Welcome to the fifth annual report for the Alabama Genomic Health Initiative ( AGHI ). The University of Alabama at Birmingham ( UAB ), in partnership with HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology , launched the AGHI in 2017 to better meet health needs across Alabama .
Last year , we noted that 2020 would be remembered for its challenges , tragedy , and resiliency as we faced a global pandemic and division in our nation . Sadly , many challenges extended far into 2021 , furthering the need to examine our current practices and efforts to improve health outcomes for Alabamians .
We were able to transform our efforts with the AGHI , emerging in late 2021 with a robust plan to embed genomic medicine into the family and community medicine clinical environment . Enrollment locations were chosen to prioritize historically underrepresented patient communities and the physicians dedicated to their care .
Included in this year ’ s annual report are a number of patient and physician resources that were developed with expert guidance from our bioethics leadership . We also highlight genomic medicine career areas involved in creating a genomics-ready workforce for Alabama . The creation of a new community advisory board provides diverse voices and perspectives to evaluate and inform our methods of communication , strategies for enrollment , and our ability to provide authentic and transparent information to patients and their physicians .
We continue to seek ways to recognize and rectify the historical barriers that created inequitable access to genomic medicine and the health improvements it provides . There is much work to be done in this space , and thanks to funding provided by the state of Alabama , the AGHI continues to close gaps to improve the understanding of genetic risk factors and pharmacogenetic information within all communities across our state .
We are pleased to share our progress in 2021 toward advancing scientific understanding of the role our genes play in health and disease , and how the addition of pharmacogenetics helps improve what is quickly becoming precision health care .
UAB and HudsonAlpha continue to position Alabama as a leader on the forefront of 21st-century medicine . Thank you for your continued interest in the Alabama Genomic Health Initiative . Sincerely ,
Bruce R . Korf , MD , PhD
Chief Genomics Officer , UAB Medicine Co-Director , AGHI
Greg Barsh , MD , PhD
Faculty Investigator , HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology Co-Director , AGHI
Nita Limdi , PharmD , PhD
Professor of Neurology and Epidemiology , UAB Medicine Co-Director , AGHI
Matthew Might , PhD
Director , UAB Hugh Kaul Precision Medicine Institute Co-Director , AGHI