Category: genomics

Evidence Matters in Genomic Medicine- Round 4: Where are we with Pharmacogenomic Tests?

open pill with a double helix inside

Previously, CDC’s Office of Public Health Genomics announced a list of health-related genomic tests and applications, stratified into three tiers according to the availability of scientific evidence and evidence-based recommendations and systematic reviews. The list is intended to promote information exchange and dialogue among researchers, providers, policy makers, and the public. Initially the table relied Read More >

Posted on by W. David Dotson, Michael P. Douglas and Katherine Kolor, Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers for Disease Control and PreventionLeave a commentTags , , ,

Reconciling the future of genomic medicine with its current reality: how do we get there from here?

The Future of Genomic Medicine VII poster

On March 5-6, 2014, I attended the 7th annual Future of Genomic Medicine (FoGM) conference [PDF 778.13 KB], hosted by Dr. Eric Topol at the Scripps Translational Science Institute. The audience included more than 500 participants from various fields including genomics, clinical medicine, laboratory medicine, industry, economics, social and communication sciences, patients and the press. Read More >

Posted on by Muin J Khoury, Director, Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers for Disease Control and PreventionLeave a commentTags ,

Public Health Genomics to Save Lives: Available Tools, Actual Examples, Real Success

1. Set Goals by Assessing Data and Available Resources 2. Build Partnerships 3. Conduct Surveillance 4. Provide Info to Policy Makers 5. Make Education Available to the Public 6. Implement Bi-directional Reporting 7. Conduct Surveilance and Assess Results

  Announcing New Tier 1 CDC Public Health Genomics Toolkit and Video Resources Impact… Scalability… Innovation… Evidence-based interventions… Surveillance and evaluation… Partnerships… Timely information to health care, the public, and decision makers… Commitment… These elements are crucial to any public health accomplishment and are recurring themes in 2 new public health genomics resources. Nearly 2 Read More >

Posted on by Scott Bowen, Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers For Disease Control and PreventionLeave a commentTags , , ,

Is Evidence-based Medicine the Enemy of Genomic Medicine?

hands pulling on DNA with DNA in background

A general practitioner recently writing in the BMJ,  said that evidence-based medicine is polluted with “fraud, sham diagnosis, short term data, poor regulation, surrogate ends, questionnaires that can’t be validated, and statistically significant but clinically irrelevant outcomes”, all leading to “overdiagnosis and misery”. In more temperate tones, Goldberger and Buxton recently suggested  in a JAMA Read More >

Posted on by Alison Stewart and Muin J. Khoury, Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers for Disease Control and PreventionLeave a commentTags ,

Guidelines We Can Trust are Crucial for the Successful Implementation of Genomic Medicine

puzzle piece labeled Guide fitting into another piece with DNA

In a previous blog post, Michael Douglas and David Dotson from our office asked the question “So what are health care providers to do today when considering ordering a genomic test to diagnose, prevent or ameliorate a medical condition?” If we set aside the “genomic” bit of this for a moment, and think about how Read More >

Posted on by Alison Stewart and Muin J. Khoury, Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers for Disease Control and PreventionLeave a commentTags ,

Public Health Genomics Highlights 2013

2013 Highlights with DNA string in the background

At the end of each year, we read about top lists of major events, accomplishments, and milestones. These lists are produced by journal editors, institutions and opinion leaders.  CDC is no exception. In December 2013, CDC published its top 5 accomplishments for 2013, which include the Tips from former smokers campaign, outbreak investigations featuring pathogen Read More >

Posted on by Muin J Khoury, Director, Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers for Disease Control and PreventionLeave a commentTags , ,

Genome Sequencing in the Clinic – The question is not whether the glass is half-full or half-empty but whether or not the glass is the right tool.

two half full glasses of water - one with DNA inside it and one with DNA next to it

Earlier this fall, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Technology Evaluation Center produced a report evaluating the clinical use of exome sequencing in the diagnosis of rare diseases. That this report was even generated is remarkable, as it marks an appreciable level of penetration by exome sequencing into clinical care. A decade ago, sequencing and interpreting even Read More >

Posted on by W. Gregory Feero, MD, PhD, Maine Dartmouth Family Medicine ResidencyLeave a commentTags , , ,

When Should We All Have Our Genomes Sequenced?

a crowd of people with DNA in the foreground

Recently, George Church, a prominent genomics researcher and leader of the Personal Genome Project asked why so few people are opting to inspect their genome. The cost and accuracy of genome sequencing have certainly improved dramatically. He clearly sees the health benefits of whole genome sequencing. He states “we should avoid being judgmental of people Read More >

Posted on by Muin J Khoury, Director, Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention2 CommentsTags , , ,

Public Health Genomics in Action: Reducing Morbidity and Mortality from Familial Hypercholesterolemia

Discussion Panel at the Familial Hypercholesterolemia Summit

In September, 2013, I participated in the International Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) Summit  in Annapolis, Maryland. The event was sponsored by the FH Foundation, a patient-centered organization formed in 2011 to raise awareness about the condition and to develop actions for saving lives of patients and families with FH.  The meeting brought together, from the US Read More >

Posted on by Muin J Khoury, Director, Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers for Disease Control and PreventionLeave a commentTags , , ,

Public Health Impact of Genome-Wide Association Studies: Glass Half Full or Half Empty?

two half full glasses with chromosomes

Genome-wide association studies (or GWAS) are large-scale genetic investigations of human disease that measure simultaneously hundreds of thousands of genetic variants scattered throughout the human genome. GWAS burst onto the scientific scene in the mid 2000’s. Propelled by technological advances and falling prices, GWAS have revolutionized the search for genetic influences on common diseases of Read More >

Posted on by Muin J Khoury, Director, Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers for Disease Control and PreventionLeave a commentTags , ,