disease prevention | Blogs

Preventing Disease and Protecting Health Among Individuals at Increased Genetic Risk: A Lifespan Perspective and an Emerging Public Health Challenge

Since the completion of the Human Genome Project, major advances have occurred in the translation of human genome discoveries into clinical practice and disease prevention. As almost all human diseases are due to complex gene-environment interactions, the applications of human genomics should be pertinent to the prevention and control of many diseases, including rare and Read More >

December 20, 2022 by Muin J. Khoury, Office of Genomics and Precision Public Health, Office of Science, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Karen Remley, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Atlanta, GeorgiaLeave a comment

genomics

Work in Progress: Classifying Evidence-based Genomic Applications for Practice and Prevention

applications by evidence tiers with 68 tier 1, 107 tier 2 and 7 tier 3

In our 2015 paper,“Prioritizing genomic applications for action by level of evidence: A horizon-scanning method,” we proposed a systematic scanning method that assigns genomic applications to “tiers” defined by availability of synthesized evidence. Because of the amassed evidence on the validity and utility of genomic tests and related technologies, we suggested that researchers, policy makers, Read More >

February 28, 2018 by W. David Dotson and Muin J. Khoury, Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GeorgiaLeave a comment

evidence-based medicine, genomics

applications, disease prevention, practice

Can we use genetic screening of healthy populations to save lives and prevent disease? Join the conversation.

a doctor looking into a crystal ball filled with people - he is surrounded by a babies feet with bloodspots and a crowd of people and a stop sign with cancer on it and a stethoscope listening to a heart

On January 30, 2017, CDC held a special workshop to discuss the role of public health in the implementation of genetic screening programs beyond the newborn period. The workshop brought together panelists from the worlds of medical genetics and public health practice, including cancer, birth defects, and laboratory science. Workshop presenters and a CDC panel discussed Read More >

January 25, 2017 by Muin J Khoury, Director, Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention6 Comments

genomics, newborn screening, screening

disease prevention, population health

Nobody is average but what to do about it? The challenge of individualized disease prevention based on genomics

Nobody is Average- a normal distribution curve with figures inside it and DNA as the curve

Each week, Garrison Keillor shares with National Public Radio listeners the latest news from Lake Wobegon where “all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average.” The concept of “average” is deeply rooted in our scientific analysis of all health related traits such as height, Read More >

July 2, 2014 by Muin J Khoury, Director, Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers for Disease Control and PreventionLeave a comment

genomics, personal genomics, prevention

disease prevention, genetics, genomics

Genomic Tests and Population Health: An Online Catalog to Promote a Conversation on Evolving Evidence

With the rapid emergence of genomic tests, healthcare providers, patients and policy makers need to know how useful they are and whether the benefits of their use outweigh potential harms to patients, families, and the population. CDC’s Office of Public Health Genomics now offers a list of health-related genomic tests and applications, stratified into Read More >

May 3, 2012 by Muin J Khoury, Director, Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention4 Comments