Priorities for public health genomics 2012-2017: A stakeholder consultation

In 2011 the Office of Public Health Genomics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (OPHG) convened an extensive stakeholder consultation and associated conference to identify priorities during the next five years that would best advance the application of genomics to further public health goals. The University of Michigan Center for Public Health and Community Genomics was tasked with implementing the Stakeholder Consultation and the Genetic Alliance developed and implemented the stakeholder conference.

Areas identified as high priority by the Stakeholder Consultation included: engaging healthcare organizations in the study of “low hanging fruit” (e.g., family history and preventive screening); “T3/T4” investigation of genetic services effectiveness; translation to practitioners, policymakers, and consumers; innovative educational modalities including social media; cascade and life stage screening; embedding genetics into national data standards, health IT priorities. Areas calling for further dialogue included: genetic vs. environmental focus; funding of population-based genetic test validation; and concentration on rare, highly penetrant vs. common, chronic conditions.

To supplement and expand upon the Stakeholder Consultation, a meeting was held to identify priority outcomes as well as the activities needed to achieve those outcomes in the coming 5 years. As part of this process, the Office of Public Health Genomics, with support from Genetic Alliance and the University of Michigan, convened stakeholders from federal, state, academic, industry, consumer, and professional organizations. Recommendations from that meeting will be presented in four topic areas: detection, development and evaluation, pathways and interactions, and prevention. In addition, several crosscutting priority areas will be discussed.