The Challenges and Impact of Human Genome Research for Minority Communities

proceedings from a conference presented by
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., National Educational Foundation
July 7-8, 2000, Philadelphia, PA

Zeta Background
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Foreword
Zeta NEF Purpose

Conference
Conference Mission
Conference Objectives
Research Plans
Conference Agenda
Conference Summary
Workshop I Summary
Workshop II Summary
Workshop III Summary
What's Next?
Photographs
Human Genome News article

Presenters
Dr. Aristides A. Patrinos
Dr. John Quackenbush
Dr. Georgia M. Dunston
Dr. Mary Kay Pelias
Dr. Fatimah Jackson
Dr. Christopher Adams
Dr. Rosalind P. Hale
Dr. Margaret C. Werner-Washburne
Rev. Dr. Deborah P. Wolfe
Dr. Jeroo S. Kotval
Betty K. Mansfield
Issie L. Shelton Jenkins, Esq.
Phyllis Griffin Epps, Esq.
Dr. Kathryn T. Malvern

Contact Information
Board of Managers
Presenters
National Educational Foundation

There are approximately 34 million African Americans in the U.S. population. African Americans represent a unique gene pool in that the predominance of the population originated from the West African coast beginning 400 years ago. Since that time the gene pool of African Americans has been subject to a variety of environmental and racial influences. Due to such influences the African American population is not homogenous and is ethnically more diverse than it was centuries ago. The remaining common genetic factors offer a significant opportunity to identify and treat a variety of diseases that affect this population.

Diseases that affect African Americans are many and include diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In cardiovascular disease the most serious symptom is high blood pressure. High blood pressure in turn leads to stroke and heart attack. This presentation will focus on the incidence of high blood pressure in African Americans, the likely genes that cause it and targeted strategies that can be used to achieve effective pharmaceutical intervention. The future of health management will be to identify the genetic traits associated with disease and then allow individuals to be tested for such traits, e.g., high blood pressure. Once identified, individuals can be matched to the appropriate drug that offers the best therapeutic benefit for their genetic profile. The genetic model represents personalized medicine. In contrast today’s drug therapy is a one size fits all model.