A new EU-funded venture, the Public Health Genomics European Network (PHGEN) has been officially launched. This network of experts in human genetics and public health has been established in order to address issues surrounding Public Health Genomics, the “responsible and effective integration of genome-based knowledge and technologies into public policy and into health services for the benefit of population health”.
Overall, PHGEN, which has been funded for three years, is to function in horizon scanning, fact-finding, and monitoring of the integration of genome-based knowledge into public health. It will seek to help European policymakers to protect consumers and to monitor the implications of genome-based knowledge whilst enabling scientific genomic advances to be translated into evidence-based policies and interventions that will improve population health. This will include developing appropriate national and international links, exchanging information about best practice in order to develop community policies, strategies and measures, and assist in the development and coordination of Public Health Genetics related activities among Member States. In particular, it will focus on key challenges associated with individual national practices in genetic testing.
Led by the German Institute of Public Health, NRW, the other PHGEN partners are the German Center for Public Health Genomics (DZPHG) at the University of Applied Sciences, Bielefeld, and the Public Health Genetics Unit, Cambridge, UK. The network will also include representatives of relevant health authorities from EU Member States, Applicant Countries and EFTA- EEA countries, and from other networks and health-related organizations (for example, EuroGentest, Orphanet, WHO etc).
The first network meeting is taking place in Bielefeld from 8th – 9th February 2006.