Open AccessBeyond Base Pairs to Bedside: A Population Perspective on How Genomics Can Improve Health
Author(s) -
Muin J. Khoury,
Marta Gwinn,
Michael Bowen,
W. David Dotson
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
american journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.2011.300299
Subject(s) - genomics , context (archaeology) , health care , perspective (graphical) , population genomics , population , genomic medicine , data science , medicine , genome , biology , genetics , computational biology , computer science , political science , environmental health , paleontology , artificial intelligence , gene , law
A decade after the sequencing of the human genome, the National Human Genome Research Institute announced a strategic plan for genomic medicine. It calls for evaluating the structure and biology of genomes, understanding the biology of disease, advancing the science of medicine, and improving the effectiveness of health care. Fulfilling the promise of genomics urgently requires a population perspective to complement the bench-to-bedside model of translation. A population approach should assess the contribution of genomics to health in the context of social and environmental determinants of disease; evaluate genomic applications that may improve health care; design strategies for integrating genomics into practice; address ethical, legal, and social issues; and measure the population health impact of new technologies.