Members of the Food and Nutrition Section are invited to join the new Genomics Forum of APHA. This Forum will be one of the first to represent a new structure within APHA that was created to address cross-cutting issues and facilitate communication across Sections and Special Primary Interest Groups (SPIGs). By joining the Genomics Forum, APHA members retain their affiliation with their Sections.

Genomics – the study of genes and how they relate to each other and with the environment - is increasingly a public health issue. Expanding research and new applications of genomics in clinical and public health settings provides challenges and opportunities for public health professionals to promote equitable access to genetic services, and prevent misuse of genetic information and technology. For example, multiple government agencies are placing substantial funds into clinical applications such as pharmacogenomics (i.e., personalized medicine) without assessing this agenda from a public health perspective and its relative impact on individual rights and community health. To ensure that personalized medicine means public medicine, APHA must be at the forefront of conversations about how genomics will be used in relationship to population health in America and worldwide. This Forum will contribute to the realization of that goal.

Over 130 APHA members have currently enrolled in the Genomics Forum, representing a growing, interdisciplinary group of individuals including practitioners, researchers, students and community members from state and federal governmental agencies, advocacy groups, academia, and healthcare organizations. The Forum is committed to a diverse membership from APHA Sections, SPIGs, and Caucuses and hopes to work with the Food and Nutrition Section and its members on issues of mutual interest.

The Forum currently communicates via listserv, in regular conference calls, and through the development of a Web site, and has solicited abstracts for the 2008 Annual Meeting.  All are invited to participate in one of the general membership calls and to join any of the Forum’s committees.  

Please visit our Web site to see a schedule of upcoming activities and to sign up for the Forum: http://www.GenomicsForum.org.