Karen Greendale, Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers For Disease Control and Prevention
A Working Meeting and an Action Plan
to Save Lives Now
Nearly 2 million Americans are affected by one of three genetic conditions with a strong risk of early morbidity and mortality: BRCA 1/2 and hereditary breast and ovarian cancer; Lynch syndrome and colorectal , endometrial and ovarian cancer; and familial hypercholesterolemia and early cardiovascular events. At present these conditions are poorly identified by the healthcare system but evidence based recommendations are available to prevent disease and improve health.
On September 7, 2012, eighty experts and stakeholders representing federal, state and local public health agencies, clinicians, key advocates and community leaders came together at CDC’s Roybal headquarters in Atlanta to develop a plan to use evidence based “Tier I” interventions to reduce morbidity and mortality from these three conditions. The event was organized by the CDC Office of Public Health Genomics (OPHG) with help from the University of Michigan Center for Public Health and Community Genomics, Genetic Alliance, and a multi-disciplinary planning committee. The full meeting report is published on the Genomics Forum website and is available for download at http://genomicsforum.org/editoruploads/ActionstoSaveLivesNowReport.pdf