An investigation of ethnic-based disease assessment (EBDA) and the development of a clinically relevant EBDA resource

Many prominent national and international organizations have projected that the increase in information regarding human genetic diseases from the completion of the Human Genome will have a significant impact on public health. As the knowledge of genetic disease and predispositions grow and as genetic risk assessment becomes further incorporated into the practice of medicine, resources will be needed to aid in the process of risk assessment. Ethnic background is one aspect that is recognized as an important tool in identifying certain individuals as being at risk for certain genetic diseases. Having a consolidated resource that health professionals can use as an accessible reference will help identify such individuals and subsequently allow for proper screening to be offered, diseases to be diagnosed, reproductive decisions to be made, and treatment, if applicable, to be administered. The purpose of this project is to outline the development of an accessible reference for genetic counselors and other healthcare professionals who must assess the risk for various diseases based on a person or family's ethnic origin.