Precision Medicine and Public Health: New Challenges for Effective and Sustainable Health

The development of high-throughput omics technologies represents an unmissable opportunity for evidence-based prevention of adverse effects on human health. However, the applicability and access to multi-omics tests are limited. In Italy, this is due to the rapid increase of knowledge and the high levels of skill and economic investment initially necessary. The fields of human genetics and public health have highlighted the relevance of an implementation strategy at a national level in Italy, including integration in sanitary regulations and governance instruments. In this review, the emerging field of public health genomics is discussed, including the polygenic scores approach, epigenetic modulation, nutrigenomics, and microbiomes implications. Moreover, the Italian state of implementation is presented. The omics sciences have important implications for the prevention of both communicable and noncommunicable diseases, especially because they can be used to assess the health status during the whole course of life. An effective population health gain is possible if omics tools are implemented for each person after a preliminary assessment of effectiveness in the medium to long term.

Automated summary

The development of high-throughput omics technologies presents a valuable opportunity for evidence-based prevention of adverse health effects, although accessibility to multi-omics tests remains limited in Italy. The emerging field of public health genomics, including polygenic scores, epigenetic modulation, nutrigenomics, and microbiomes implications, has significant implications for disease prevention. The implementation of omics tools at a national level could lead to significant population health gains, especially if effectiveness is assessed in the medium to long term.