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Activities
at CDC |
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OGDP Accomplishments 2000
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Genetics is about all people,
all diseases, and all risk factors. |
Model System for Evaluating
Genetic Tests: Awarded
a 3-year cooperative funding agreement to the Foundation
for Blood Research to develop a model system for assembling,
analyzing, disseminating, and updating existing data on
the safety and effectiveness of DNA-based genetic tests.
This effort will facilitate the appropriate transition of
genetic tests from investigational settings to use in clinical
and public health practice. The ultimate goal of such a
model system is to develop ongoing publicly available information
on genetic tests to help develop policies around the appropriate
use of genetic information. |
Public Attitudes About Genetic Research: Analyzed
data from the 1998 CDC Healthstyles Survey to determine
public attitudes about (1) blood storage for future DNA-based
research and (2) the relative importance of genetic factors
in determining health. Public attitudes will contribute
both to methods in recruiting participants for population
based genetic studies and to methods of communicating research
goals to the public. The results could influence the future
course of integrating genetics into public health research.
Extramural Prevention
Research: Funded,
with support from the Division of Laboratory Sciences
at NCEH, a prevention research project entitled "Diabetes
Elimination in Washington: Stratified Population Screen."
The project is a population-based study of infants with
combinations of genetic markers that place them at high
risk for developing diabetes. Researchers will measure
autoantibodies associated with diabetes and offer subjects
the opportunity to enroll in clinical prevention trials
designed to interrupt disease progression. Two previously
funded projects, "Gene-Environment Interactions in
Cardiovascular Disease" (University of Texas) and
"Educating Families About Colon Cancer Genetic Risk"
(University of Rochester), will continue through 2001.
These studies are designed to (1) demonstrate the effectiveness
of using genetic information to prevent disease, disability,
and death by identifying people at risk and offering appropriate
interventions and (2) indicate how genetic information
can help target disease prevention efforts by assessing
the interaction of modifiable risk factors (e.g., diet,
chemical exposures, infections, lifestyle) with known
genetic disease risk factors.
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Core Genetics
Competencies for Public Health:
collaborated with the Public Health Practice Program Office
to convene 50 tenured public health professionals from state
and local health departments, CDC, and other federal agencies
to (1) gain a common knowledge base and language of "the
intersection of public health and genetics," and (2)
produce a draft set of competencies necessary to integrate
genetics into the following public health professions: administrators,
clinicians, epidemiologists, environmentalists, health educators,
and laboratorians. OGDP currently is synthesizing the collective
data into a uniform set of competencies that will enable
the public health workforce to begin integrating genetics
into public health practice by mid-May 2001. CDC's Office
of Workforce Development plans to offer this competency
set as a model for integrating new public health concerns,
through workforce training, into the 10 essential public
health services. |
Genetic factors play a role
in all human diseases, including such common chromic diseases
as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. |
Genetics and Public Health Course:
Developed and presented a course entitled "Human Genome
Epidemiology." The course introduced concepts in human
genome epidemiology (HuGE), which translates gene discoveries
to disease prevention by integrating population-based data
about gene-disease relationships and interventions. Participants
acquired conceptual and practical tools for critically evaluating
the growing scientific literature in the area of human genetics.
Such knowledge should help them integrate human genome data
into public health practice. Genetics
and Disease Prevention Weekly Update:
Published the weekly "Genetics and Disease Prevention
Update" which features current news stories, scientific
articles, upcoming events, and other relevant Web links.
The Public Health Perspective Page, a new addition to
the Update, focuses on a single topic derived from stories
reported in the news and scientific journals. The object
of the page is to examine current genetic issues from
a public health perspective. Readers are presented with
a page of information including links to relevant articles,
slides, videos, fact sheets, and editorials and are also
encouraged to contribute to the discussion on the readers'
comment page. The weekly update provides current information
in a condensed and organized manner, enhances training,
and raises awareness to current genetic issues.
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In May 2000 CDC presented
"The Human Genome Epidemiology Workshop," which
introduced participants to epidemiologic approaches for
collecting, analyzing, and integrating population data on
gene-disease relationships, gene-environment interactions,
and targeted interventions. |
Human Genome Epidemiology
Network: Enhanced
the Human Genome Epidemiology Network (HuGE Net), a global
collaboration of individuals and organizations committed
to developing and disseminating population-based epidemiologic
information about the human genome. HuGE Net membership
has increased to 400 members. To date, HuGE Net has published
seven reviews, and eight other reviews have been submitted
for publication. Peer-reviewed journal articles of interest
to HuGE Net members are highlighted weekly. HuGE Net keeps
the public health community informed and facilitates the
creation of sound policies and programs. Career
Development in Genetics and Public Health:
Presented career development awards to five recipients
who will serve 3-year assignments in different CDC programs
pertaining to genetics. At the conclusion of their assignments,
the individuals will be proficient at applying genetic
discoveries to public health and are expected to significantly
contribute to CDC's strategic goals regarding genetics. |
Maternal
Phenylketonuria Study:
Collaborated with the Division of Birth Defects, Child Development,
and Disability and Health on a maternal phenylketonuria
(PKU) study. The study evaluated factors affecting access
to and use of a low-phenylalanine diet among women with
PKU. Researchers conducted the study in response to a growing
concern that the benefits of newborn screening for PKU could
be undermined and result in retarded offspring if women
with PKU do not have access to a low-phenylalanine diet
before and during pregnancy. This investigation helped identify
barriers to successful dietary
control of phenylalanine levels among childbearing women
with PKU. These barriers included factors specific to the
diet regimen itself (adverse taste), economic, health care
system, and psychosocial issues. Addressing
these barriers will enhance a woman's ability to follow
medical recommendations and could potentially result in
improved pregnancy outcomes for these women. Textbook
on Genetics and Public Health:
Edited Genetics and Public Health in the 21st
Century: Using Genetic Information to Improve Health and
Prevent Disease. The book, published in 2000 by Oxford
University Press, is the first comprehensive genetics
and public health text and will serve as a reference for
professionals who are integrating genetics into public
health programs.
Portions of the book are available on the OGDP Web site. |
National Conference on Genetics and Public Health: Sponsored
the "3rd National Conference on Genetics
and Disease Prevention: Connecting Research, Education,
Practice & Community, " in collaboration with Association
of State and Territorial Health Officials, Health and Human
Resources and Services Administration, National Human Genome
Research Institute, University of Michigan School of Public
Health, and the Michigan Department of Community Health;
The conference brought together a variety of health professionals
who are involved or interested in genetics at local, state,
and national levels. Discussions, workshops, and plenary
sessions highlighted the critical issues of how genetic
information and technology are impacting all facets of public
health including research, education and practice. The result
of this exchange of information of ideas and information
is a network of informed public health professionals who
will be coordinating and implementing future public health
genetics policy and programs. |
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The third national
conference, "Genetics in Public Health--Connecting
Research, Education, Practice, and Community," gave
public health professionals from all disciplines an opportunity
to exchange information and ideas about how to integrate
genetics into public health practice. |
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