Genomics Forum

Submit Abstract

Access to clean water is a major public health issue in both the developing and the developed world, as water is instrumental in infectious disease transmission including vector borne diseases and many other illnesses. In the United States, public water systems are aging, raising concerns regarding drinking water quality due to contamination from hazardous and non-hazardous waste. Genetic variation allows public health researchers to identify populations that have greater susceptibility to these potentially harmful water-based exposures. Genomics research enhances our knowledge of vector-host response pathologies as well as virulence patterns of water-borne microorganisms.

The Genomics Forum invites abstracts related to the 2009 conference theme, "Water and Public Health: the 21st Century Challenge" as well as to areas of special interest to public health practitioners and researchers interested in the field of genomics. We are especially interested in studies that may inform future research, identify public health priorities, and describe the impact of existing genomics policies and practice on public health. Abstracts on various aspects of the ethical, legal, and social issues of genomics are also encouraged.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Communicating genetic and genomic risks to the public (i.e., public health professional competency, public awareness, genetic literacy, etc.)
  • Environmental health (i.e., susceptible populations, pharmaceuticals in water, water-borne toxins, infectious agents, or diseases, and genetic variation and environmental exposure interactions, etc.)
  • Genetic and molecular epidemiology (i.e., disease susceptibility, gene-environment interactions, family history, etc.)
  • Genomics and health disparities
  • Genomics and the use of electronic health records (i.e., family history and genetic data, etc.)
  • Novel applications of genomics to create partnerships and collaboration in public health
  • Public education and social justice / advocacy
  • Public health genomics in the developing world (i.e., infectious diseases, environmental exposures, data use, informed consent, etc.)
  • Public health response to personalized medicine and pharmaceuticals (i.e., progress and benefits of, direct-to-consumer testing, etc.)
  • Translational research in genomics and public health education (i.e., screening services for communities, behavioral responses to genomic information, etc.)
Abstracts should be 250 words or less and can not refer to web pages or URLs. For any and all inquiries, always refer to the abstract by your abstract number as assigned to you online.

The Genomics Forum encourages abstract submissions from students and those who have never presented at an APHA annual meeting, especially community-based organizations. Be sure to indicate new presenter or student status when submitting your abstract, and whether you would like to be considered for the second annual Genomics and Public Health Award.

All abstracts will be reviewed based on relevance to the conference theme and/or to the Genomics Forum, noteworthiness of problem, and quality of research design, methods, and interpretation.


Since APHA values the ability to provide continuing education credit to physicians, nurses and health educators at its annual meeting, we ask authors to meet the following criteria when submitting an abstract so members can claim credit for attending your session: (1) an abstract free of trade and/or commercial product names, (2) include at least one measurable objective and (3) a signed Conflict of Interest form with a relevant qualification statement. Thank you for your assistance in making your session credit worthy. Please contact Annette Ferebee at annette.ferebee@apha.org if you have any questions about continuing education.
Submit Abstract

Program Planner Contact Information:
H. Dean Hosgood, PhD, MPH
Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics
National Cancer Institute
6120 Executive Blvd. MSC 7240
Executive Plaza South, 8th Floor
Bethesda, MD 2=20892-7240
Phone: 301-594-4649
hosgoodd@mail.nih.gov

and
Jodyn E. Platt, MPH
Life Sciences and Society Program
University of Michigan School of Public Health
4605 SPH-I Tower / Crossroads
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029
Phone: 734-647-4571
Fax: 734-764-1357
jeplatt@umich.edu

and
Nelson Atehortua, MD, MPH
Department of Health and Kinesiology
Texas A&M University
Center for the Study of Health Disparities
TAMU 4222
College Station, TX 77843-4222
Phone: 270-320-2697
Fax: 979-862-3037
nelson.atehortua@tamu.edu

and
James C. O'Leary, BS
Genetic Alliance
4301 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 404
Washington, DC, DC 20008-2369
Phone: 202-966-5557
joleary@geneticalliance.org

and
Ashley Braun
University of Michigan
109 Observatory, Suite 4605
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Phone: 734-647-4571
acbraun@umich.edu

and
Kimberly Kaphingst, ScD
Social and Behavioral Research Branch
NIH/National Human Genome Research Institute
31 Center Drive
MSC 2073
Bethesda, MD 20892
Phone: 3014514010
kkaphing@mail.nih.gov