The Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Science has published the Summary of a Workshop on Nutrigenomics which was held June 1 and 2, 2006. The workshop addressed human genetic variation, epigenetics, systems biology discussions of the implications of nutrigenomics for the future of nutrition science research. The integration of biology, genomics, and health has opened the possibility of applying genomics technology to nutrition. In 2001, scientists associated with the Human Genome Project announced the successful mapping of the reference sequence of the human genome. The implications of this achievement to science have been enormous. Since then, a body of information has emerged, including genetic and genomic sequence data, further evidence of nutrient-gene and gene-environment interactions, and the gene expression patterns associated with many chronic diseases. The utility of this information cannot be underestimated. Genomics and related areas of research have contributed greatly to efforts to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying diet-disease relationships. Integration and application of genetic and genomics technology into nutrition research is, therefore, needed to develop nutrition research programs that are aimed at the prevention and control of chronic disease through genomics-based nutritional interventions. Of interest is the integration of relevant computational methods into nutritional genomics research; the enhancement of tools applicable to systems biology; and the effective dissemination of genomics-derived information to scientists, policy makers, and the interested public. In short, new knowledge, produced from the interface of genetics, genomics, and nutrition science, is key to further developing research to characterize genetic susceptibility to diet-related chronic diseases and molecular responses to dietary factors. To address these issues, a workshop was held on June 1 and 2, 2006, at the National Academy of Sciences. The workshop included a keynote presentation to provide policy context and challenges, and presentations that were structured around three focus sessions: human genetic variation, epigenetics, and systems biology (see Chapters 1 to 3, respectively). A fourth session (Chapter 4) presented discussions on the implications of nutrigenomics for the future of nutrition science research. The workshop agenda is contained in Appendix A, and Appendix B lists the names and affiliations of the workshop presenters ... In summary, nutrition science is uniquely poised to serve as the crossroads for many disciplines and, using genomics tools, can bring this knowledge together to better understand and address diet-related chronic diseases and molecular responses to dietary factors. Source: National Academies Press Workshop Summary Web site: The IoM Workshop Report is available on the National Academies Press www site for purchase and online no charge reading at http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11845.html Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.