics has been an enhanced dialogue among the basic, clinical and public health-related scientific communities. Public health genomics also has begun to prepare the workforce for integrating new tools in practice and for integrating genomics in public health’s essential functions of assessment, policy development, assurance and evaluation.
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Categories: genetic counseling, genomics, screening
November 29th, 2012 12:37 pm ET -
Muin J Khoury, Director, Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
There are more than 2500 diseases for which genetic testing is currently available. Most of these diseases are individually rare conditions but collectively affect millions of individuals and families worldwide. Genetic diseases are usually caused by mutations in one or a few genes that may confer a high risk of illness, disability and early death. Immediate relatives of affected people can be at highest risk for these diseases. Rapid advances in genomics, including whole genome sequencing, are leading to more accurate diagnosis, early detection and carrier testing for these diseases. Genetic counseling provides information for decision making by affected people and their families.
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Categories: evidence-based medicine, family history, genomics, public health
October 3rd, 2012 11:07 am ET -
Scott Bowen, Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers For Disease Control and Prevention
Karen Greendale, Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers For Disease Control and Prevention
A Working Meeting and an Action Plan
to Save Lives Now
Nearly 2 million Americans are affected by one of three genetic conditions with a strong risk of early morbidity and mortality: BRCA 1/2 and hereditary breast and ovarian cancer; Lynch syndrome and colorectal , endometrial and ovarian cancer; and familial hypercholesterolemia and early cardiovascular events. At present these conditions are poorly identified by the healthcare system but evidence based recommendations are available to prevent disease and improve health.
Opening speaker, Dr. Ursula Bauer Director, NCCDPHP discusses a point later in the day with Dr. Khoury, OPHG Director
On September 7, 2012, eighty experts and stakeholders representing federal, state and local public health agencies, clinicians, key advocates and community leaders came together at CDC’s Roybal headquarters in Atlanta to develop a plan to use evidence based “Tier I” interventions to reduce morbidity and mortality from these three conditions. The event was organized by the CDC Office of Public Health Genomics (OPHG) with help from the University of Michigan Center for Public Health and Community Genomics, Genetic Alliance, and a multi-disciplinary planning committee. The full meeting report is published on the Genomics Forum website and is available for download at http://genomicsforum.org/editoruploads/ActionstoSaveLivesNowReport.pdf
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