Genomics and Health Impact Blog Posts

CDC experts and invited bloggers provide blog posts on topics in genomics that are important to health care providers, public health professionals, policy makers and the public. This page provides links to each blog post and will be updated on a regular basis. Please visit our Genomics and Health Impact blog post home page.

2017

• Sickle Cell Disease: Data Saves Lives, Public Health Matters Blog (October 10, 2017)
• Trends and Factors Affecting Utilization of BRCA Testing in the United States: The Need for Improved Surveillance, Katherine Kolor, Zhuo Chen, and Muin J. Khoury (September 25, 2017)
• Integrating genomics into population-based cancer surveillance in the era of precision medicine, Muin J. Khoury and Lynne Penberthy (September 19, 2017)
• A New Public Health Assessment of the Disease Burden of Hereditary Hemochromatosis: How Clinically Actionable is C282Y Homozygosity? Scott D. Grosse and Muin J. Khoury (August 16, 2017)
• Accelerating Evidence Generation to Fulfill the Promise of Genomic Medicine, Christine Y Lu and Muin J. Khoury (August 14, 2017)
• Cascade Screening for Familial Hypercholesterolemia in the United States: Public Health Impact and Challenges, Joshua W. Knowles, Daniel J. Rader and Muin J. Khoury (July 25, 2017)
• Is pharmacogenetic-guided treatment cost-effective? No one size fits all! Scott D. Grosse and W. Dave Dotson (July 24, 2017)
• Integrating Genomics into Public Health Surveillance: Ushering in a New Era of Precision Public Health, Muin J. Khoury (July 19, 2017)
• Whole Genome Sequencing for All? The Quest for Evidence Continues, Muin J. Khoury (July 5, 2017)
• Sickle Cell Disease in the Emergency Department: Confronting Barriers to Care, Conversations in Equity (June 19, 2017)
• Precision Public Health: Harnessing the Power of the Human Microbiome, Alison Laufer Halpin (June 7, 2017)
• Are there any shortcuts on the translation highway to genomic medicine? Muin J. Khoury (June 1, 2017)
• Genome Sequencing for Healthy Individuals? Think Big and Act Small! Muin J. Khoury and Greg Feero (May 17, 2017)
• Cystic Fibrosis and C. Diff: A Dangerous Combination, CDC Safe Healthcare Blog (April 19, 2017)
• Direct to Consumer Genetic Testing: Think Before You Spit, 2017 Edition! Muin J. Khoury (April 18, 2017)
• Genomics and Population Health Action: Join the Collaboration, Muin J. Khoury (April 6, 2017)
• Your Genes, Your Health: The Importance of Genetic Literacy and Education, Muin J. Khoury and Katie Kolor (March 29, 2017)
• The need for a next-generation public health response to rare diseases, Rodolfo Valdez, Scott D. Grosse & Muin J. Khoury (February 8, 2017)
• Implementation Science in Genomic Medicine: Why we need it now! Megan C. Roberts, David A. Chambers and Muin J. Khoury (February 1, 2017)
• Can we use genetic screening of healthy populations to save lives and prevent disease? Join the conversation, Muin J. Khoury (January 25, 2017)

2016

• The Appropriateness and Cost of Thrombophilia Panel Testing: It’s Complicated, Scott Bowen and Scott D. Grosse (December  15, 2016)
• 2016: The Year of Precision Public Health! Muin J. Khoury (December 14, 2016)
• From One Hundred Thousand Genomes in the United Kingdom to Millions of Genomes in the United States: What Lessons Can we Learn?  W. Gregory Feero and Muin J. Khoury (December 1, 2016)
• Happy Thanksgiving: Collect & Act on Your Family Health History, Bob Wildin MD and Muin J. Khoury (November 21, 2016)
• Tracking Translation of Human Genome Discoveries into Prevention and Control of Common Chronic Diseases: The Action is in Cancer! Muin J Khoury and Lisa C Richardson (November 10, 2016)
• What Gets Measured Gets Done: Public Health Progress in Familial Hypercholesterolemia, Joshua Knowles and Muin J. Khoury (November 9, 2016)
• The Cancer Moonshot, Hereditary Cancers and Population Genetic Screening, Muin J Khoury and Lisa C Richardson (October 18, 2016)
• Precision Public Health: More Precision Ahead for Individual and Population Interventions,  Muin J. Khoury and Sandro Galea (September 7, 2016)
• Precision Medicine and Population Health: Dealing With the Elephant in the Room, Muin J. Khoury and Sandro Galea (August 18, 2016)
• Five Misconceptions About the Role of Genomics in Public Health,  Muin J. Khoury (July 13, 2016)
• From Genes to Public Health 1996-2016: The Train Has Left the Station, Muin J. Khoury (July 6, 2016)
• Precision Public Health: Reconciling Biological and Social Determinants of Health, Muin J. Khoury (June 15, 2016)
• The Shift From Personalized Medicine to Precision Medicine and Precision Public Health: Words Matter! Muin J. Khoury (April 21, 2016)
• Does genetic risk information improve healthy behavior? Let’s not throw out the baby with the bath water! Muin J. Khoury (April 11, 2016)
• Newborn screening for severe combined immune deficiency (SCID) saves lives and money: a cost-effective public health policy, Scott D. Grosse (March 15, 2016)
• Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing and Public Health Education, Muin J. Khoury (March 8, 2016)
• Rare Diseases, Genomics and Public Health: An Expanding Intersection, Muin J. Khoury and Rodolfo Valdez (February 17, 2016)
• Cancer Precision Medicine: More Population Sciences Ahead! Muin J. Khoury and Debbie Winn (January 20, 2016)
• Precision Medicine: the Arrival of Genomics to the Clinic is the Beginning of a Longer Journey, Muin J. Khoury and W. Gregory Feero (January 19, 2016)

