Public Health Genomics: The Role of the Public Health Observatories

Public Health Genomics has recently emerged as an important area of public health practice with potential for improved disease diagnosis, treatment and individualised and population based prevention. However, as yet there has been little or no interaction between this field and that of Public Health Intelligence. This paper results from exploratory discussions between members of two UK Public Health Observatories (PHOs) and the Foundation for Genomics and Population Health (PHG Foundation). It aims to provide a brief introduction to public health genomics, identify some of the possible synergies between the two fields and suggest ways in which the PHOs might need to develop.