Genomics and Precision Health Posts
Public Health Genomics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Happy 25th Anniversary!
In 1997, in response to the Human Genome Project, the CDC formed the Office of Genetics and Disease Prevention, now called the Office of Genomics and Precision Public Health (OGPPH). This was the beginning of the public health genomics movement in the United States and around the world. Our office continues to serve CDC programs, Read More >
Posted on by 1 CommentPreeclampsia, Genomics and Public Health
A recent study identified a cell free RNA (cfRNA) signature that was promising in predicting pre-eclampsia several weeks before the onset of symptoms. At 29 weeks pregnant, Erica was diagnosed with preeclampsia, a pregnancy complication marked by high blood pressure and signs of organ failure, most often liver or kidney damage. According to the Mayo Read More >
Posted on by 1 CommentThe Limits of Risk Prediction: Remembering Cecile Janssens
“The number of possible ‘causal’ [gene-environment] interactions is so enormous that every patient’s disease likely has its own complex and unique cause. This uniqueness limits predictive ability: it is impossible to accurately predict something that has never occurred before.” Cecile Janssens, DNA tells great stories—about the past, not future, WIRED, December 5, 2013 Risk prediction Read More >
Posted on by 5 CommentsFamilial Hypercholesterolemia Screening in Children and Adolescents in the United States: Where Are We Heading?
A September 2022 publication recommended that every European country should have a Familial Hypercholesterolemia program for early detection screening, diagnosis, and care. Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic condition that results in elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) from birth, resulting in increased risk of heart disease and myocardial infarction. A 2021 blog from Read More >
Posted on by Leave a commentFrom Polygenic Risk Scores to Methylation Risk Scores: What are the Clinical Applications?
A recent study used methylation risk scores to improve predictive value of baseline models for a range of clinical diagnoses and laboratory tests. The ability to understand and predict a person’s risk of disease is an integral component of precision medicine and precision public health. Many factors, including environmental and genetic, contribute to a person’s Read More >
Posted on by Leave a commentGenetic Discrimination and Misuse of Genetic Information: Areas of Possible Discrimination, Current Legislation, and Potential Limitations
The emergence and the rapid development of various genetic technologies and their incorporation into precision medicine have greatly expanded medicine’s capabilities. At the same time, concerns about the availability and dissemination of vast amounts of personally relevant data have focused attention on potential problems of genetic discrimination. Over the past three decades, concerns about genetic discrimination Read More >
Posted on by Leave a commentFrom Genomics to Proteomics— What’s the Impact on Population Health?
Advances in genomic sequencing technology are transforming medical discovery, enabling researchers to conduct comprehensive explorations across whole genomes for individuals and populations. Genomics has led to valuable insights into the complex processes influencing health and disease. It has paved the way for studying how genes regulate the most basic functions of the cell, including what Read More >
Posted on by 1 CommentTrends in Tier 1 Genomic Applications 2013-2022
The CDC Tier 1 genomic applications database can help consumers, providers, health care organizations and public health programs accelerate the translation of genomic discoveries into improved population health. Background Advances in genomics and precision medicine are proceeding at a rapid pace. Many genomic tests have reached clinical practice without clear indication as to whether their Read More >
Posted on by Leave a commentGenomics, Health Equity, and Global Health
The World Health Organization’s Science Council recently issued its first report on accelerating access to genomics for global health. The report makes a strong case for less-resourced countries to gain access to such technologies. Although remarkable progress has been made in the translation of genomic discoveries into health benefits, in 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) reminded Read More >
Posted on by Leave a commentFrom the Genome to the Exposome: Mapping Causal Associations Between Environmental Factors and Population Health
Environmental factors such as lifestyle, diet, and exposure to toxins and chemical agents, can play an important role in our health. Complementary to the “genome,” which is the complete set of an individual’s genetic information, the “exposome” represents an individual’s complete set of environmental exposures throughout their lifetime. Coined in 2005, the “exposome” captures the Read More >
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