2015

• Public Health Genomics 2015: Looking Back, Looking Ahead, Muin J. Khoury (December 14, 2015)
• National Family History Day 2015: Thinking globally and acting locally, W. Gregory Feero (November 20, 2015)
• Engaging Implementation Scientists in Precision Medicine, David A. Chambers (November 18, 2015)
• Dealing with the Genomics and Health Information Overload: Introducing the CDC Public Health Genomics Knowledge Base, Muin J. Khoury and Wei Yu (November 4, 2015)
• Genomic discoveries to clinical applications: Are we reaching an inflection point toward precision medicine? W. Gregory Feero (October 29, 2015)
• Recommendations and Reality: What Personal Stories of Hereditary Cancer Can Tell Us, Ridgely Fisk Green and Katrina Trivers (October 6, 2015)
• Precision Medicine vs. Public Health: a False Dichotomy? Ron Zimmern and Muin J. Khoury (September 28, 2015)
• Infectious Diseases: Precision Medicine for Public Health, Marta Gwinn and Duncan MacCannell (September 24, 2015)
• Precision Medicine, Implementation Science and Public Health: How Do We Scale Up From 1 Million to 300 Million? Muin J Khoury (August 24, 2015)
• The Future of Epidemiology in the Age of Precision Medicine: Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease, and Beyond, Muin J Khoury and Gina S Wei (August 11, 2015)
• Precision Medicine and Public Health: Improving Health Now While Generating New Knowledge for the Future, Muin J Khoury (June 2, 2015)
• The Ultimate Selfie, Scott Bowen and Muin J Khoury (May 15, 2015)
• Using Genomics in Precision Prevention of Breast Cancer, Muin J Khoury and Lisa C Richardson (April 23, 2015)
• When a Country Cannot be a Cohort: Challenges of Implementing a Large Precision Medicine Cohort Study in the United States, Muin J Khoury (March 23, 2015)
• Precision public health and precision medicine: two peas in a pod, Muin J Khoury (March 2, 2015)
• Human Disease and Bad Luck: Acting on Genetic & Environmental Factors to Reduce Cancer Risk, Muin J Khoury and Lisa C Richardson (February 17, 2015)
• 100,000 Studies: A Milestone for Human Genome Epidemiology (HuGE) and the HuGE Navigator, Marta Gwinn (February 9, 2015)
• The success of precision medicine requires a public health perspective, Muin J Khoury (January 29, 2015)

