About this item:

53 Views | 40 Downloads

Author Notes:

Megan C. Roberts, Email: megan.roberts@unc.edu

The authors read and approved the final manuscript.

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Subjects:

Research Funding:

Caitlin G. Allen was funded by F99 CA253576.

Keywords:

  • Precision medicine
  • Public health
  • Precision public health
  • Transdisciplinary research
  • Human genomics research

Advancing precision public health using human genomics: examples from the field and future research opportunities

Tools:

Journal Title:

Genome Medicine

Volume:

Volume 13

Publisher:

Type of Work:

Article | Final Publisher PDF

Abstract:

Precision public health is a relatively new field that integrates components of precision medicine, such as human genomics research, with public health concepts to help improve population health. Despite interest in advancing precision public health initiatives using human genomics research, current and future opportunities in this emerging field remain largely undescribed. To that end, we provide examples of promising opportunities and current applications of genomics research within precision public health and outline future directions within five major domains of public health: biostatistics, environmental health, epidemiology, health policy and health services, and social and behavioral science. To further extend applications of genomics within precision public health research, three key cross-cutting challenges will need to be addressed: developing policies that implement precision public health initiatives at multiple levels, improving data integration and developing more rigorous methodologies, and incorporating initiatives that address health equity. Realizing the potential to better integrate human genomics within precision public health will require transdisciplinary efforts that leverage the strengths of both precision medicine and public health.

Copyright information:

© The Author(s) 2021

This is an Open Access work distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/rdf).
Export to EndNote