Excerpt

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office of Genomics and Disease Prevention (CDC) contracted with the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to convene a committee that would plan and conduct a workshop on the implications of genomics for the public's health. During the workshop, speakers were asked to discuss major scientific and policy issues related to genomics and public health, examine major supports for and challenges to the translation of genetic research into population health benefits, and suggest approaches for the integration of genomic information into strategies for promoting health and preventing disease. The CDC also requested that the IOM committee prioritize issues and approaches raised during the workshop.

In response to the CDC, the IOM convened the Committee on Genomics and the Public's Health in the 21st Century. Committee membership includes experts in genomics, epidemiology, pharmacology, social and behavioral health, public health, law, health care delivery, finance, and ethics. A workshop organized by the committee was held October 7 and 8, 2004, in Washington, DC. There were four panels that considered the following topics: the science of genomics, bridging genomics and public health, and gene–environment interactions; clinical use of genomic information, cost-effectiveness analysis, genomic information and behavior, and effecting population change; the public health system, international lessons, educating the public, and capacity; and data, financing and access, and legal and regulatory issues.

Contents

• THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
• COMMITTEE ON GENOMICS AND THE PUBLIC'S HEALTH IN THE 21ST CENTURY
• Reviewers
• 1. Introduction
• 2. Workshop Presentations
  • OPENING REMARKS
  • KEYNOTE GENOMICS AND PUBLIC HEALTH: A VISION FOR THE FUTURE
  • THE SCIENCE OF GENOMICS
  • GENOMICS IN PRACTICE
  • KEYNOTE STRATIFICATION, JUSTICE, AND OPPORTUNITY
  • GENOMICS AND PUBLIC HEALTH
  • WORKSHOP OVERVIEW LESSONS LEARNED, PLACES TO GO
• 3. Priorities
• Appendixes
  • Appendix A Glossary
  • Appendix B Biosketches
  • Appendix C Workshop Agenda

This study was supported by Contract No. 200 N01-OD-4-2139 between the National Academy of Sciences and the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality, National Institutes of Health.

Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the organizations or agencies that provided support for this project.

NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.