Genomics and Precision Health Posts
No Genome is an Island
There was no cholera in Haiti until October 2010, when epidemic cholera swept the country. Within 6 months, more than 250,000 people were sickened and 4,000 died. A catastrophic earthquake earlier that year had exacerbated human and environmental risks by displacing millions of people and disrupting public health infrastructure. But there would have been no Read More >
Posted on by 1 CommentFamily Health History and the Holidays
During the holiday season, many of us will be watching our favorite holiday movies for the umpteenth time. Some of our favorites (according to Gayot, Moviefone and Yahoo are Home Alone, A Christmas Story, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and It’s a Wonderful Life. Most holiday movies seem to have relatives as central characters and family gatherings Read More >
Posted on by 1 CommentBeyond Base Pairs to Bedside: A Community Consultation on Closing the Gap between Genomic Discoveries and the Public’s Health
In June 2011, the CDC Office of Public Health Genomics launched a community wide consultation process to develop priorities for the field of public health genomics in the next 5 years. This process was initiated as part of strategic visioning for integrating the emerging tools of genomics into practice and assuring the success of these Read More >
Posted on byCan We have Our Genome and Eat It Too? Deploying the Whole Genome Sequence In Medicine and Public Health, One Base Pair At A Time.
This post was originally published November 3, 2011 but is still very much applicable in 2013! The popular proverbial saying “you cannot have your cake and eat it too” implies that one cannot consume something and preserve it at the same time–in other words, we cannot have it both ways. Well, for once, maybe we Read More >
Posted on by 4 CommentsA Million Hearts, A Thousand Genes, and Your Family History
In September 2011, the US Department of Health and Human Services announced a new initiative to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes in the United States in the next 5 years. This campaign will implement proven, effective, and inexpensive interventions in both clinical and community settings. In clinical practice, it will improve management of Read More >
Posted on by 3 CommentsGenomics in Public Health Preparedness: Chance Favors the Prepared Mind
Contagion, catastrophe, even “zombie apocalypse”— whatever the threat, an all hazards approach goes a long way toward protecting individuals and communities. But besides delivering broad-spectrum medical and technical support, the public health system has to be ready to investigate. Public health sciences help keep “better safe than sorry” from becoming “better luck next time” by Read More >
Posted on byThink (Again) Before You Spit: Readers Weigh In
We thank our readers for their thoughtful comments on our recent post, which discussed the validity and utility of personal genomic tests for improving health. Clearly, this topic engenders a range of reactions as reflected in a recent scientific discussion. Several people I know have sought testing for various reasons, including curiosity, genealogic research, or just Read More >
Posted on by 1 CommentThink Before You Spit: Do Personal Genomic Tests Improve Health?
Campaigns against public spitting in the 19th century were largely driven by concerns about the spread of tuberculosis. However, at the beginning of the 21st century, spitting seems to be making a comeback. Over the past few years, several companies have begun offering personal genomic tests online to the public. There have been famous images of Read More >
Posted on by 11 CommentsShall We Have Pie or Stew?
Understanding Genetic and Environmental Causes of Human Disease A recent article in the Archives of General Psychiatry by Hallmayer et al. discussed the role of genetic and environmental factors in autism and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The study was a heritability analysis of 192 pairs of twins, which attributed 37 percent of the variation in Read More >
Posted on by 15 CommentsWe Asked…You Answered…Thank You!
What are the key priorities for the field of public health genomics for the next five years? What can stakeholders accomplish together to achieve measurable health impact by applying genomics to significant public health issues? On June 30, 2011 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Request for Information (RFI) for comments, Read More >
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