Genomics and population health in an era of data-driven care

An international group of leading researchers, health professionals and policy makers met from 7th to 11th September at Ayer’s Cliff, Canada, to determine how best to secure the potential benefits of genome-based technologies for population health globally over the next quarter century.

Participants were drawn together by a shared commitment to the responsible use of data from biomarkers and genome-based technologies to increase understanding of the biological and environmental determinants of disease, to guide disease prevention, and to protect and promote health. A central objective of the meeting was to identify leaders to carry forward the enterprise that was begun 20 years ago at a conference in Bellagio, Italy, under the banner of public health genomics. The group included some of those who were present at that initial meeting, as well as a new generation of leaders in relevant fields.

The group reviewed the achievements of the past two decades, and acknowledged challenges in the current international landscape and the specific obstacles facing the field, before discussing the responses needed to address them over the coming decades.

The initial outcome of the meeting can now be found here.