Center for Research on Genomics and Global Health

Our central mission is to advance research into the roles of culture, lifestyle, genetics, and genomics in disease etiology, differential susceptibility to disease, and variable drug response at the individual and population levels. We have the following primary objectives:

• Develop genomic resources for the conduct of primary research into the etiology of metabolic disorders and to provide scientists access to these resources.
   
• Develop genetic epidemiology and population genetics approaches that will facilitate the analysis of data generated in Africans and other populations.
   
• Investigate how knowledge and understanding of the roles that socio-cultural and genomic factors play in health disparities can be translated into policies to reduce or eliminate these inequalities in the United States and globally.
   
• Use epidemiology and genomic tools to provide insight into neglected tropical diseases.
   
• Develop a comprehensive training program on the use of genomic approaches to study human health and to reduce/eliminate health disparities, with particular attention given to the inclusion of scholars from underrepresented populations.

The CRGGH logo was designed to illustrate the core principles of the CRGGH. The continent of Africa is highlighted to depict the emphasis of our ancestry and to remind us that the human race has a common beginning. The extended strand of the DNA helix also begins in Africa to reinforce that studying the genetic makeup of the African population will lend tremendous insight into the current human genetic variation represented by various ethnicities around the world. However, the extended strand of the DNA helix wraps around the globe to indicate that while the focus on Africa is essential, it is equally important to explore variation represented by other populations. The DNA helix ends with the "CRGGH" acronym indicating that our center is devoted to advancing and promoting efforts to use genomic and biotechnology tools to improve human health in different populations through research and outreach agendas. Logo Credit: Darryl Leja, NHGRI