The Lancet Commission on precision health: equitable, data-driven health outcomes for all.
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Understanding the complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors in disease etiology and the role of gene-environment interactions (GEIs) across human development stages is important. We review the state of GEI research, including challenges in measuring environmental factors and advantages of GEI analysis in understanding disease mechanisms. We discuss the evolution of GEI studies from candidate gene-environment studies to genome-wide interaction studies (GWISs) and the role of multi-omics in mediating GEI effects. We review advancements in GEI analysis methods and the importance of large-scale datasets. We also address the translation of GEI findings into precision environmental health (PEH), showcasing real-world applications in healthcare and disease prevention. Additionally, we highlight societal considerations in GEI research, including environmental justice, the return of results to participants, and data privacy. Overall, we underscore the significance of GEI for disease prediction and prevention and advocate for integrating the exposome into PEH omics studies.
INTRODUCTION: Genomics is increasingly recognized as essential for precision health, yet its integration into undergraduate nursing and other health sciences curricula remains limited. Persistent gaps in genomics literacy and confidence among students and professionals indicate that current educational approaches may not adequately prepare graduates for genomics-informed care and precision health. The aim of this review is to map educational approaches and methods used to enhance genomic competencies among undergraduate health sciences students and discuss implications for nursing education. METHODS: Scoping review, reported in accordance with PRISMA-ScR recommendations. Systematic search in CINAHL Ultimate, ERIC, and MEDLINE for studies published in English between January 2015 and December 2024 was undertaken. Data were charted using a standardized extraction form and synthesized descriptively and narratively, grouping interventions by educational approach, methods, strategies, techniques, and tools. RESULTS: Thirty-one studies were included, mostly from the United States, involving primarily medical and nursing students. Educational approaches centered on experiential and practice-based learning, simulation, case- and problem-based learning, flipped classrooms, collaborative or interprofessional learning, narrative and arts-based methods, and technology-enhanced strategies such as virtual labs, online modules, and digital storytelling. These approaches were associated with improvements in genomic knowledge, application to clinical scenarios, ethical awareness, engagement, and self-reported confidence, although outcomes were predominantly short-term. CONCLUSIONS: Genomics education for health sciences students is characterized by diverse, largely experiential and student-centered approaches. Integration into curricula remains fragmented and often focused on genetics rather than broader genomics and precision health. Nurse educators should prioritize integrated, authentic, and ethically informed genomics education, supported by educator development and digital technologies, including generative AI, to prepare graduates for precision nursing care.
Glaucoma is the leading global cause of irreversible blindness, with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) its most prevalent subtype. While elevated intraocular pressure is a major risk factor, glaucoma progression is multifactorial, influenced by genetic, environmental, vascular and mechanical factors. Genetic polymorphisms have been linked to both POAG susceptibility and progression, yet most studies focus on risk factors for disease onset rather than progression. We provide an overview of the current literature on gene polymorphisms associated with POAG progression. We conducted a systematic search following PRISMA guidelines in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus and Public Health Genomics and Precision Health Knowledge Base. Eligible studies investigated associations between genetic variants and structural or functional markers of glaucoma progression in adult-onset POAG patients. Eighteen articles were included. HLA class I haplotypes (A1-B8 and A2-B40) and MYOC.mt1+ carriers showed faster progression of optic nerve head damage. The APOE ε4 allele was linked to faster macular thinning in normal tension glaucoma patients. BDNF rs6265 Val/Val homozygotes exhibited accelerated retinal nerve fiber layer loss, particularly in females. TGFBR3-CDC7 (rs1192415: G) and MYOC.mt1+ carriers experienced accelerated visual field deterioration. Carriers of GAS7 (rs9913911: AA), IL1B (rs1143627: CT and rs16944: CT) and OPTN (rs2234968) had a higher likelihood of requiring surgery. Variants in ABCA1, CDKN2B-AS, eNOS and Piezo1 showed inconclusive results. These findings support a role for genetic polymorphisms in POAG progression and highlight the potential of genetic screening to identify patients at increased risk for rapid disease progression.
