EGAPP recommendations: Implications for public health providers

The Evaluation of Genetics in Practice and Prevention (EGAPP) initiative was launched by the CDC's Office of Public Health Genomics in 2004 to establish and evaluate a systematic, evidence-based process for assessing genetic tests and other applications of genomic technology in transition from research to clinical and public health practice. The independent, non-federal EGAPP working group recently published three new recommendations regarding current genetic testing applications: genetic testing for Lynch syndrome in individuals with newly diagnosed colorectal cancer; UGT1A1 genotyping and treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer; and gene expression profiling to improve outcomes in breast cancer patients. This presentation will provide an overview of the EGAPP initiative and methods, background on the health conditions addressed in the recommendations, basic information on the genetic testing technology employed, and discussion of potential implications to clinical practice. Translated EGAPP recommendation materials developed for patients and providers will be presented, including ways in which public health professionals can assist in ensuring appropriate translation, dissemination, and evaluation to maximize population health benefit.