PAHO will host a regional meeting in Brasilia, Brazil on May 15-16, 2024 to promote the implementation of genomics in clinical medicine and public health, as well as to strengthen genomics research in the Americas. This initiative, titled “Human Genomics for Health: Enhancing the Impact of Effective Research,” is the first of its kind in the region.
Genomics is an expanding field that offers insights in clinical care, ancestry, human genetic variation, food safety, infection control, and contributes to the “One Health” approach. The study of an organism’s complete set of genes, known as the genome, focuses on how genes function, interact with each other and with the environment. Unlike genetics which studies individual genes; genomics looks at characterizing all genes in an organism.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Science Council has established a program to promote equitable access to genomics research and technologies worldwide as outlined in their publication “Accelerating Access to Genomics for Global Health 2022”. In this regard, Dr Sebastian Garcia Saiso Director of Evidence and Intelligence for Action (EIH) at PAHO stated that the upcoming regional meeting in Brasilia will play a crucial role in advancing genomics in the Americas. Over two days representatives from PAHO Member States and regional experts will collaborate to set an agenda promoting genomics research and precision medicine in the region.
Dr Ludovic Reveiz Advisor for Health Research at EIH/PAHO highlighted that genomic knowledge and technologies offer new improved approaches diagnosing preventing treating various diseases they also provide opportunities achieving global public health goals. PAHO’s Science Knowledge for Impact Unit (SK/EIH), with support from WHO; PAHO office Brazilian Ministry of Health are organizing this meeting bringing together representatives from PAHO Member States regional experts precision medicine field.
