Genomics and Precision Health Posts
Genomic Medicine Year in Review 2019: What’s Hot for Public Health Impact?
Advances in genomic medicine continue at a fast and steady pace. In a recent paper, The Genomic Medicine Working Group of the National Advisory Council for Human Genome Research of the National Human Genome Research Institute identified the most significant advances in genomic medicine among 48 recognized “accomplishments” published during the 12 months ending August 31, Read More >
Posted on byAre we Ready for DNA-based Population Screening? The Need for Large Collaborative Pilot Studies
This blog is a summary of a recent viewpoint published in the Journal of American Medical Association. There is increasing evidence that accepted approaches using medical history-based screening fail to identify the majority of individuals with genetic conditions associated with cancer and heart disease, including CDC tier 1 applications, such as hereditary breast and ovarian Read More >
Posted on byHappy Thanksgiving 2019: Collect and Share Your Family Health History: It Could Save Your Life!
Happy Thanksgiving Day! It is time for our yearly message on the importance of family health history to your own health. Year after year we promote the value on family health history around Thanksgiving day and all year round. By knowing and acting on your family history, you can reduce your disease risk and actually Read More >
Posted on byFamilial Hypercholesterolemia as a Prototype for Precision Public Health
In October 2019, the 7th annual FH Foundation global summit on familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) took place in Atlanta, Georgia. The theme of the conference was, “Familial Hypercholesterolemia as a Prototype for Precision Public Health.” The meeting brought more than 300 participants from multiple countries to discuss the latest advances in the diagnosis, screening, treatment and Read More >
Posted on byPublic Health Perspectives on Ensuring Life Long Benefits of Newborn Screening
This blog post is a summary of a Perspective recently published in Pediatrics that was authored by Alex Kemper of Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Jeffrey Brosco of the Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, and Coleen Boyle and Scott Grosse of CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. Newborn screening is a highly Read More >
Posted on byMany Adults with Familial Hypercholesterolemia Are Not Meeting Goal LDL-Cholesterol Level
People with the genetic disorder familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) have increased blood levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which increases their risk for developing coronary artery disease or having a heart attack. A recent study using data from the FH Foundation’s CASCADE FH Registry suggests that many individuals with FH are not meeting blood LDL-cholesterol level Read More >
Posted on byWhat’s the “value” of exome sequencing in children with neurodevelopmental disorders?
This is a summary of a recent commentary in Genetics in Medicine by Grosse and Rasmussen. Exome sequencing (ES) is increasingly used as part of the genetics evaluation of neurodevelopmental disorders, and acute illness in newborns of suspected genetic origin, among others. However, barriers to the clinical use of ES include a widespread reluctance of insurers Read More >
Posted on byCan a Healthy Lifestyle Reduce Your Risk of Dementia Regardless of Your Genes? – Part II
A new, long term cohort study suggests that healthy lifestyle is associated with a lower risk for dementia among people considered at lower and intermediate genetic risk but not for those considered at high genetic risk. “Globally, about 47 million people were living with dementia in 2015, and this number is projected to triple by Read More >
Posted on byCan an Aspirin a Day Prevent Colorectal Cancer in People with Lynch Syndrome?
Encouraging news for group at much greater risk of CRC Lynch syndrome (LS) is the most common cause of hereditary colorectal (colon) cancer (CRC). People with LS have a 50-70% risk of developing CRC in their lifetimes – far higher than the 4% risk within the general population where CRC is a leading cause of Read More >
Posted on byIntroducing the CDC Office of Genomics and Precision Public Health: What’s in a Name?
Starting this week, the CDC Office of Public Health Genomics will be renamed the CDC Office of Genomics and Precision Public Health. In many ways, this transition has been a few years in the making and reflects the continuous broadening of our scope from human genomics and public health to include other areas relevant to Read More >
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