2014

• Newborn screening in the genomics era: are we ready for genome sequencing? Alison Stewart, Ridgely Fisk Green and Stuart K. Shapira (December 30,2014)
• Celebrating a decade of evidence-based evaluation of genomic tests, David Dotson and Muin J. Khoury (December 4, 2014)
• What is a “rare disease”? Polio eradication and primary immunodeficiency, Marta Gwinn (November 26, 2014)
• Family health history is a non-modifiable risk factor—or is it? Ridgely Fisk Green (November 13, 2014)
• Every cause needs a champion: Jean Chabut as a public health Genomics pioneer, Muin J. Khoury and Scott Bowen (November 13, 2014)
• Public Health Approach to Big Data in the Age of Genomics: How Can we Separate Signal from Noise? Muin J. Khoury (October 30, 2014)
• Outsmarting Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens, Marta Gwinn and Clifford McDonald (October 30, 2014)
• Epigenetics and Public Health: Why We Should Pay Attention, Muin J. Khoury and Krista Crider (October 9, 2014)
• Suicide, Family History, and Genomics Scott Bowen and Brad Bartholow (September 10, 2014)
• Family trees and family ties: Can family communication increase breast cancer screening and monitoring? Kari Mendelsohn-Victor, Deb Duquette, Maria Katapodi (August 25, 2014)
• Is genomics widening the schism between medicine and public health? Muin J. Khoury (August 21,2014)
• Nobody is average, but what to do about it?: The challenge of individualized disease prevention, Muin J. Khoury (July 2,2014)
• Knowing BRCA Changed My Life, Debbie Wasserman Schultz (June 10, 2014)
• National ALS Registry Aims to Find Answers, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) (May 19, 2014)
• Geography, genetics and leading causes of death, Muin J. Khoury (May 15, 2014)
• Evidence Matters in Genomic Medicine- Round 4: Where are we with Pharmacogenomic Tests? David Dotson, Michael Douglas and Katherine Kolor (April 3, 2014)
• How Health Care Providers Can Use Genomics to Prevent Cancer, Katrina Trivers, Deb Duquette and Kate Reed (March 31, 2014)
• Reconciling the future of genomic medicine with its current reality: how do we get there from here? Muin J. Khoury (March 20, 2014)
• Public Health Genomics to Save Lives: Available Tools, Actual Examples, Real Success, Scott Bowen (March 6, 2014)
• Is evidence-based medicine the enemy of genomic medicine? Alison Stewart Guest Blogger, and Muin J. Khoury (February 13, 2014)
• Guidelines we can trust are crucial for the successful implementation of genomic medicine, Alison Stewart Guest Blogger, and Muin J. Khoury (February 13, 2014)
• Public Health Genomics Highlights 2013, Muin J Khoury (January 30, 2013)
• Environmental Health Lab Supports Newborn Screening in the U.S., Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health (January 24, 2014)

2013

• Genome sequencing in the clinic – The question is not whether the glass is half-full or half-empty but whether or not the glass is the right tool., W. Gregory Feero (December 12, 2013)
• When Should We All Have Our Genomes Sequenced? Muin J Khoury (October 31, 2013)
• Public Health Genomics in Action: Reducing Morbidity and Mortality from Familial Hypercholesterolemia, Muin J Khoury (October 31, 2013)
• Genetic Epidemiology-What a Difference 20 Years Can Make! Muin J Khoury (September 12, 2013)
• Public Health Impact of Genomewide Association Studies: Glass Half Full or Half Empty? Muin J Khoury (August 1, 2013)
• Why We Can’t Wait? A Public Health Approach to Disparities in Genomic Medicine, Muin J Khoury (June 27, 2013)
• A Public Health Genomics State-by-State Clickable Map: Accelerating Implementation of Genomics Applications to Improve Population Health, Karen Greendale (June 20, 2013)
• New Products from the EGAPP Working Group: Further Development of Evidence Review Methodology and More Recommendations in Genomic Medicine, Michael Douglas and David Dotson (May 30, 2013)
• Genomes at CDC: Man, mouse, and microbe—it’s a genomic world! Marta Gwinn (May 23, 2013)
• Walking Before Running: Genomic Medicine 10 Years After the Human Genome Project, W. Gregory Feero (April 11, 2013)
• On Spinning Wheels and Genomes Revealed: Sequencing is No Longer a Sleeping Controversy, Scott Bowen and Muin J Khoury (March 28, 2013)
• Implementing evidence-based genomics recommendations at the intersection of public health and healthcare, Jenna McLosky, Debra Duquette, Beverly Burke and Joan Foland (March 21, 2013)
• Accelerating the Development of Evidence Reviews and Recommendations in Genomic Medicine, Michael Douglas and David Dotson (February 28, 2013)
• Newborn Screening: Lives Saved and Dances Danced, National Center for Environmental Health (February 22, 2013)
• How Can We Use Genetic Testing in Population Screening for Common Diseases? Scientific and Implementation Challenges, Muin J Khoury (February 21, 2013)
• What’s the Connection Between Polio Eradication and Primary Immunodeficiency? A Public Health Role for Human Genetics, Marta Gwinn (January 24, 2013)
• Public Health Genomics: 15 Years On, Muin J Khoury (January 3, 2013)

