public health | Blogs

The Public Health Approach to Genetic Testing in the 21st Century: Saving Lives and Saving Unnecessary Healthcare Costs

In March 2012, a prominent health insurer in the United States released a white paper entitled: “Personalized Medicine: trends and prospects for the new science of genetic testing and molecular diagnostics” By analyzing their own claims data, the report suggests that in 2010, the cost of genetic and molecular diagnostic testing for its members was about $500 Read More >

March 15, 2012 by Muin J Khoury, Director, Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention4 Comments

genomics, personalized medicine

genetic testing, genetics, genomics, personal genomics, public health

Beyond Base Pairs to Bedside: A Community Consultation on Closing the Gap between Genomic Discoveries and the Public’s Health

Priorities for Public Health Genomics 2012-2017

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 >

December 1, 2011 by Muin J Khoury, Director, Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

genomics

genetics, genomics, public health

Genomics in Public Health Preparedness: Chance Favors the Prepared Mind

pyramid with Environment (people, animals, plants, microbes) on top; in the left corner Pathogen (bacterial, viral, parasite); in the right corner Host (human, animal)

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 >

September 22, 2011 by Marta Gwinn, Consultant, McKing Consulting Corp, Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

genomics, investigation

epidemiologic triangle, genetics, genomics, investigation, IRB, outbreak, preparedness, public health, public health research

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

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 >

July 21, 2011 by Muin J Khoury, Director, Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention3 Comments

genomics, pharmacogenomics

genetics, genomics, pharmacogenomics, public health

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 >

July 7, 2011 by Muin J Khoury, Director, Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention1 Comment