Human Genome Epidemiology A Scientific Foundation for Using Genetic Information to Improve Health and Prevent Disease

Advances in genomics are expected to play a central role in medicine and public health in the future by providing a genetic basis for disease prediction and prevention. The transplantation of human gene discoveries into meaningful actions to improve health and prevent disease depends on scientific information from multiple disciplines, including epidemiology. This book describes the important role that epidemiologic methods play in the continuum from gene discovery to the development and application of genetic tests. It proceeds systematically from the fundamentals of genome technology and gene discovery, to epidemiologic approaches to gene characterization in the population, to the evaluation of genetic tests and their use in health services. These methodologic approaches are then illustrated with several disease-specific case studies. The book provides a scientific foundation that will help researchers, policy makers, and practitioners integrate genomics into medical and public health practice.