INTRODUCTION: When research fails to reach and engage all populations who might benefit from study findings, it can compromise scientific validity and ultimately health equity. Few studies have systematically examined factors driving study engagement through longitudinal intervention research. This project examined sociodemographic, geographic, and structural influences on engagement and attrition across the participation "cascade" (outreach, enrollment, retention) for two large-scale multilevel precision medicine and precision prevention trials for smoking and lung cancer screening. METHODS: Modified Poisson regression models were used to determine the factors associated with study engagement based on sociodemographic and geographical factors at each step in the cascade of participation, from initial outreach through retention at 12 months post-enrollment. Secondary analyses examined the cascade among the subset of patients who had active electronic patient portals and were approached via the portal. RESULTS: A total of 24,366 patients were approached for participation. Race, Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), insurance status, and distance from the study site were significantly associated with engagement at various points in the cascade. Black patients were more likely than White patients to be reached (48.9% vs 47.1%; p = 0.022) and to complete eligibility screening (52.8% vs. 38.4%; p < 0.001), but less likely to consent to participate (56.7% vs 69.8%; p < 0.001) and complete genetic testing (58.5% vs. 69.8%; p = 0.003). Patterns of engagement through electronic patient portal versus non-electronic recruitment channels also differed by race- and place-based factors, with Black patients being less likely than White patients to respond in the portal (8.8% vs 15.5%; p < 0.001), and patients who reside farther from the study site being more likely to respond in the portal compared to those who live closer (14.9% vs 12.5%; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the need for tailored, stage-specific engagement strategies to ensure representative participation in genomic and behavioral intervention research to advance the integration of genomics into public health practice.
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Genomics is increasingly integral to nurse practitioner (NP) practice, informing risk assessment, diagnosis, treatment selection, and precision care. Despite expanded clinical responsibilities, recent evidence demonstrates that NP genomic knowledge remains only moderate, mirroring earlier findings among registered nurses. This persistent gap highlights the need to move beyond foundational education toward applied, practice-based genomic competency. In addition to strengthening workforce preparedness, NPs must advocate for equitable access to genomic services through organizational, state, and federal policy initiatives. Advancing genomic competence and advocacy is essential to improving patient outcomes, reducing disparities, and ensuring equitable implementation of precision health care.
Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) affect more than 125,000 individuals in South Carolina, yet equitable representation in population genomics initiatives remains a concern. We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive analysis of 247 In Our DNA SC participants aged 50 to 89 years with at least 1 ADRD-related diagnosis, identified using ICD-10 codes, to characterize demographic and clinical features and to compare the cohort with statewide ADRD estimates. Most participants were aged 65 years or older (82.2%), female (52.2%), and White (93.1%), while only 5.3% identified as Black. Nearly half had a Charlson Comorbidity Index score of 4 or greater (48.6%), and 49.5% had at least 10 years of longitudinal electronic health record data. Compared with statewide ADRD estimates, Black individuals were substantially underrepresented despite comprising ∼one-third of ADRD cases in South Carolina. These findings highlight the need for continued efforts to improve representation and support equitable, generalizable precision health research.
Inorganic arsenic (iAs) is a toxic environmental pollutant linked to serious health risks, prompting global regulatory efforts. This study identifies major health conditions associated with iAs exposure using text network analysis, and assesses health risk assessments through an umbrella review and dose-response analysis. It synthesizes previous systematic reviews to offer a broader perspective on iAs-related health effects. An optimized text network analysis-based search strategy was applied across multiple databases to identify relevant systematic reviews. An umbrella review framework was employed to synthesize and reinterpret findings across systematic reviews. The methodological quality of included systematic reviews was assessed using the A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews 2 tool. Extracted data on study characteristics, exposure levels, and risk estimates were analyzed to evaluate the dose-response relationship between iAs exposure and health outcomes. From 922 systematic reviews, 36 were included and categorized into 10 health condition groups. For example, seven SRs found a significant dose-response relationship between iAs and bladder cancer, with one systematic review reporting relative risks of 2.70, 4.20, and 5.80 at 10, 50, and 150 µg/L, respectively. Individual study analysis further showed that each 10 µg/L increase in iAs raised bladder cancer risk by 3.11 % (p=0.003). iAs exposure is associated with hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and adverse fetal outcomes. Dose-dependent increases in bladder cancer, lung cancer, and hypertension risks were observed. These findings support more precise health risk assessments and regulatory strategies.
