Genomics, public health and Mexico: What should we know?

Knowledge in human genomic variation in emerging economies is now in spotlight. Many countries in the developing world are nowadays investing in the field of genomics as they realize the importance to public health and economic development in short term.

What are the challenges for Mexico in genomics?
The main goal of genomic medicine is to improve in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease, thereby enabling a reduction in health-care costs.

Gathering and meshing genomic information of the Mexican population will help understand specific causes of morbidity and mortality including macular degeneration, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity, cancer, infectious and cardiovascular diseases.

The Mexican National Institute of Genomic Medicine (INMEGEN) in contribution with Public Health will help through health promotion campaigns aimed at those Mexican sub-populations that have higher risk of developing chronic diseases, based on the results of INMEGEN's genomic and clinical studies.

In case of the private sector, it is intended to foster growth of the local small to medium enterprises (SMEs or in spanish PYMES) trough government initiatives, such as investment in local research and development, which addresses local health needs and can secure a competitive advantage in the knowledge-based economy.

We should be interested in our own genomic patrimony. If we do not carry out studies of our own population then who will? Other countries will be interested on their own population. Imagine if in the future we need genomic information about our own people that is available only in other countries? That is going to cost us, that is why we need to develop our own genomic information. That is what mexican scientists call "genomic sovereignity" This is stipulated in mexican Health Law in order to prevent illegal exchange of genomic information.

Facts
-There are only 0.80 researchers per 1000 labor force in Mexico
- 6.4% of Mexico's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is spent in health care
-Only 0.33% of Mexico's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was spent in science and technology in 2006
-Weak and insufficient links between the knowledge- based public sector and the private sector
- In 2004, the Mexican National Institute of Genomic Medicine (INMEGEN) was created with the support of all political parties in congress, meaning that genomic medicine is a priority for mexican people

There are many things that still need to be considered for this important project, but I we do not start now then when?

If you are interested in Large-scale genotyping projects worldwide nowadays we will soon find resources of the following projects so you can get to know more about them.
- CartaGene (Canada)
- UK Biobank (UK)
- Western Australian Genome Health Project (Australia)
- Singapore Tissue Network (Singapore)
- KoraGen (Germany)

For more information consult the following article: Seguin, B. Hardy, B; et al. Human genomic variation iniciatives in emerging economies and developing countries. Nature reviews. Genetics. Macmillan Publishers Limited. October 2008