A Genomics and Health Informatics Fellowship is available at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Ga. The Fellow will have the opportunity to work with CDC scientists and external collaborators to advance the capability of sharing the variant file generated from clinical next-generation sequencing tests to achieve interoperability among laboratories, databases and registries, electronic health records, and health information exchanges. Use cases will be utilized to evaluate the practicality, benefits, limitations, and implications for informing health decisions in clinical and public health settings. The fellowship announcement can be found at http://www.orau.org/science-
An exciting aspect of this fellowship is the opportunity to model and evaluate (through use cases) the implementation of a “clinical-grade” variant file. A national workgroup, facilitated by the CDC, is working with the broader community to define a minimal set of file specifications that will permit interoperability. Use cases will address laboratory issues, messaging of data (e.g., via HL7), and end-user applications (outsourced interpretation of data, deposition into a database or public health registry, becoming part of a patient record, etc.) Findings will be invaluable for developing pilot studies and a pathway to adoption. The present lack of interoperability among users relevant to the sharing of variant data is a major roadblock to advancing the utility of genomic sequencing for patient care and public health applications.
The Fellow will also have the opportunity to work with the Division’s Laboratory Health Information Technology Team (LabHIT). LabHIT works with the health informatics community at CDC and with the broader clinical and public health sectors to promote the effective representation and usefulness of medically relevant laboratory data in the evolving health informatics structure (e.g., electronic health record, health information exchanges, HL7 messaging, etc.).
This fellowship is designed to provide exceptional opportunities to contribute to an important area of translational research. We provide significant opportunities to broaden the fellow’s experience and exposure to researchers, practitioners, and policy makers in the public and private sectors as a means to enhance the fellow’s career potential. Previous fellows have routinely published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national meetings.
Please note that this fellowship is limited to persons who have received their PhD in science, public health, or a relevant field within the past five years. The start date is flexible but should be before October 1, 2014.
Click here for more information.