PURPOSE: Pharmacogenomics (PGx) is a critical component of precision health care that aims to improve drug efficacy and reduce adverse events. Terminologies and standards have not always aligned between PGx and broader genomic medicine communities, which is a barrier to PGx implementation. An updated assessment of community barriers, needs, and perspectives is critical to enable more standardized terminologies and interpretation frameworks. METHODS: The Clinical Genome Resource's PGx Interpretation Committee (PGxIC, formerly referred to as the PGx Working Group, PGxWG) conducted 2 surveys targeting the PGx and genomic medicine communities (n = 508) to evaluate perspectives on PGx clinical validity and actionability frameworks, as well as other barriers to PGx implementation. Surveys were tailored toward self-reported familiarity with PGx. Data primarily consisted of free text, which were analyzed using qualitative content analysis methods. RESULTS: Survey responses indicated conflation of terminology across disciplines, including confusion around differing definitions of terms in PGx and non-PGx contexts. Data also indicated broad support for leveraging existing PGx guidelines and framework structures alongside the standardization of approaches and centralization of resources. CONCLUSION: These novel survey results demonstrate broad consensus on the importance of integrating PGx into clinical practice, including support for development of gene-drug response clinical validity and actionability frameworks aligned with Clinical Genome Resource's frameworks for gene-disease relationships.
This narrative review provides a historical perspective on how observational research on type 2 diabetes has been developed and consolidated over the last 50 years and how well-designed cohort studies will provide us with knowledge for research and practice in the future and aid guideline development. We have included data from a large number of cohorts from every continent that have been used to study the development and/or progression of type 2 diabetes, including cohorts that are general population-based, disease-based, intervention-based and registry-based. We have structured the results from the past 50 years based on the following themes: diagnosis and screening, complications, risk factors and pathophysiology. We also discuss the strengths and weaknesses of observational research when compared with other research designs. Finally, we discuss the emerging and future directions for type 2 diabetes research using cohorts, which include novel developments, such as artificial intelligence, precision health and the exposome. We conclude that cohort research has significantly advanced our understanding of type 2 diabetes and aided guideline development, and complements experimental work, such as human randomised controlled trials and animal studies. Both approaches are essential and complementary in our pursuit to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the development and progression of type 2 diabetes, and to change dogma, practice and policies for better outcomes.
Mental disorders represent a major and growing public health challenge in Europe and worldwide, characterised by marked clinical, biological, and functional heterogeneity, that limits the effectiveness of current diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. In recent years, advances in precision medicine have initiated a paradigm shift in psychiatry, offering new opportunities to improve prevention, prediction, diagnosis, treatment selection, and long-term management by integrating biological, psychological, social, and environmental information.This EPA Guidance Paper provides an overview of the current state of precision medicine in mental health and outlines its potential clinical, scientific, and policy implications. We review key advances in genomics, epigenetics, neuroimaging, transcriptomics, digital technologies, and artificial intelligence, highlighting their relevance across the full clinical pathway, from risk prediction and early detection to treatment personalisation and monitoring. We also examine major barriers to implementation, including limited biomarker validation, insufficient representativeness of research populations, ethical and regulatory challenges, data protection concerns, and inequalities in access across healthcare systems.Based on the available evidence, we propose strategic recommendations to support the responsible and equitable integration of precision approaches into mental health care in Europe. These include strengthening translational research, promoting multidisciplinary collaboration, updating regulatory and ethical frameworks, enhancing professional training, and prioritising mental health within national and European research and health agendas. By addressing these challenges, precision psychiatry has the potential to contribute to more effective, person-centred, and sustainable mental health care, while supporting innovation, reducing stigma, and improving outcomes for patients and society.