2012

• From Genetic Counseling in Individuals to Cascade Screening in Populations: An Emerging Role for Public Health Practice, Muin J Khoury (November 29, 2012)
• New Strategies for Public Health Genomics Beyond Newborn Screening: a Working Meeting and an Action Plan to Save Lives Now, Scott Bowen and Karen Greendale (October 3, 2012)
• Evidence Matters in Genomic Medicine—Round 3: Integrating Family Health History into Clinical Preventive Services Katherine Kolor amd Muin J Khoury (September 27, 2012)
• More Workings of an Evidence-Based Genomic Panel: Modernizing the Evidence Review Process, David Dotson and Michael Douglas (September 20, 2012)
• What Gets Measured Gets Done: Genomics, Surveillance Indicators and Healthy People 2020, Muin J Khoury and Katherine Kolor (September 13, 2012)
• Now watch this: Genomic Epidemiology, Marta Gwinn (September 6, 2012)
• Evidence Matters in Genomic Medicine- Round 2: Integrating Cancer Genomic Tests, Michael Douglas and David Dotson (August 23, 2012)
• Think After You Spit: Personal Genomic Tests May Offer a Teachable Moment, Muin J Khoury and Katherine Kolor (July 26, 2012)
• Peeling the Pyramid, Scaling the Onion—How to Implement Genomic Medicine, Muin J Khoury (June 21, 2012)
• Workings of an Evidence-Based Genomic Panel, David Dotson and Michael Douglas (May 24, 2012)
• Sharing the Burden of Obesity, Marta Gwinn (May 17, 2012)
• Genomic Tests and Population Health: An Online Catalog to Promote a Conversation on Evolving Evidence, Muin J Khoury (May 3, 2012)
• Smokescreen…Never Let Genetics Blind You to the Harsh Reality of Cigarettes, Scott Bowen (April 19, 2012)
• Ushering Public Health Practice into the 21st Century, Muin J Khoury (April 12, 2012)
• Evidence Matters in Genomic Medicine, Michael Douglas and David Dotson (March 28, 2012)
• Making Universal Screening for Lynch Syndrome a Reality: The Lynch Syndrome Screening Network Deb Duquette, Cecelia Bellcross, Heather Hampel and Kory Jasperson (March 22, 2012)
• The Public Health Approach to Genetic Testing in the 21st Century: Saving Lives and Saving Unnecessary Healthcare Costs Muin J Khoury (March 15, 2012)
• Can Sudden Cardiac Death of the Young be Prevented? Debra Duquette and Beth Anderson (March 1, 2012)
• Emerging Evidence for the Benefits of Systematic Collection of Family History in Clinical Practice, Muin J Khoury (February 23, 2012)
• No Genome is an Island, Marta Gwinn (January 12, 2012)

2011

• Family Health History and the Holidays, Ruta Sharangpani and Debra Duquette (December 15, 2011)
• Beyond base Pairs to Bedside: A Community Consultation on Closing the Gap between Genomic Discoveries and the Public’s Health, Muin J Khoury (December 1, 2011)
• Can We have Our Genome and Eat It Too? Deploying the Whole Genome Sequence In Medicine and Public Health, One Base Pair At A Time, Muin J Khoury (November 3, 2011)
• A Million Hearts, A Thousand Genes, and Your Family History, Muin J Khoury (October 13, 2011)
• Genomics in Public Health Preparedness: Chance Favors the Prepared Mind, Marta Gwinn (September 22, 2011)
• Think (Again) Before You Spit: Readers Weigh In , Muin J Khoury (September 8, 2011)
• Think Before You Spit: Do Personal Genomic Tests Improve Health? Muin J Khoury (August 25, 2011)
• Shall We Have Pie or Stew? Scott Bowen (August 11, 2011)
• We Asked…You Answered…Thank You! Muin J Khoury (August 3, 2011)
• Medications for the Masses? Pharmacogenomics is an Important Public Health Issue, Muin J Khoury (July 21, 2011)
• What are the Priorities for Public Health Genomics 2012-2017? Muin J Khoury (July 7, 2011)
• Genome vs. Genome: E. Coli Sprouts in Germany, Marta Gwinn (June 30, 2011)
• Feeling the Genomic Pulse of the United States, Muin J Khoury (June 21, 2011)
• Tell Me More about Telomeres, Marta Gwinn (June 9, 2011)
• What is Public Health Genomics? A Day in the Invisible Life of Public Health Genomics, Muin J Khoury (June 2, 2011)
• New Blog: Genomics Matters, Muin J Khoury (May 5, 2011)