Community genetics
The interdisciplinary research group Community Genetics and Public Health Genomics is affiliated to the Department of Clinical Genetics, Amsterdam UMC, Location VU University Medical Center.
Community Genetics and Public Health Genomics are emerging fields of activities involving both research and application. The main goal of research is to investigate and promote the responsible application of medical genetics at population or group level, to maximise benefit for the individuals in the community and for public health, and to minimise potential harm.
Research focuses on policy and implementation of new genetic applications, including the views, prior knowledge and expectations of potential users such as health care professionals, patients and wider society. In the Netherlands the research group is well-known for its active collaboration with key (inter)national organisations and committees such as the Centre for Population Screening of the Netherlands, Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM ), the Health Council of the Netherlands, the Dutch Genetic Alliance (Vereniging Samenwerkende Ouder- en Patientenverenigingen, VSOP), the Dutch Forum for Biotechnology and Genetics (FBG ), the Netherlands Association for Community Genetics and Public Health Genomics (NACGG ), the Public and Professional Policy Committee of the European Society of Human Genetics , EuroGentest , and Orphanet .