Category: genomics

The Contributions of Host Genomics Research to the COVID-19 Response: It’s Not Just About Genes!

COVID-19 and sequencing

A recent large collaborative host genomics study provides valuable insight into the interplay of biology and epidemiology on COVID-19. The study was based on a meta-analysis of nearly 50,000 patients from 46 studies spanning 19 countries. The study found 13 loci (specific locations on various chromosomes) associated with COVID-19 susceptibility or severity through genome wide Read More >

Posted on by Emily Drzymalla, Marta Gwinn and Muin J. Khoury, Office of Genomics and Precision Public Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GeorgiaLeave a commentTags ,

Tracking the Scientific Literature on SARS-CoV-2 Variants Using the COVID-19 Genomics and Precision Health Knowledge Base

a stack of journals with the COVID-19 GPH logo in the background

The first reports of SARS-CoV-2, the highly infectious virus causing COVID-19, swept across the globe in December 2019, prompting a burst of scientific activity. The rate of research and discovery intensified as the pandemic grew, resulting in a flood of publications in journals and on preprint servers around the world. More recently, SARS-CoV-2 variants have Read More >

Posted on by Merline Feero, Marta Gwinn, and Muin J. Khoury, Office of Genomics and Precision Public Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia1 CommentTags ,

Mendelian Randomization: A Precision Public Health Tool for the COVID-19 Response

flowchart: Confounder arrows to Modifiable Exposure and Disease Outcome; Gene Variant (Instrument Exposure Variable) arrow to Modifiable Exposure and Modifiable Exposure arrow to Disease Outcome

In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when little was known about the natural history of the disease, predicting the course of the pandemic was of premier importance for treating sick patients and redoubling efforts to protect those at highest risk of adverse outcomes. To address this need, investigators used a study design that Read More >

Posted on by Emily Drzymalla, Marta Gwinn and Muin J. Khoury, Office of Genomics and Precision Public Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GeorgiaLeave a commentTags , ,

Toward Achieving Health Equity for People with Genetic Disorders

s cancer cell, a heart, a drop of blood and a babies foot in front of sequencing

If health equity is about making sure that everyone has the opportunity to be as healthy as possible, public health efforts to achieve health equity must include people with genetic disorders. Some might consider having a genetic disorder a health inequity itself—one present from birth and over which affected individuals have limited control. Thousands of Read More >

Posted on by Muin J. Khoury, Ridgely Fisk Green, Katherine Kolor, Office of Genomics and Precision Public Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia2 CommentsTags

An Evaluation of “My Family Health Portrait”: Strengths and Opportunities

2019-2020 Page Views by Age

CDC has hosted My Family Health Portrait (MFHP) since September 2018. Understanding current use of MFHP can help identify opportunities to improve and promote MFHP. We used Google Analytics to explore use of MFHP from Jan 1, 2019 to Dec 31, 2020. Google Analytics is a third-party tool that tracks user information, such as browser, Read More >

Posted on by Devin Yu, Class of 2022 Pharm.D. program, Northeastern University, and Ridgely Fisk Green, Office of Genomics and Precision Public Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia4 Comments

What should be the public health priorities in genomics and precision medicine in the next decade?

Public Health Priorities for the next Decade with two figures looking at data with a double helix

The CDC Office of Genomics and Precision Public Health is undergoing strategic planning to identify major opportunities for impact of public health action in human genomics and precision medicine in the next decade. As part of this process, we interviewed nine persons external to CDC from diverse backgrounds and organizations that represent the leading edge Read More >

Posted on by Katherine Kolor, Ridgely Fisk Green, and Muin J. Khoury, Office of Genomics and Precision Public Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia1 Comment

What is Public Health Genomics? A Day in the Invisible Life of Public Health Genomics (an Encore)

Public Health Genomics with professionals looking at a double helix with a calendar

We published this blog a decade ago. As we celebrate 2021 public health genomics week, we republish the blog to remind our readers of the relevance of genomics to many areas of public health. The topics discussed  here may be outdated but the fundamental applications of public health genomics are today more important than ever. Read More >

Posted on by Muin J. Khoury, Office of Genomics and Precision Public Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GeorgiaLeave a comment

Public Health Genomics Priorities Through a Health Equity Lens

three individuals with one having a magnifying glass on him with a double helix

Achieving Health Equity in Genomics and Precision Medicine is More Important than Ever The CDC Office of Genomics and Precision Public Health is undergoing strategic planning to identify priorities and actions for genomics and precision medicine. As we embark on this work, we are focusing on health equity. The potential for genomics and precision medicine Read More >

Posted on by Muin J. Khoury, Scott Bowen, David Dotson, and Katherine Kolor, Office of Genomics and Precision Public Health, Office of Science, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GeorgiaLeave a commentTags

Personal Reflections on Genomics, Health Equity, and Public Health

My nephew, Eddie, and niece, Sheri, were lively, witty, high-spirited, active, bright, and full of hope. Eddie dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player, while Sheri aspired to become a mathematical engineer. But their childhood diagnoses with a type of kidney disease called nephrotic syndrome ended those dreams. While nephrotic syndrome can be inherited, we Read More >

Posted on by Michelle Rose, Office of Science Scientific Rotation 2020–2021 cohort, and Ridgely Fisk Green, Office of Genomics and Precision Public HealthLeave a commentTags

From Genes to Public Health: Building the Evidence Base for DNA-based Population Screening

sequencing with a double helix with figures in the foreground

This blog post is a summary of our recent commentary in Genetics in Medicine. The use of genetics in population screening long predates the Human Genome Project. For more than 60 years, newborn screening has been a successful public health program that has resulted in major improvements in outcomes for infants with genetic and other Read More >

Posted on by Muin J. Khoury MD, PhD, and W. David Dotson, PhD, Office of Genomics and Precision Public Health, Office of Science, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GeorgiaLeave a comment