Genomics and Precision Health Blog – Archive Posts

Medications for the Masses? Pharmacogenomics is an Important Public Health Issue

may pills with DNA

Adverse drug events are a serious public health problem. Consider the following facts: an estimated 82% of American adults take at least one medication and 29% take five or more; 700,000 emergency department visits and 120,000 hospitalizations are due to adverse drug events annually; $3.5 billion is spent on extra medical costs of adverse drug Read More >

Posted on by Muin J Khoury, Director, Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention3 CommentsTags , , ,

What are the Priorities for Public Health Genomics 2012-2017?

Since 1997, the Office of Public Health Genomics (OPHG) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has worked to integrate genomics into public health research, policy, and programs. Our driving force is to improve interventions designed to prevent and control the country’s leading chronic, infectious, environmental, and occupational diseases. OPHG’s efforts focus on conducting Read More >

Posted on by Muin J Khoury, Director, Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention1 CommentTags , ,

Genome vs. Genome: E. Coli Sprouts in Germany

sprouts

Public health officials around the world are watching what they hope is the final stage of a massive outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections that began in Germany in May. On June 10, officials of the German federal disease control center, the Robert Koch Institut, announced that raw vegetable sprouts were indeed the Read More >

Posted on by Marta Gwinn, Consultant, McKing Consulting Corp, Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention5 CommentsTags , , , , ,

Feeling the Genomic Pulse of the United States

CDC doctor with DNA stethoscope checking the pulse of the US map

A healthcare provider takes a good clinical history, feels the patient’s pulse, performs a good physical examination, and orders laboratory tests to diagnose and manage a health problem. In a similar manner, public health programs feel the pulse of the population by collecting data through population surveys, surveillance systems and health statistics to assess the Read More >

Posted on by Muin J Khoury, Director, Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention3 CommentsTags ,

Tell Me More about Telomeres

chromosome showing telomeres

Researchers, journalists, and inquiring minds want to know more about telomeres, which seem to hold clues to human aging and age-related diseases. Could telomeres provide an answer to questions like “How long will I live?” or “Will I get cancer?” What are telomeres? Telomeres are structures at the ends of chromosomes  that contain repetitive stretches Read More >

Posted on by Marta Gwinn, Consultant, McKing Consulting Corp, Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention2 CommentsTags , ,

What is Public Health Genomics? A Day in the Invisible Life of Public Health Genomics

Public health usually works behind the scenes and many people aren’t even aware of public health programs. When you get sick you visit your doctor and get advice and treatment to make you feel better. Doctors and other medical professionals work to improve health one person at a time, but public health professionals focus on improving Read More >

Posted on by Muin J Khoury, Director, Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention11 CommentsTags ,

New Blog: Genomics Matters

Genetics  has a role in diseases of public health significance that affect infants, children, and adults. Our genes influence our response to drugs, infectious threats, and environmental exposures. More than 2,000 genetic tests are in use today and many more are coming.   In spite of the rapid pace of discovery in genetics, we are still in Read More >

Posted on by Muin J Khoury, Director, Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention43 CommentsTags ,