The human genome contains a staggering amount of encoded information. Deciphering this code to provide benefits when an infection or inherited disorder occurs requires specialized knowledge and computing power. Genomics is partnering with the UI Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Informatics. The work is a collaboration with professors and students to develop innovative approaches to public health data analysis.
This office works closely with the Newborn Screening section, which identifies infants at risk for more than 49 inherited diseases by testing a small blood spot obtained from a simple heel stick shortly after birth. Genomics works similarly with the Maternal Screening program to identify babies at increased risk of developmental delays with the intent of improving delivery and outcomes.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Measured and assessed timeliness in newborn screening to improve the opportunity for clinical interventions.
- Continued to analyze and assess child health and subsequent educational achievement in school, and identified mechanisms leading to early labor and/or delivery as well as complications that commonly occur in preterm infants.
