Welcome to the Department of Human Genetics (DOHG). The Department was founded in 2000 and is both a basic and clinical science department in the School of Medicine. Striving to be an international leader in predictive and precision medicine through the integration of contemporary human genetics and genomics, the DOHG has 44 primary, six secondary, 18 adjunct faculty members, engaged in the missions of a medical school comprising research, education and clinical service. I am excited and honored to succeed our founding Chair, Dr. Steve Warren, to lead one of the top genetics departments in the country.
It is an exciting time for human genetics with the ongoing revolution in genetics and genomics. The Department is capitalizing on this through cutting-edge genetic and genomic research and the creation of new translational opportunities in genomic medicine. The research in the Department focuses directly on human genetic disease with a diverse portfolio. We have major strengths in neurogenetics, quantitative genetics, epigenetics, metabolic disease, and translational research. The Department is also home to the NIH-funded National Fragile X Syndrome Research Center, All of Us Program and PsychENCODE consortium, as well as Emory Center for Computational and Quantitative Genetics. These components, amongst others, have encouraged and enabled interdisciplinary collaboration in extensive networks of collaboration among not only DOHG’s faculty but also with faculty in other departments within Emory and beyond.
The Department has a vibrant clinical program, organized under the Division of Medical Genetics. The Division holds general and specialized genetic clinics for children and adults and is responsible for all in-patient consultation and management of genetic disease in metro Atlanta. The Department is the referral center for Georgia’s newborn screening program. Clinical management of newborns identified with metabolic diseases is provided by the Nutrition Program within the Department. The Genetic Clinical Trials Center conducts a large number of clinical trials for patients with rare genetic disorders. We are also the home for JScreen, a national public health initiative dedicated to preventing Jewish genetic diseases through carrier screening. In addition, the Department’s genetic diagnostic laboratory, EGL Genetics, has been commercialized in partnership with Eurofins Scientific, Inc.
DOHG’s faculty are continuously active in medical, graduate, and postgraduate education. The Department has a fully ACGME-accredited clinical genetic residency program and offers training in all American Board of Medical Genetics subspecialties. The Department also features the ABMGG training program for Laboratory Genetics and Genomics (LGG) specialty. Our faculty are involved in multiple Laney Graduate School Programs, and our Nutrition and Health Sciences program offers training in human genetics and nutrition. The Department’s Master of Medical Science program in Genetic Counseling, fully accredited by ACGC, ranks as one of the top programs in the country.
The unique combination of a full-fledged basic research faculty along with the comprehensive clinical genetics division places the Department of Human Genetics at the forefront of contemporary translational research and predictive, precision health. With the talent and dedication of our faculty and trainees, our future holds great promise, and it is my privilege to be a part of this exciting and vital endeavor.