BACKGROUND: Precision medicine (PM) adoption is accelerating across Asia, but implementation remains uneven due to differences in financing, infrastructure, governance, and health-system readiness. OBJECTIVES: To examine how six Asian countries (Singapore, South Korea, China, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia) adopt, finance, and integrate PM technologies, and identify common implementation patterns and challenges. METHODS: A landscape review of peer-reviewed literature, government publications, and HTA reports (2010-2026) was conducted, supplemented by stakeholder consultations. PM applications were grouped into public health screening (hereditary breast and ovarian cancer [HBOC] and familial hypercholesterolemia [FH] cascade testing), next-generation sequencing (NGS) applications (rare diseases, oncology, pharmacogenomics), and AI-enabled PM. Evidence was synthesized across access, awareness, reimbursement, and implementation. RESULTS: Public health genomic screening demonstrated the highest implementation readiness, followed by precision oncology, while rare disease diagnostics remained infrastructure-dependent and pharmacogenomics and AI-enabled PM platforms were at earlier stages. Four readiness profiles emerged: highly aligned systems; reimbursement-constrained systems with strong governance and infrastructure; systems strengthening governance, public financing and infrastructure; and strategy-led systems expanding implementation through pilot programs and referral centers. CONCLUSIONS: PM implementation across Asia remains heterogeneous. The identified readiness profiles highlight governance, financing, and infrastructure priorities for sustainable and equitable PM diffusion.
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Teacher well-being affects classroom functioning and workforce stability, yet generic digital programs rarely use person-specific affect dynamics to select support. This cluster-randomised trial evaluated whether micro-interventions selected from high expected influence (EI) nodes in teachers' contemporaneous affect networks produced larger changes in burnout-related EI and everyday happiness than content-matched random allocation. The objectives were to estimate allocation effects on changes in estimated network summaries and happiness, evaluate network change as a statistical mediator, examine personality moderation, and benchmark simpler allocation rules. A two-arm cluster randomised platform trial was conducted in 84 public schools across four urban districts in H Province. After a 14 day baseline of ecological momentary assessment (EMA), person specific partial correlation networks were estimated for happiness, exhaustion, detachment, efficacy and rumination. An optimisation engine prioritised three brief micro-intervention types per teacher according to baseline EI, while the active control received the same library without network information. EMA continued for 8 weeks; Bayesian multilevel models, permutation-based mediation, and benchmarking analyses were applied. EI-based targeting produced larger reductions in the composite EI-change index than active control (mean difference 0.11, 95% credible interval 0.08 to 0.14) and higher week 7 EMA happiness (4.4 points on a 0 to 100 scale, 95% credible interval 2.7 to 6.0), with a positive arm by week slope difference of 0.62 points per week (95% credible interval 0.39 to 0.85). Model-based mediation estimates were consistent with approximately one half of the happiness difference being statistically associated with change in the composite EI-change index (average conditional mediation estimate 3.5 points, 95% credible interval 2.0 to 5.2). Benchmarking showed smaller gains under severity, threshold, or group-level centrality rules. Effects were stronger among teachers higher in conscientiousness. The findings indicate that integrating EMA, network modelling, and EI-driven optimisation yields measurable gains beyond content-matched exposure, providing a proof of concept for district-scale precision mental health that requires prospective implementation testing. Replication in additional regions, expanded node sets, and longer follow up are warranted to assess durability and generalisability.
