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Public Health Approach to Big Data in the Age of Genomics: How Can we Separate Signal from Noise?
The term Big Data is used to describe massive volumes of both structured and unstructured data that is so large and complex it is difficult to process and analyze. Examples of big data include the following: diagnostic medical imaging, DNA sequencing and other molecular technologies, environmental exposures, behavioral factors, financial transactions, geographic information & social Read More >
Posted on by 1 CommentIs Genomics Widening the Schism Between Medicine and Public Health?
In 2007, we published a paper entitled: “Will genomics heal or widen the schism between medicine and public health?” We explored the long standing split between medicine and public health and how the emergence of genomics and other technologies can affect it. The “schism” was identified by Kerr White in his 1991 book in which Read More >
Posted on by 1 CommentNobody is average but what to do about it? The challenge of individualized disease prevention based on genomics
Each week, Garrison Keillor shares with National Public Radio listeners the latest news from Lake Wobegon where “all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average.” The concept of “average” is deeply rooted in our scientific analysis of all health related traits such as height, Read More >
Posted on byGeography, Genetics and Leading Causes of Death
In the United States, the 5 leading causes of death are heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory diseases, cerebrovascular diseases (stroke), and unintentional injuries. On May 2, 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released an MMWR report on the annual number of potentially preventable deaths from these 5 causes in the United States. Read More >
Posted on byReconciling the future of genomic medicine with its current reality: how do we get there from here?
On March 5-6, 2014, I attended the 7th annual Future of Genomic Medicine (FoGM) conference [PDF 778.13 KB], hosted by Dr. Eric Topol at the Scripps Translational Science Institute. The audience included more than 500 participants from various fields including genomics, clinical medicine, laboratory medicine, industry, economics, social and communication sciences, patients and the press. Read More >
Posted on byPublic Health Genomics Highlights 2013
At the end of each year, we read about top lists of major events, accomplishments, and milestones. These lists are produced by journal editors, institutions and opinion leaders. CDC is no exception. In December 2013, CDC published its top 5 accomplishments for 2013, which include the Tips from former smokers campaign, outbreak investigations featuring pathogen Read More >
Posted on byWhen Should We All Have Our Genomes Sequenced?
Recently, George Church, a prominent genomics researcher and leader of the Personal Genome Project asked why so few people are opting to inspect their genome. The cost and accuracy of genome sequencing have certainly improved dramatically. He clearly sees the health benefits of whole genome sequencing. He states “we should avoid being judgmental of people Read More >
Posted on by 2 CommentsPublic Health Genomics in Action: Reducing Morbidity and Mortality from Familial Hypercholesterolemia
In September, 2013, I participated in the International Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) Summit in Annapolis, Maryland. The event was sponsored by the FH Foundation, a patient-centered organization formed in 2011 to raise awareness about the condition and to develop actions for saving lives of patients and families with FH. The meeting brought together, from the US Read More >
Posted on byGenetic Epidemiology: What a Difference 20 Years Can Make!
In my introduction to the textbook ”Genetic Epidemiology: Methods and Applications” just published by Dr. Melissa Austin and colleagues, I commented on the remarkable evolution of the field in the 20 years since I wrote “Fundamentals of Genetic Epidemiology” with Drs. Bernice Cohen and Terri Beaty from Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health. Read More >
Posted on byPublic Health Impact of Genome-Wide Association Studies: Glass Half Full or Half Empty?
Genome-wide association studies (or GWAS) are large-scale genetic investigations of human disease that measure simultaneously hundreds of thousands of genetic variants scattered throughout the human genome. GWAS burst onto the scientific scene in the mid 2000’s. Propelled by technological advances and falling prices, GWAS have revolutionized the search for genetic influences on common diseases of Read More >
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