25/10/11

Build on genomic advances to benefit the poor

Sequencing of the pathogen that causes typhoid fever promised benefits not yet achieved Copyright: Flickr/ Sanofi Pasteur

We encourage you to republish this article online and in print, it’s free under our creative commons attribution license, but please follow some simple guidelines:

You have to credit our authors.
You have to credit SciDev.Net — where possible include our logo with a link back to the original article.
You can simply run the first few lines of the article and then add: “Read the full article on SciDev.Net” containing a link back to the original article.
If you want to also take images published in this story you will need to confirm with the original source if you're licensed to use them.
The easiest way to get the article on your site is to embed the code below.

For more information view our media page and republishing guidelines.

The full article is available here as HTML.

Press Ctrl-C to copy

<div class="article-wrap">
<div id="article-introduction">
<h1>Build on genomic advances to benefit the poor</h1>
<h4></h4>
</div>
<br />
<br />

<div id="article-body">
<p><span>The scientific community must make a concerted effort to build on advances in </span><a href="http://www.scidev.net/en/health/genomics/">genomics</a><span> research if it is to benefit people in resource-poor settings, says <em>Stephen Baker</em>,  head of enteric infections at the Wellcome Trust’s Major Overseas  Programme at the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, United  Kingdom.</span></p>
<p><span>There are plenty of genome sequences, says Baker, but the value  of such research is less easy to pinpoint. For example, although ten  years ago the genome sequencing of the microorganism that causes typhoid  fever made elimination a realistic target, promises of bespoke  treatments, next-generation vaccines and low-cost diagnostics have  failed to materialise.</span></p>
<p><span>The reasons for this are "depressingly obvious", writes Baker.  The people and communities affected by typhoid do not have the power to  influence the scientific community or decision-makers, who tend to come  from a wealthier background where direct contact with the disease is  limited. And there are no advocacy groups for typhoid or other diseases  of poverty.</span></p>
<p><span>Major international donors, such as the Bill & Melinda  Gates Foundation, prioritise diseases using metrics and tables — but  because typhoid is difficult to detect, global prevalence is probably  underestimated and the disease drops down the list of priorities in  international assessments.</span></p>
<p><span>Much of the funding and technological expertise needed for  genomics research and follow-up studies are found in countries removed  from the realities of the disease. By contrast, sequencing the HIV  virus, which affects wealthier countries, has led to remarkable progress  in public health practice. This shows that strong scientific investment  alongside political and community support is essential for reaping the  benefits of genomics </span><a href="http://www.scidev.net/en/science-and-innovation-policy/r-d/">research</a>.</p>
<p><span>Unless these issues are addressed, genomics research runs the  risk of persisting as an exciting academic advance that does little to  improve public health, argues Baker. He suggests that funding agencies  give genomics researchers the opportunity to see how the infection  affects endemic countries, and support collaborations "that aim to  bridge the geographical and technological gap".</span></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.nature.com/news/2011/111019/full/478287a.html" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span>Link to full article in <em>Nature</em></span></a></p>

</div>
<div class="quick-links-wrapper">
<h3>You might also like</h3>
[related-articles]
</div>
<p>This article was originally published on <a href="https://www.scidev.net" target="_blank">SciDev.Net</a>. Read the <a href="https://www.scidev.net/global/opinions/build-on-genomic-advances-to-benefit-the-poor/" target="_blank">original article</a>.</p>
<script type="text/javascript">
(function(e,t,n,r,i,s,o){e["GoogleAnalyticsObject"]=i;e[i]=e[i]||function(){(e[i].q=e[i].q||[]).push(arguments)},e[i].l=1*new Date;s=t.createElement(n),o=t.getElementsByTagName(n)[0];s.async=1;s.src=r;o.parentNode.insertBefore(s,o)})(window,document,"script","//www.google-analytics.com/ga.js","ga");var _gaq=_gaq||[];var _gaq=_gaq||[];_gaq.push(["_setAccount","UA-3223906-8"],["_trackEvent","article interaction","republished","https://www.scidev.net/global/opinions/build-on-genomic-advances-to-benefit-the-poor/",null,true])
</script>
</div>

The scientific community must make a concerted effort to build on advances in genomics research if it is to benefit people in resource-poor settings, says Stephen Baker, head of enteric infections at the Wellcome Trust’s Major Overseas Programme at the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, United Kingdom.

There are plenty of genome sequences, says Baker, but the value of such research is less easy to pinpoint. For example, although ten years ago the genome sequencing of the microorganism that causes typhoid fever made elimination a realistic target, promises of bespoke treatments, next-generation vaccines and low-cost diagnostics have failed to materialise.

The reasons for this are "depressingly obvious", writes Baker. The people and communities affected by typhoid do not have the power to influence the scientific community or decision-makers, who tend to come from a wealthier background where direct contact with the disease is limited. And there are no advocacy groups for typhoid or other diseases of poverty.

Major international donors, such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, prioritise diseases using metrics and tables — but because typhoid is difficult to detect, global prevalence is probably underestimated and the disease drops down the list of priorities in international assessments.

Much of the funding and technological expertise needed for genomics research and follow-up studies are found in countries removed from the realities of the disease. By contrast, sequencing the HIV virus, which affects wealthier countries, has led to remarkable progress in public health practice. This shows that strong scientific investment alongside political and community support is essential for reaping the benefits of genomics research.

Unless these issues are addressed, genomics research runs the risk of persisting as an exciting academic advance that does little to improve public health, argues Baker. He suggests that funding agencies give genomics researchers the opportunity to see how the infection affects endemic countries, and support collaborations "that aim to bridge the geographical and technological gap".

Link to full article in Nature