About Us

The Office of Public Health Genomics (OPHG), CDC

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) established the Office of Public Health Genomics (OPHG) in 1997. OPHG aims to integrate genomics into public health research, policy, and programs. Doing so could improve interventions designed to prevent and control the country’s leading chronic, infectious, environmental, and occupational diseases.

OPHG's efforts focus on conducting population-based genomic research, assessing the role of family health history in disease risk and prevention, supporting a systematic process for evaluating genetic tests, translating genomics into public health research and programs, and strengthening capacity for public health genomics in disease prevention programs.

• Vision:
  To use genomic knowledge to prevent disease and improve the health across the life stages.

• Mission:
  To integrate genomics into public health research, policy, and programs.

• Goals:
  To improve public health interventions of diseases of major public health importance, including chronic, infectious, environmental, and occupational diseases, through six major initiatives:

  • Evaluation of Genomic Applications in Practice and Prevention (EGAPP),
  • Human Genome Epidemiology Network (HuGENet™),
  • NHANES Collaborative Genomics Project,
  • Family History Public Health Initiative,
  • Genomics Translation Research and Programs, and
  • Genomic Applications in Practice and Prevention Network.

Read about OPHG's Achievements and Timeslines(1997 - 2009).

Read about OPHG's Funding Opportunities.

Read about selected past events related to public health genomics offered by CDC and partners.

OPHG Staff

The Office of Public Health Genomics (OPHG) is led by Muin J. Khoury, MD, PhD, who is the first director of the office. Read a message from Dr. Muin J. Khoury.

OPHG has dedicated teams to support the major projects of the office and the communication function. These teams include the Communications Team, the Knowledge Integration Team, the Population Health Research Team, and the Translation Team.

Learn about CDC and OPHG Web policies and regulations.
Additional information for Public Health Genomics is available on our contact page.