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Key Documents archive results 1-19 of 19 in Health and Genomics
South Africa — blazing a trail for African biotechnology
Based on data from 28 interviews among scientists, this commentary describes in clear terms how the health biotechnology industry is thriving in South Africa, nurtured by a confidence among scientists that arose originally with the development of mining and arms industry during the apartheid...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: October 2004 | EN
Genomes for medicine
In this article, David R Bentley explores the potential role of genomics in diagnosis and treatment of human diseases. He summarises current knowledge of the human genome and describes research into disease-related human genes -- more than 1,400 of which have been identified. He then discusses ways...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: May 2004 | EN
Opportunities in Africa for Training in Genome Science
Across Africa, several types and levels of training are available in genetics, biochemistry and molecular biology. The emphasis of this 'perspective' article is on opportunities for training in computational aspects of genome science. It offers a pan-African survey of initiatives, and suggestions...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: February 2004 | EN
Bioscience and its Impact on Developing Countries
In this 'viewpoint' article Jisnuson Svasti, Professor of Biochemistry at Mahidol University in Bangkok, examines the ways in which bioscience research is being explored and applied in Thailand. Recombinant DNA and gene expression therapies are well established, and Thailand has participated in two...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: 2001 | EN
A Vision for the Future of Genomics Research
Written on behalf of the US National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) to coincide with the completion of the human genome sequence, this review article attempts to provide a "blueprint" that encompasses the reality of the "genomic era". It is the outcome of almost two years of intense...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: April 2003 | EN
Shaping Science Policy in the Age of Genomics
Genomic technologies continue to transform biomedical research and are being widely used to help understand the biochemical mechanisms that underlie disease. But the rapid proliferation of genomics-based technologies - and their application in a clinical context - poses immense social and...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: April 2004 | EN
Bridging the Genomics Divide
This fact sheet suggests the ways in which developing countries can contribute to - and benefit from - advances in genomics. It suggests that some public money would be better spent on supporting genomic science in developing countries, which can aid both poor and wealthy societies. It also...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: 2003 | EN
Genetics and Developing Countries
This article briefly considers the ways in which developing countries could benefit from the new drugs and vaccines that will result from mapping the human genome. The impact of potential scientific advances will, the authors note, vary according to each countrySs burden of disease, financial...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: April 2001 | EN
Key Drivers of Genomics: Forecasts for 2015
This paper attempts to forecast the directions that genomics research and design will take up until 2015. Although not focusing explicitly on the developing world, it articulates some pertinent issues in an accessible, easily digestible way. It identifies ten political, social, economic, and...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: January 2002 | EN
Report of the International Bioethics Committee on Ethics, Intellectual Property and Genomics
This report arose from a realisation of the need to clarify international intellectual property law in light of recent advances in genomics, most visibly the mapping of the human genome. It is the result of a working party convened by UNESCO in 2001. The report hinges on the following key...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: January 2002 | EN
Genomics and Global Health
Written to coincide with publication of the World Health Organisation's report, Genomics and World Health, this editorial opens with issues of ownership and genomics. It points out that most genomics-related patents are owned by the United States, and of the 1233 new drugs marketed between 1975 and...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: May 2002 | EN
Statement of the WHO Expert Consultation on New Developments in Human Genetics
In 2000 the World Health Organisation (WHO) undertook a consultation exercise involving both invited experts in human genetics and staff members, to review WHOSs activities in human genetics, identify challenges and priorities for WHO, and assess the future role of the organisation in genetics. ...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: 2000 | EN
Tackling the Most Difficult Diseases
Vector-borne infectious diseases such as malaria and yellow fever have continued to evade attempts to find lasting programmes of prevention. This article examines the potential of genomics to open new strategies to fight such diseases. Scientists are focusing on genetics in order to analyse and...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: 2001 | EN
Human Genome Patents and Developing Countries
The UNESCO Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights (1997) outlines the principle that human genome sequence information should be freely available to all countries. This report, by Sivaramjani Thambisetty, attempts to clarify what access really exists and questions to what extent national...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: 2002 | EN
The User’s Guide to the Human Genome
A guide for scientists to help them browse and analyse data produced by the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium and other systematic sequencing projects. The introduction points out that although the Human Genome Project (HGP) has produced a flood of data with enormous potential, many...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: 2002 | EN
An Introduction to Genomics
Produced by the Joint Genome Institute at the US Department of Energy as part of its educational materials, this is one of the best basic primers available online. It examines some of the technological applications of genomics - such as fighting disease, protecting plant life and harnessing...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: 2004 | EN
World Survey of Funding for Genomics Research
This report publishes the results of a survey of organisations that fund genomics research throughout the world, and was produced for an international conference hosted by the Global Forum for Health Research and the World Health Organisation. It provides an analysis of funding and links it to...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: September 2000 | EN
Cures for the Third World's problems
Genomic research has already advanced our knowledge of infectious diseases, with the genome sequences of many pathogens now established. The authors of this 'viewpoint' article say that the new tools of comparative genomics, computational biology, and informatics offer remarkable opportunities for...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: 2002 | EN
Genomics and World Health: Report of the Advisory Committee on World Health
This major report was produced by the WHO's Advisory Committee on Health Research - after wide consultation - to highlight the relevance of genomics for global healthcare, with a particular focus on the implications for developing countries. It aims to ensure that genome technology is used to...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: April 2002 | EN