Health has become a central term in global sustainability policy, yet it is often used without sufficient conceptual precision. Public health, global health, One Health, EcoHealth, GeoHealth, and Planetary Health each emphasize different dimensions of the relationship between humans, animals, and the environment. In policy contexts, however, these distinctions are frequently blurred. We argue that biodiversity is often treated as an environmental co-benefit rather than as a foundational determinant of health. This weakens the implementation of One Health approaches because biodiversity underpins disease regulation, immune system development, food and water security, ecosystem functioning, resilience, and climate adaptation. At the same time, biodiversity provides a critical link between One Health and broader Planetary Health challenges, including global environmental change and the transgression of planetary boundaries. Future health and sustainability policies should move beyond generic references to health and explicitly recognize biodiversity as part of preventive health systems.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a genetically heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition in which hundreds of individually rare risk variants converge on a small number of shared biological pathways, including synaptic scaffolding, chromatin remodeling, excitation-inhibition balance, and cellular energy metabolism. Translating this genetic heterogeneity into mechanistic insight requires experimental systems capable of interrogating individual gene functions in human-relevant neural contexts at scale. CRISPR-enabled functional genomics in human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived neural models, spanning neural progenitors, cortical and inhibitory neurons, astrocytes, microglia, and brain organoids, provides precisely this capability. By integrating pooled perturbation screens with multimodal readouts including single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, chromatin accessibility profiling, proximity labeling proteomics, multi-electrode array electrophysiology, and metabolic flux analysis, these platforms enable systematic, causal mapping of ASD gene function at system resolution. Early applications have already revealed convergent mechanisms: BAF complex disruption expands the ventral progenitor pool and biases its fate toward oligodendrocyte and interneuron lineages; ADNP loss impairs microglial synaptic pruning through altered endocytic trafficking; and mTOR pathway dysregulation in PTEN- and TSC2-perturbed models links genetic risk directly to metabolic and mitochondrial dysfunction. Computational frameworks including MIMOSCA and SCEPTRE enable causal network reconstruction and pseudotime inference from these datasets, moving the field from gene lists toward pathway-level models of ASD pathobiology. Translational applications leverage isogenic iPSC panels and variant-level base and prime editing to stratify ASD variants by functional impact, informing gene therapy design for haploinsufficient targets such as CHD8 and SCN2A via AAV or antisense oligonucleotide delivery. Remaining challenges, including model developmental immaturity, batch variability, and the difficulty of modeling polygenic risk, are addressed by a roadmap integrating spatial perturbomics, AI-driven causal inference, and population-scale standardized biobanks. This review synthesizes the current state of CRISPR-based functional genomics in human stem cell neural models as a coherent experimental framework for converting ASD genetic associations into mechanistic understanding and therapeutic opportunity.
PURPOSE: Patients are increasingly obtaining genetic health information and integrating it into their care with the help of their primary care provider (PCP). However, PCPs may not be adequately prepared to effectively utilize genetic results. Across the Veterans Health Administration health system, the Million Veteran Program Return Of Actionable Results-Familial Hypercholesterolemia (MVP-ROAR-FH) Study clinically confirms and returns genetic results associated with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), identified in a national biobank program. METHODS: PCPs who received their patient's genetic results through the MVP-ROAR-FH study were invited to participate in semistructured interviews, which explored PCPs' familiarity with FH, how the results affected medical management, and suggestions for process improvement. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using directed content analysis and constant comparison methods to identify key themes. RESULTS: Interviews with 9 PCPs revealed varied levels of familiarity with genetic testing and FH. Most PCPs did not distinguish FH from common high cholesterol issues and already used similar treatment approaches. Many PCPs did not recall receiving results from the MVP-ROAR-FH study. Alerts in medical records were deemed effective for communicating results. PCPs valued genetics in informing patient care and identifying at-risk family members but noted several implementation barriers, such as additional workload and unclear medical management benefits. Recommendations for improving results disclosure included simplifying the genetic testing report and associated support documents. CONCLUSION: The study represents the first investigation into PCPs' experiences with receiving genetic test results from a biobank linked to a national healthcare system. Results suggest that PCPs generally view genetic testing as beneficial, although they may not significantly alter medical management. PCPs expressed that integrating genetics into routine care may be burdensome and require additional training, which may not be practical. The study underscores the need for accessible genetic information, which could be aided by specialized support roles or different clinical specialties assisting with incorporating genetic results into patient care.