Modules

Session 1

Module 21: Public Health Genomics

Dates: Monday & Tuesday (June 22nd and 23rd, 2009)
Instructors: Cindy Watts, PhD; Dave Veenstra, PharmD, PhD; Patricia Deverka, MD
This module will cover the basic content areas of public health genomics and is intended as a broad overview of this emerging field. Topics include pharmacogenomics, cost-effectiveness and ethical, legal and policy issues.  It will also include examples for evaluating the clinical utility of genetic tests for chronic diseases (including gene expression profiling for breast cancer, warfarin, and factor V Leiden); and the broad ethical and policy implications of the application of genomics to population health.

Module 22: Translation to Practice

Dates: Monday & Tuesday (June 22nd and 23rd, 2009)
Instructors: Ralph Coates, PhD; Rodolfo Valdez, PhD; Greg Feero, MD, PhD; Robin Bennett, MS, CGC; Debra Duquette, MS, CGC
This module will provide an overview and examples of activities involved in translating research in genetic or genomic testing and in family health history into clinical and public health practice. It will introduce processes for evaluating both genomic tests and family history tools to determine whether they are ready for use and can be recommended for practice, and it will introduce programs developed to take the next steps to translate evidence-based guidelines into practice in medicine and in public health.

Day 1 will focus on common, complex, multi-factorial diseases and disorders, not highly penetrant, single-gene disorders. It will include evaluations of the use of genomic tests in risk prediction, and screening. It will also cover surveillance, health education, and policy interventions in public health and clinical practice settings to increase the use of evidence-based genomics services. Examples will be taken cancer genetics; primarily breast, ovarian, and colorectal cancers; coronary heart disease; and depression.

Day 2 will cover the evaluation of family health history tools and the use of family health history information from the individual/clinical perspective to the population/public health perspective and future initiatives around family health history information.

Cross-cutting session: Genomics and Health Literacy -- Getting it and Passing it on

 (This is a joint afternoon session for modules 21 and 22) 
Dates: Monday & Tuesday (6/22 & 6/23, 2009)
Lead Instructor: Kim Kaphingst, ScD
Guest Lecturer: Debra Duquette, MS, CGC
Health and genetic literacy have been raised as issues of critical importance in the post-genomic era.  Little is known about what the public, and defined target audiences within the public, need to know in order to be effective consumers of the genomic knowledge that is emerging in the public and clinical domains. This session will accomplish the following learning objectives:

1. Introduce and consider the major components of health literacy that may influence how the general public responds to genetic and genomic information.
2. Raise awareness of the research gaps in our understanding of the public’s information needs and current competencies related to genetic information.
3. Use the examples of family history, newborn screening, and direct to consumer marketing of personalized genomic risk assessments to consider public information processing and competencies with respect to genomic information.
4. Discuss public health friendly tools for assessing health- and genetic literacy.

Session 2

Module 23: Is Genetic Testing the Path to Personalized Medicine? Issues and Implications for Translation to Practice

Date: Wednesday (6/24, 2009)
Instructors and Panelists: Patricia Deverka, MD; Colleen McBride, PhD; Cecille Jansson, PhD; Kris Peterson-Oehlke, MS, CDC; Karen Edwards, PhD; Anne Willey, PhD, JD; Rosalynn Gill, PhD (Sciona); Joanna Mountain, PhD (23andme). 
This special 1-day session will explore issues in the emerging area of genetic testing. Through a series of presentations and panel discussion, the course will provide an overview of genetic testing and direct-to-consumer marketing of tests, examples of products on the market and how the tests are viewed by consumers, public health programs, regulators and researchers.

Session 3

Module 24: Genomic Epidemiology

Dates: Thursday & Friday (6/25 & 6/26, 2009)
Instructors: Karen L. Edwards, PhD; Cecile Janssens, PhD
This module will provide a broad overview of the field of genomic epidemiology, with an emphasis on issues related to the translation of genomic information into practice. Topics to be covered will include, introduction to genetic epidemiologic study designs, evaluating gene x environment interactions, principles of screening as applied to genomic applications, and risk prediction modeling using genomic information. The course is intended for a broad audience, including those with no previous exposure to the field, but who are interested in understanding the basic concepts of genomic epidemiology and implications for translation and practice.

Module 25: Translation to Practice: a Global Perspective

Dates: Thursday & Friday (6/25 & 6/26, 2009)
Instructors: Gail Davey, MBBChir MD; Arthur Grollman, MD
This module will focus on the use of genomic information in addressing infectious diseases of public health importance around the world. The course will provide an overview of global health issues, and specific examples of how genomic information can be used in reducing infectious disease. The course will include researchers working in the US and developing countries to translate genomic information to effective prevention and interventions. Specific examples will include HIV/AIDS, as well as reducing the impact of Podoconiosis in Ethiopia. The course is intended for those with an interest in international health, infectious disease and genomics. 

Day 1 will provide an overview and examples from HIV/AIDS work.

Day 2 of this course will focus on an international health example that spans the range of the translation framework.  Podoconiosis (a form of non-parasitic elephantiasis) is an important public health problem in many areas of Africa. Podoconiosis affects up to 6% of the population in endemic areas of Ethiopia. Dr. Gail Davey is part of an international team that has used genomic information to develop a practical intervention to address this health issue. Dr. Davey will discuss issues from the basic epidemiologic research to the implementation of a practical and effective intervention in Ethiopia. This session will also include a discussion of the importance of partnerships with other organizations for addressing health issues in developing countries.

Cross-cutting session: Biobanks/Biotrusts: Opportunities and Challenges

(This is a joint afternoon session for modules 24 and 25)
Dates: Thursday & Friday (6/25 & 6/26, 2009)
Instructors: David Winickoff, JD; Brad Therrell, PhD; Toby Citrin, JD; Debra Duquette, MS, CGC
The goal of this session is to highlight both the scientific potential of Biobanks/Biotrusts for advancing public health genomics knowledge and advancing research, as well as highlighting the ethical, legal, social and governance issues arising from the development of these repositories. Representatives from state public health programs will also participate in discussions and will describe their experience in planning State sponsored Biobanks.