The Center for Public Health Genomics was established January, 2007. The Center now includes nearly 40 researchers, including 8 resident and 37 non-resident faculty. Our focus of research is to obtain a better understanding of the genetic factors that contribute to individual variation in disease risk. The Center has a unique position of being a group of investigators who are interested in understanding the molecular basis of common disease, but always have a commitment to translating that knowledge to the application of medicine and public health. Our position in the University of Virginia Medical School contributes to the atmosphere of translational and personalized medicine – moving gene discovery (and the manner in which genes interact with environment) into the delivery of health care and of disease prevention both in clinical settings as well as in the community.

The Center is composed of faculty in multiple departments across the University of Virginia. As our research is highly multidisciplinary, our faculty represents a number of complementary areas of expertise. These areas include members in the Departments of Public Health Sciences (Biostatistics & Epidemiology, Clinical Informatics), Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, and Internal Medicine (Endocrinology and Cardiovascular Medicine). Our multidisciplinary group of scientists has expertise in the areas of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, cancer, population genetics, statistical methods, and multi-center (national and international) study coordination.

As a Center committed to making fundamental discoveries in genomics and applying them to impact public health, we look forward to the future opportunities and challenges in the study of complex human disease. While many challenges exist in gene discovery and the modifications that occur from gene to protein, from protein to pathway, and pathway to disease, we look forward to the opportunity to make a substantial impact on these important health outcomes that affect us all.