Message from the Director, Karen Edwards, Ph.D.

Over the last decade, enormous advances in understanding genetic influences on diseases of public health importance have been made.. However, translation of these advances to clinical and public health practice remains challenging, particularly due to the lack of evidence surrounding the clinical application and cost effectiveness of using of this information.

Evidence for genetic influences on common chronic diseases including asthma, diabetes, obesity and cancer is emerging and is consistent with complex genetic mechanisms. By identifying genetic factors influencing susceptibility to these conditions as well as interactions with environmental factors, our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of chronic diseases will be enhanced.

The task in years to come will be to understand how risk is influenced by the interaction of susceptibility genes with each other and with pertinent social and environmental factors; and to establish how best to apply this understanding to provide individuals with clinically useful preventive, diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic information. This understanding is a necessary prerequisite for the rational development of preventative and improved therapeutic approaches for public health application.

With this vision in mind, our goal is to serve as a hub of expertise in genomics and public health with a focus on translating genomic information into practical public health knowledge;  and to provide technical assistance to federal, state and local public health in a variety of areas related to genomics.

Please browse our site and contact us directly if you have any questions.

Karen Edwards, PhD
Director of the UW Center for Genomics & Public Health

For more information on Dr. Karen Edwards' research interests and publications, visit her faculty web page.