Ask the expert: clinical geneticists
Common diseases
Dr Muin. J. Khoury
Director
Office of Genomics and Disease Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road, Mail stop E82
Atlanta, GA 30333
email: genetics@cdc.gov
Web site: http://www.cdc.gov/genomics/
Dr. Khoury is the first Director of the CDC’s Office of Genomics and Disease Prevention. The Office was formed in 1997 to assess the impact of advances in human genetics and the Human Genome Project on public health and disease prevention. As the nation’s prevention agency, CDC’s mission is to protect the health and safety of people, to provide credible information to enhance health decisions, and to promote health through strong partnerships. CDC’s Office of Genomics and Disease Prevention serves as the national focus for integrating genomics into public health research and programs for disease prevention and health promotion. Dr Khoury joined CDC as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer in 1980 in the Birth Defects and Genetic Diseases Branch, and as a medical epidemiologist in 1987. In 1990, he became Deputy Chief of the same Branch. In 1996, Dr. Khoury chaired a CDC-wide Task Force on Genetics and Disease Prevention and provided important leadership in outlining a plan delineating the future direction that CDC should take in this important area.
Dr. Khoury received his B.S. degree in Biology/Chemistry from the American University of Beirut, Lebanon and his medical degree and Pediatrics training from the same institution. He received a Ph.D. in Human Genetics/Genetic Epidemiology and training in Medical Genetics from Johns Hopkins University. Dr Khoury is board certified in Medical Genetics.
Dr. Khoury received the Public Health Service Special Recognition Award in 1990 for his outstanding contribution to the scientific literature in the areas of birth defects and genetic epidemiology. In 1994, he received the Arthur Fleming Award for outstanding government service. In 1998, Dr. Khoury was credentialed for the Senior Biomedical Research Service for outstanding contributions to public health. In 2000, he received the CDC Research Honor Award for outstanding national leadership in genetics and public health.
Dr. Khoury has published extensively in the fields of genetic epidemiology and public health genetics. He has over 250 scientific peer-reviewed publications. In 1993, he published a classical teaching textbook entitled: "Fundamentals of Genetic Epidemiology". In 2000, he was the lead editor for the book entitled: "Genetics and Public Health in the 21st Century: Using Genetic Information to Improve Health and Prevent Disease". Dr. Khoury is a member of many professional societies and serves on the editorial boards of several journals. He is an Adjunct Professor of Epidemiology at Emory’s School of Public Health and an Associate in the Department of Epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health.
Professor Kare Berg
Dr Kare Berg received his MD from University of Oslo in the year 1957 and his Doctorate in Medical sciences, from the same institute in 1964. He served as Professor of medicine and Chairman at the Institute of Medical Genetics, University of Oslo (1967-2002). He was also a Professor Emeritus, University of Oslo 2002 and was appointed Physician in Chief at the Centre for Preventive Medicine , Ulleval University Hospital in 1993. In addition, he is the Director, WHO Collaborating Centre since 1986 and was also Director, Department of medical genetics, Ulleval university hospital 1976. Dr Berg served the Editorial Board ,FASEB Journal 1993-2002.He was a member of the Norwegian Biotechnology Advisory Board from1991-1998, member-Council of Europe Bioethics Committee 1987-1996,elected member-Human Genome Organization Ethics Committee 1995, In addition to this, he served as editor-in-chief 1992-1997, Chairman, Second council of Europe Bioethics Symposium, Strasbourg 1993, Editor, Clinical Genetics 1970-1991, Elected Member, human genome Organization(HUGO) 1989, Board Member 1975-1988, Member of WHO advisory group on Hereditary Diseases1973, Elected member, Norwegian Academy of Sciences 1974. He detected the Lp(a) lipoprotein and its role as a genetic risk factor for premature coronary heart disease, and created the variability gene concept . extensive research on DNA variation in common disorders and on risk factor heritability and his complete biography lists a total of almost 650 publications.