Human Genomic Variation Studies in Developing Countries

We have recently published a series of articles on the emergence of genomic medicine in emerging economies in the developing world as a special supplement of the October issue of Nature Reviews Genetics by Nature Publishing. The supplement consists of an introduction and four individual case studies on Mexico, India, Thailand and South Africa who are each actively conducting human genomic variation studies.
 
These articles week detail how the above four countries are demonstrating leadership and actively establishing domestic capacity in genomic research – efforts that will result in economic stimulation and potentially public health savings and local health benefits.
 
1.    Genomics, public health and developing countries: the case of the Mexican National Institute of Genomic Medicine (INMEGEN)
Beatrice Seguin, Billie-Jo Hardy, Peter A. Singer and Abdallah S. Daar
 
INMEGEN is carrying out a large-scale genotyping project to map genomic variation within its own population. The initiative is expected to generate a key resource for local researchers to understand disease susceptibility and variation in drug responses, which will contribute to Mexico's goal of developing public health genomics.
http://www.nature.com/nrg/journal/v9/n10_supp/index.html
 
2.    From diversity to delivery: the case of the Indian Genome Variation initiative
Billie-Jo Hardy, Beatrice Seguin, Peter A. Singer, Mitali Mukerji, Samir K. Brahmachari and Abdallah S. Daar
 
India currently has the world's second-largest population along with a fast growing economy and significant economic disparity. It cannot afford to import expensive technologies and therapeutics of the developed world. Instead to address these challenges it is looking to biotechnology-based innovation in the field of genomics.
http://www.nature.com/nrg/journal/v9/n10_supp/index.html
 
3.    Universal health care, genomic medicine and Thailand: investing in today and tomorrow
Beatrice Seguin, Billie-Jo Hardy, Peter A. Singer, and Abdallah S. Daar
 
Aiming to develop tools for a more cost-effective health care system, Thailand has launched two genotyping initiatives: the Thai SNP Discovery Project and the Thai Centre for Excellence in Life Sciences Pharmacogenomics Project.
http://www.nature.com/nrg/journal/v9/n10_supp/index.html 
 
4     South Africa: from species cradle to genomic applications.
Billie-Jo Hardy, Beatrice Seguin, Raj Ramesar, Peter A. Singer and Abdallah S. Daar
 
South Africa is beginning to apply genomics to address local health needs, including HIV and tuberculosis infections. We document a number of initiatives that are beginning to study genetic variation within the various local indigenous populations.
http://www.nature.com/nrg/journal/v9/n10_supp/index.html 

We conclude the special supplement with a look towards the next steps for genomic medicine in these countries where we provide a perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing these and other countries in the developing world as they begin to harness genomics for the benefit of their populations.
 
5.    The next steps for genomic medicine: challenges and opportunities for the developing world
Billie-Jo Hardy, Beatrice Seguin, Federico Goodsaid, Gerardo Jimenez-Sanchez, Peter A. Singer and Abdallah S. Daar
 
Here we provide a perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing Mexico, India, Thailand, and South Africa as well as other countries in the developing world as they begin to harness genomics for the benefit of their populations. 
http://www.nature.com/nrg/journal/v9/n10_supp/index.html
 
Click here to read the press release for this supplement
Click here for the access link to the supplement