Public health is concerned with preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health, with the focus on whole populations rather than individual people. Public health genomics works in the domain of modern genetics research and molecular biology, and has recently been defined as “the responsible and effective translation of genome-based knowledge and technologies for the benefit of population health”.

Why is it important?

Most leading causes of death, particularly the chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease, have genetic components that interact with our environment and lifestyle to influence the progress of disease. And for families with inherited conditions, early diagnosis is often vitally important. Genomics cuts across virtually all areas of public health practice – from screening programmes, reproductive health, inherited single gene disorders through to common chronic conditions, infectious diseases, nutrition and environmental health. Public health genomics is important for:

• Providing evidence for developing health services and making spending decisions
• Creating better public health programmes
• Informing the public and reinforcing key public health messages
• Enabling better understanding of new genome-based technologies to permit faster but more discriminating uptake by health service providers
• Encouraging collaboration between disciplines and researchers to promote the translation of research into practice

Public health genomics also has an important leadership role as, such is the size of the challenge that coordinated international effort is required to ensure that the benefits of genetics research are shared by populations around the world, including those in developing countries.