Spring 2003

New Genomics and Disease Prevention Information System (GDPInfo) Launched

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Office of Genomics and Disease Prevention (OGDP) has launched a beta version of the new Genomics and Disease Prevention Information System (GDPInfo): http://www2.cdc.gov/nceh/genetics/GDPQueryTool/frmQueryBasicPage.asp

GDPInfo is a database of all documents available on the Office of Genomics and Disease Prevention’s (OGDP) web site as well as links to relevant documents on other sites. The purpose of GDPInfo is to provide access to information and resources for guiding public health research, policy, and practice on using genetic information to improve health and prevent disease. The target audience for GDPInfo is the public health professional but there are data and information that will be of interest to a range of people from researchers to the lay public.

Specific documents include fact sheets, reviews, case studies, published literature, on-line presentations, book chapters, and proceedings and related-materials from courses and workshops. Documents that have been created under the auspices of the Human Genome Epidemiology Network (HuGE Net) are also included in the database. Of particular note is the HuGE Published Literature database that contains the abstracts from human genome epidemiology articles that have been published in peer-reviewed journals. These articles are identified through PubMed on a weekly basis and can be accessed through GDPInfo.

In addition to providing links to other genomics-related web sites, OGDP is establishing partnerships with organizations such as GeneTests to make their documents available through GDPInfo as well. The expert-authored GeneReviews that focus on the application of genetic testing to the diagnosis, management, and genetic counseling of patients and families with specific inherited conditions can be accessed through GDPInfo.