VA Panel Begins Ground-Breaking Review of Genomic Research

WASHINGTON – Continuing the leadership role of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in fostering ground-breaking medical research, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson this week attended the first meeting of a committee of internationally recognized scientists and veterans’ advocates established to advise the Department on emerging issues in genomic medicine.

“Genomic medicine — using our growing knowledge of human genes — to treat and even prevent health care problems will be a key medical tool in the 21^st century.  And VA, once again, will be in the forefront of this health care advancement,” said Nicholson. 

“With the assistance of the distinguished members of this advisory committee, VA will become a leader for the health care industry in combining genetic research with the best medical practices, benefiting not only veterans, but all Americans as well,” Nicholson added.

The Secretary noted that genetic research is a high priority for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy as well as the National Institutes of Health.  The goal is to understand the role of genetics in the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses, such as prescribing medications more effectively, while preventing adverse drug reactions.

“Genomic medicine can help VA to customize health care and meet the special needs of each veteran we serve,” said Dr. Michael J. Kussman, VA’s Acting Under Secretary for Health. “It has tremendous potential to advance medical science as it also enhances the quality of care.”

The 12-member committee is chaired by Dr. Wayne W. Grody of the University of California, Los Angeles.  The committee is expected to meet up to three times annually and to advise VA on a wide range of issues, including the scope of research and assuring that VA meticulously protects veterans’ privacy and maintains the highest ethical standards.

Members
VA’s Genomic Medicine Program Advisory Committee

·            Dr. Wayne Grody, Chairman.  Professor of pathology, laboratory medicine and pediatrics, University of California at Los Angeles.

·            Dr. Wylie Burke.  Professor and chair of the Department of Medical History and Ethics, University of Washington, Seattle.

·            Christine Q. Burtt.  President of CQB & Associates, Denver.

·            Dr. Francis Collins.  Director of the Human Genome Research Institute, Bethesda, Md.

·            Dr. Geoffrey S. Ginsburg.  Professor of medicine and pathology, Duke University, Durham, N.C.

·            David W. Gorman.  Executive director of Disabled American Veterans, Washington, D.C.

·            Dr. Muin J. Khoury.  Director of the National Office of Public Health Genomics in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta.

·            Dr. Margaret McGovern.  Professor of human genetics at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York.

·            Dr. Jonathan B. Perlin.  Former VA under secretary for health and current chief medical officer and senior vice president with HCA, Nashville, Tenn.

·            Col. Brion C. Smith.  Director of DNA registry and DoD DNA identification laboratory, Department of Defense, Washington, D.C.

·            Annette K. Taylor.  Director, founder and owner of Kimball Genetics, Denver.

·            Michael S. Watson.  Executive director of the American College of Medical Genetics, Washington University, St. Louis.

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