Public Health Genetics Unit

The Public Health Genetics Unit (PHGU) was established in 1997 within the Anglia and Oxford office of the United Kingdom National Health Service Regional Executive. The PHGU is endorsed by the Faculty of Clinical Medicine of the University of Cambridge.

The Unit is located at the Strangeways Laboratories as part of the University of Cambridge Institute of Public Health. The PHGU Web site is hosted by the University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine.

Aims of the PHGU

	To keep abreast of developments in molecular and clinical genetics, and in their ethical, legal, social and public health implications
	To provide a link between academic research, clinical practice and the development of policy within the NHS for genetics and genetic services, including the implications for the funding, development, staffing, organisation and provision of those services
	To establish mechanisms for dialogue within the NHS between geneticsts, physicians, public health and primary care professionals on matters related to genetics, molecular medicine and genetic services
	To provide an epidemiological and public health perspective on NHS policy development for genetic and related services, including criteria for evaluating genetic testing and genetic screening programmes.

Activities

	Human Genome Epidemiology Workshop (July 2002)
	Genetics and Health Policy. A two-part intensive course for health sector leaders and policy makers. (2000 and 2002)
	Development of a strategy for education and training of health professionals in genetics (commissioned by The Wellcome Trust, 2001-2002)
	Genetics of the future (June 2001) A chapter in the Annual Report of the Director of Public Health for Cambridgeshire
	Cardiovascular genetics workshop (May 2001).
	Pharmacogenetics: The PHGU, together with the University of Cambridge Institute of Public Health, the Judge Institute of Management and Anglia University, is carrying out a two-year, Wellcome Trust funded project to study the the policy implications of pharmacogenetics
	Genetics and health economics workshop (April 2001)
	Training posts in public health genetics
	The Nuffield Trust Genetics Scenario Project (1999-2000)
	Guidelines for management of people with a family history of colorectal cancer (1999-2000 and ongoing)
	Review of cancer genetics services for the UK Eastern Region (2000)
	Workshops and training days in the public health aspects of genetics (1999-2002)
	Consensus groups to formulate guidelines for health service practice in public health genetics (for example the Consensus meeting on the management of women with a family history of breast cancer, 1998)
	Exchange of information among NHS staff and other stakeholders concerned with public health genetics, via the Public Health Genetics Network (a network of public health physicians and representatives of other UK stakeholder groups concerned with the public health aspects of genetics)
	PHGU web site to disseminate news and information about the new genetics and its public health impact

PHGU Staff 

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