Healthcare | Free Full-Text | Genomics in Public Health: Perspective from the Office of Public Health Genomics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) | HTML

Healthcare | Free Full-Text | Genomics in Public Health: Perspective from the Office of Public Health Genomics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) | HTML

Genomics in Public Health: Perspective from the Office of Public Health Genomics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Ridgely Fisk Green 1,*, W. David Dotson 2, Scott Bowen 2, Katherine Kolor 2 and Muin J. Khoury 2

1

Carter Consulting, Inc. and Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA

2

Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA; E-Mails: gle1@cdc.gov (W.D.D.); Msb4@cdc.gov (S.B.); Bqx7@cdc.gov (K.K.);Muk1@cdc.gov (M.J.K.)

*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: grf1@cdc.gov; Tel.: +1-404-498-3884; Fax: +1-404-498-0140.

Academic Editors: Cecelia A. Bellcross and Debra Duquette

Received: 31 July 2015 / Accepted: 8 September 2015 / Published: 15 September 2015

Abstract

: The national effort to use genomic knowledge to save lives is gaining momentum, as illustrated by the inclusion of genomics in key public health initiatives, including Healthy People2020, and the recent launch of the precision medicine initiative. The Office of Public Health Genomics (OPHG) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) partners with state public health departments and others to advance the translation of genome-based discoveries into disease prevention and population health. To do this, OPHG has adopted an “identify, inform, and integrate” model: identify evidence-based genomic applications ready for implementation, inform stakeholders about these applications, and integrate these applications into public health at the local, state, and national level. This paper addresses current and future work at OPHG for integrating genomics into public health programs.

Keywords:

 public health genomics; public health; genomics; genetics; epidemiology; precision medicine; horizon scanning; guidelines; Office of Public Health Genomics; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)