Genomics and public health in the United States: signposts on the translation highway

The Evolution of Public Health Genomics: Exploring Its Past, Present, and Future

Public health genomics has evolved to responsibly integrate advancements in genomics into the fields of personalized medicine and public health. Appropriate, effective and sustainable integration of genomics into healthcare requires an organized approach. This paper outlines the history that led to the emergence of public health genomics as a distinguishable field. In addition, a range of activities are described that illustrate how genomics can be incorporated into public health practice. Finally, it presents the evolution of public health genomics into the new era of "precision public health."

Comparing the hub-and-spoke model practices of the LifeLines Study in the Netherlands and the H3Africa Initiative

Biobank sample storage is critical in population health and epidemiology studies. Biobanks bridge two very different worlds: they connect to the participants and patients at an individual level, but they also aggregate information and represent the cutting edge of scientific discovery. In this brief report, we describe how the LifeLines study in the Netherlands manages its resources for communication and services, and how it can serve as a model for the Human Heredity and Health in Africa Initiative (H3Africa Initiative).

Genetic and environmental pathways to complex diseases

BACKGROUND

Pathogenesis of complex diseases involves the integration of genetic and environmental factors over time, making it particularly difficult to tease apart relationships between phenotype, genotype, and environmental factors using traditional experimental approaches.

RESULTS

Using gene-centered databases, we have developed a network of complex diseases and environmental factors through the identification of key molecular pathways associated with both genetic and environmental contributions. Comparison with known chemical disease relationships and analysis of transcriptional regulation from gene expression datasets for several environmental factors and phenotypes clustered in a metabolic syndrome and neuropsychiatric subnetwork supports our network hypotheses. This analysis identifies natural and synthetic retinoids, antipsychotic medications, Omega 3 fatty acids, and pyrethroid pesticides as potential environmental modulators of metabolic syndrome phenotypes through PPAR and adipocytokine signaling and organophosphate pesticides as potential environmental modulators of neuropsychiatric phenotypes.

CONCLUSION

Identification of key regulatory pathways that integrate genetic and environmental modulators define disease associated targets that will allow for efficient screening of large numbers of environmental factors, screening that could set priorities for further research and guide public health decisions.

Biobanking for epidemiological research and public health

Almost all healthcare systems are currently facing fundamental challenges. New ways of organizing these systems based on novel knowledge and stakeholders' different needs are required to meet these challenges at the appropriate time. In this context, the issue of biobanking has become a specific challenge having major implications for future research and policy strategies as well as for the healthcare systems in general. Medicine is currently undergoing remarkable developments from its morphological and phenotype orientation to a molecular and genotype orientation, promoting the importance of prognosis and prediction. Yet, the discussion about the relevance of integrating genome-based information into biobanks and about the role of genome-based biobanking for epidemiological research and public health is still at the beginning. The following article contributes to this discussion by focusing on the use of genome-based biobanking for epidemiological research, surveillance systems, health policy development, individual health information management and effective health services.