Precision Public Health: Integrating Genomics, Big Data, and AI for Population-Level Disease Prevention
This Nature Medicine review explores precision public health as the next evolution of population health, combining individual genomic data, pathogen genomics, environmental exposures, and AI analytics to deliver targeted interventions to the right populations at the right time. The authors discuss real-world examples while highlighting challenges in equity, implementation science, and the ethical and legal implications of using granular individual-level data for public health purposes.
The original study
Precision public health in the era of genomics and big data.
- Authors
- Roberts MC, Holt KE, Del Fiol G, Baccarelli AA, Allen CG
- Journal
- Nature medicine
- Type
- Journal Article, Review
- PMID
- 38992127
Original abstract
Precision public health (PPH) considers the interplay between genetics, lifestyle and the environment to improve disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment on a population level-thereby delivering the right interventions to the right populations at the right time. In this Review, we explore the concept of PPH as the next generation of public health. We discuss the historical context of using individual-level data in public health interventions and examine recent advancements in how data from human and pathogen genomics and social, behavioral and environmental research, as well as artificial intelligence, have transformed public health. Real-world examples of PPH are discussed, emphasizing how these approaches are becoming a mainstay in public health, as well as outstanding challenges in their development, implementation and sustainability. Data sciences, ethical, legal and social implications research, capacity building, equity research and implementation science will have a crucial role in realizing the potential for 'precision' to enhance traditional public health approaches.