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AVAILABILITY
OF FUNDING:
Approximately $900,000 is available in FY
2001 to fund approximately three awards. It is expected that the awards
will begin on or about September 30, 2001 and will be made for a
12-month budget period within a project period of up to three (3) years.
BACKGROUND OF PROPOSED PROJECT:
News from the Human Genome Project has
captivated scientists and the public, creating high expectations that
the findings will yield future health benefits. However, much work
remains to be done to translate research results into new opportunities
for disease prevention, detection, and treatment. Genomics – the study
of all elements of the human genome and their functions in relation to
health and disease – is still a new science.
Genetic testing is sometimes represented
as the key to individualized medicine, offering patients personal
estimates of risk and interventions tailored to their genotypes. How
does this concept mesh with the public health approach to improving the
health of populations? First, using genetic information for disease
prevention requires data on gene-disease associations and estimates of
relative and attributable risk, which can be derived only from
population-based studies; the success of such studies depends on broad
participation by an informed community. Furthermore, as new genetic
tests are developed and marketed for use in public health and
health-care settings, it will be important to evaluate the value they
add to existing interventions. Ultimately, the public will benefit only
when genetic tests are used appropriately, interventions are directed to
those at risk, and access to testing and intervention is assured. Thus,
public health institutions clearly have a role in realizing the
potential of genetic information to prevent disease and improve health,
by developing appropriate research and policies and by helping educate
health care providers and the public.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND SCOPE OF WORK:
The purpose of this program is to develop
up to three Centers for Genomics and Public Health at schools of public
health. Each Center will establish a regional hub of expertise by
coordinating existing programs at the recipient institution and by
creating links with local, state, or regional public health programs.
Each recipient’s Practice Coordinator will help strengthen linkages to
health departments and community groups. Centers will also be encouraged
to draw on other regional resources, such as professional organizations,
the clinical community, and industry.
Funding will allow the Centers to carry
out activities in three areas: 1) contributing to the knowledge base on
genomics and public health; 2) providing technical assistance to local,
state, and regional public health organizations; and 3) developing and
providing training for the current and future public health work force.
A. Recipient Activities
1. Knowledge
base on genomics and public health
"Human genome epidemiology"
(HuGE, http://www.cdc.gov/genetics/hugenet/) encompasses the
range of population-based epidemiologic data that describe the
prevalence of genetic variants, their associations with health and
disease, gene-gene and gene-environment interactions, and the clinical
validity and utility of genetic tests. The recipient will:
- Convene one or more disease-specific
working groups to review selected gene-disease associations, and
synthesize and analyze relevant published and unpublished data.
- Monitor the research literature and
other sources of information relevant to the use of genetics in
the diagnosis, prevention, and management of the selected
disease(s). Priority should be given to chronic diseases with a
significant public health burden.
- Participate in CDC-sponsored
conferences and activities.
2. Technical
assistance
Technical assistance to local, state,
and regional public health organizations may include involvement in
strategic planning, consultation on design and conduct of public
health research and surveillance, participation in policy development,
and assistance in evaluating programs and services. The recipient
will:
- Serve public health organizations as
a source of expertise in laboratory sciences, medicine,
epidemiology, public policy, education, and related disciplines,
to help them respond to new developments in genetics and disease
prevention.
- Identify opportunities for providing
technical assistance to public health organizations on the use of
genetic information in public health policies and programs
- Collaborate with the Association of
State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) Genetics Working
Group and CDC to coordinate these efforts.*
3. Training
Current and future public health
workers require training in the interpretation and use of genetic
information to prevent disease and improve health. Public health
workers include administrators, clinicians, epidemiologists,
environmental health specialists, health educators, and laboratory
scientists in public, private, or academic settings, as well as
students of these disciplines. The recipient will:
- Collaborate with CDC to evaluate
existing state and local training needs assessments, and develop
educational objectives.**
- Develop curriculum, identify
training resources from collaborating organizations, and develop
new training materials to fill specifically identified gaps.
Content may address basic molecular genetics, human genome
epidemiology, laboratory and clinical interpretation of genetic
tests, health policy, and related ethical, legal, and social
issues. Web-based materials that can be accessed through the
Center’s website and the OGDP website are particularly
desirable.
- Offer training to defined groups of
public health workers.
- Evaluate and revise training as
needed using evaluation results.
B. CDC Activities:
- Provide background documents and
technical assistance for establishing the scope, sequence, and
conduct of activities undertaken in this project.
- Coordinate communication and
activities among the Centers. Convene representatives of the
Centers annually for sharing experience and planning.
- Serve as liaison to related
activities conducted by CDC, other federal agencies, and other
national organizations.
- Help plan and contribute to
communications, conferences, and publications produced by the
project.
- In collaboration with ASPH, support
information exchange and dissemination among Centers for Genomics
and Public Health and throughout the larger public health
community.
Special Requirements/Qualifications
The applicant should have:
- Documented experience in building
partnerships among academic disciplines.
- Close working relationships with
public health department and community groups, including an active
Practice Coordinator.
- Access to expertise in epidemiology,
molecular and clinical genetics, and medicine.
- Expertise in developing and
delivering training for public health workers.
Geographic diversity will be considered
in selecting the Centers for Genomics and Public Health.
Anticipated Schedule of Activities
To achieve the purpose of this program
and ensure timely completion of the project, recipients should develop
and carry out a detailed work plan for each year of funding.
Year 1
- Establish necessary links and
coordination among relevant organizations.
- Evaluate existing state and local
genetics training needs and develop curriculum for public health
workers.
- Establish formal collaboration with
local or state health departments to identify opportunities for
technical assistance on the use of genetic information in public
health policies and programs.
- Create one or more working groups to
build the human epidemiology knowledge base for selected diseases.
Year 2
- Offer training in genetics to public
health workers. Evaluate training and refine and improve
curriculum and materials.
- Provide technical assistance to
local or state health departments.
- Monitor research literature, review
selected gene-disease associations, synthesize and analyze
published and unpublished data for one or more diseases.
Year 3
- Offer training in genetics to public
health workers using revised curriculum and materials.
- Continue to provide technical
assistance to local or state health departments.
- Prepare scientific manuscripts on
human genome epidemiology of one or more diseases.
EXPECTED BENEFITS:
- Bring a public health perspective to
ongoing discussions of genomics and its applications to disease
prevention.
- Demonstrate an approach and begin the
process of translating research findings from genomics to public
health applications.
- Add to the knowledge base and provide
a hub for future development of human genome epidemiology.
- Train public health workers in the
interpretation and use of genetic information to prevent disease and
improve health.
TECHNICAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS:
An original and two copies of a progress
report are required no later than 30 days after the end of each quarter
of the budget period. Final performance reports are required no later
than 90 days after the end of the project period. Recipients will not be
required to submit more than the original and two copies of progress
reports.
The progress reports must include the
following for each program, function, or activity involved: (1) a
comparison of actual accomplishments to the goals established for the
period; (2) the reasons for not meeting established goals; and (3) other
pertinent information including, when appropriate, analysis and
explanation of unexpectedly high costs for performance.
CIO PROGRAM OFFICIAL/PHONE NO.:
Timothy G. Baker, 770-488-3235
CONTACT PERSON:
Marta Gwinn, MD, MPH,
Office of Genomics and Disease Prevention,
4770 Buford Hwy, MS K-89, Atlanta, 30341-3724,
770-488-3235 |
