Genomics and Precision Health Blog – Archive Posts
Precision Public Health in Action: New CDC Pilot Projects Integrate Human Genomics into Public Health Surveillance and Applied Research
In collaboration with the CDC Office of Advanced Molecular Detection, we recently launched a new, five-year initiative to strengthen public health capacity by introducing elements of human genomics into both public health surveillance and applied research. We report here on the successful launch of one of the initiative’s components. The Office of Genomics and Precision Public Read More >
Posted on byEquitable Implementation of Cascade Testing for Genetic Disorders: Where are We?
Testing relatives of individuals with genetic disorders, a process known as cascade testing or cascade screening, is critical for identifying those needing health services that can prevent morbidity and mortality. Yet, cascade testing is poorly implemented in clinical practice. For example, there are several genetic conditions with CDC tier 1 evidence-based recommendations for cascade testing, Read More >
Posted on byFrom Precision Medicine to Precision Public Health: The Dialogue Continues
A recent Nature article discusses the concept of precision public health (PPH) and raises concerns that too much emphasis on data and technology is “diverting attention away from regular public health.” In this post, we advance this important dialogue by focusing on two distinct components of PPH: its role in reaping the population health benefits Read More >
Posted on byThe Current Landscape of CDC Publications in Human Genomics and Public Health
In October 2021, the CDC Office of Genomics and Precision Public Health (OGPPH) launched a new, five-year initiative to strengthen public health capacity in genomics and precision medicine. The emergence of evidence-based genomic applications and lack of equity in their implementation in clinical and public health practice provided an important impetus for this initiative. To Read More >
Posted on byGenomics and Precision Medicine 2021: Progress in Implementation, A Focus on Health Equity, and a New Public Health Initiative
In this post, we reflect on another eventful year in genomics and precision medicine and review the emerging opportunities for the field to make an impact on population health. We use the annual review published by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) along with our own website updates, and blogs as a springboard for Read More >
Posted on byThe Use of Machine Learning in Health Care: No Shortcuts on the Long Road to Evidence-based Precision Health
Two recent systematic reviews reveal the high risk of bias present in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies based on machine learning and artificial intelligence. Digitization of health data holds profound potential to change the way we collect information and interact with the health care system. In current times, an increasing volume of health-related Read More >
Posted on byApplications of Polygenic Risk Scores to Population Health: Where Are We?
An international multidisciplinary group of experts in genetics, law, ethics, behavioral sciences, and other fields reviews the state of science on polygenic scores and highlights risks and gaps before widespread use in practice. Polygenic risk scores (PRS) combine the small effects of many genes across the human genome to estimate the risk of a disease Read More >
Posted on byContributions of Genomics to the Fight Against Malaria
Malaria was endemic in the United States (US) when the Communicable Disease Center was purposefully opened in Atlanta, GA, rather than Washington DC, in 1946. The Communicable Disease Center, now the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), was started closest to where malaria elimination efforts were needed: the Southern US, including Georgia, suffered Read More >
Posted on byNew CDC Partnerships to Advance the Development and Validation of Next Generation Sequencing Tests: A Publicly Available List of Expert Curated Variants
Over the last decade, genetic testing has evolved from examining a few well-defined variants in one or a few genes to the capability to examine much of the human genome using next generation sequencing (NGS). These analyses are particularly useful for disorders with locus and allelic heterogeneity, and are now the norm in several clinical Read More >
Posted on byHappy Thanksgiving 2021: Family Health History in the COVID-19 Era
For a second year in a row, this Thanksgiving might not look the same as the ones before it, but some things haven’t changed. Even if you can’t see your loved ones in person, Thanksgiving is still a great time to talk to your family members about your family health history. Having one or more family members Read More >
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