The Genomic Medicine Alliance: A Global Effort to Facilitate the Introduction of Genomics into Healthcare in Developing Nations

The primary goal of genomic medicine is to make use of an individual’s genomic information to support the clinical decision-making process. At present, several international organizations and research consortia exist, which aim to support the translation of genomic research into clinical practice so that genomic medicine can ultimately be used to benefit the global community. The Genomic Medicine Alliance (http://www.genomicmedicinealliance.org/) is a global academic research network that seeks to establish and strengthen collaborative ties between different genomic medicine stakeholders. Its focus lies firmly with the translation of scientific research findings into clinical practice. To this end, it brings together experts from various disciplines including genome informatics, pharmacogenomics, and public health genomics, as well as experts on ethical, legal, and social issues in the sphere of genomics/health economics. These multidisciplinary activities are supervised by a 15-member International Scientific Advisory Committee. Its official journal, Public Health Genomics, offers members a highly respected publication forum for reviews, original research findings, and policy in this field. In the short-to-medium term, the Genomic Medicine Alliance aims to promote research collaborations between developed and developing countries and to organize educational activities in the field of genomic medicine. In the longer term, it aspires to become a focal point for global collaboration in the field of genomic medicine while helping to pave the way for a smoother transition from genomics research to genomic medicine.