The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has launched NIH Intramural Centre for Genomics and Health Disparities (NICGHD), a new venue for research about the way populations are impacted by diseases, including obesity, diabetes and hypertension. NICGHD will employ a genomics approach, collecting and analysing genetic, clinical, lifestyle and socio-economic data to study a range of clinical conditions that have puzzled and troubled public health experts for decades.

The trans-NIH centre would be directed by internationally renowned genetic epidemiologist Charles N. Rotimi, Ph.D., former director of the National Human Genome Centre at Howard University.

"This new centre will be an NIH resource to help move research related to the complex factors underlying health disparities into the 21st century," said Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D, director, NIH. "Synergy among the centre's genetic and genomic researchers and disease experts in existing NIH research programs will advance our understanding of health disparities for the benefit of minority groups and all Americans."

"The priority of our centre will be to understand how we can use the tools of genomics to address some of the issues we see with health disparities," Rotimi said. "The availability of tremendous expertise and the remarkable research infrastructure at NIH will make our research activities more robust and will allow us to tackle questions in ways that were not feasible in the past."

Genomic research has established that the genomes of any two individuals are very similar. However, the subtle genomic differences that remain contribute to unique biological traits, such as hair and eye color, as well as to the susceptibility to diseases and individual responses to drugs. Additional factors contribute to health and disease, including diet, exercise routines and access to medical care. Genetic epidemiologists study genetic differences in combination with environmental factors to assess disease susceptibility and resistance among individuals and population groups.

NICGHD will be established within the NIH Office of Intramural Research and administered by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI). Additional support for the centre will come from the NIH Office of the Director, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and the Centre for Information Technology. The research activities of NICGHD will take place on the NIH Bethesda campus.

Building upon his previous research, Rotimi will continue efforts to develop genetic epidemiology models and population-genetics research projects that provide insights about the interrelationships of culture, lifestyle, genetics, genomics and health. His research explores patterns and determinants of common complex diseases that affect populations both living in Africa today and those that are part of the African diaspora.

An additional focus of NICGHD would be to provide training opportunities for students and established scientists from developing countries and from minority groups in the United States.