The National Institute of Genomic Medicine (INMEGEN) was

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2 Genome is the complete set of genetic information contained within all of the chromosomes of an organism. It defines the particular phenotype of an individual.

3 What is Genomics? The study of the complete genetic material of an organism. In other words, it is the study of genomes. Genomics should not be confused with genetics, which is the study of single genes and their potential effects. Genomics refers to all of the genetic material of an organism, that is, determining the entire sequence of DNA, including all genes but also non-coding regions.

4 Leader in Genomic Medicine in Latin America The National Institute of Genomic Medicine (INMEGEN) was established in 2004 by the Promotional Consortium of the National Institute of Genomic Medicine. The consortium, created in 2001, was comprised by the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the National Council for Science and Technology, the Ministry of Health and the Mexican Health Foundation. Today, INMEGEN is the national leader in genomic research for medical applications seeking to improve health in Mexico. Its main objectives are: developing scientific research projects with cutting edge technology, training human resources of excellence; and generating genomic innovations and applications to improve health care in compliance with universal ethical principles and respect for human rights. 2

5 Genome Genome is the entire genetic information of any living organism. This information is found in the chromosomes of an organism s cells and is composed of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). This contains the hereditary units, called genes, which are responsible for encoding the characteristics of cells and organisms. Genomics Genomics is the study of genes and their biologicial function. It aims at understanding gene structure, gene expression and interpretation of gene-gene interaction. Genomics has revolutionized the Biological Sciences of the 21st century. Genomic Medicine Is the application of genome discoveries to human health and disease. Its main goal is to translate this knowledge into clinical and preventive medicine. Genomics, which was born out of the deciphering of the human genome, is applied to health in what is known as Genomic Medicine. What is Genomic Medicine? Medical practice based on genomic knowledge aimed to produce a more predictive, preventive, participative and personalized medicine. This new branch of medicine aims at understanding quantitatively and qualitatively the genomic, transcriptomic, metabolomic and proteomic contributions to human disease and their relationship to environment. 3

6 Leader in Genomic Medicine in Latin America What is INMEGEN? The National Institute of Genomic Medicine (INMEGEN) is a National Health Institute, leader in genomic research applied to improve health in Mexico. Why is Genomic Medicine important? Human genome variation can be associated to health and disease. The identification of such changes is fundamental to understand, to treat and also to be able to prevent common diseases such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension or cancer. Genomic medicine studies human susceptibility to disease and treatment. Genomic medicine is also closely related to other genomic sciences. Nutrigenomics for example, identifies the effect of diet on gene expression, with the purpose of designing diets based on a specific population genetic profile. Another example of population specific research is Pharmacogenomics that aims at studying drugs and their effect on humans at a molecular level. This research, will soon allow us to have, not only target specific drugs that are effective, but also with minimum side effects. 4

7 The primary role of INMEGEN is the development of research on Genomic Medicine in Mexico. Structure of INMEGEN INMEGEN is integrated by four main areas: Research, Education and Outreach, Technological Development and Entailment and Institutional Development; each with strategic objectives that, as a whole, allow INMEGEN to maintain an undisputed leadership in Mexico. Current fundamental challenges are: 1. The generation of knowledge 2. Education 3. Strategic alliances that integrate the healthcare system in México 4. Access to cutting-edge technology 5. Innovation promotion 6. Open communication with society We promote and implement education programs specialized in Genomic Medicine and all its related sciences. Research Collaboration with clinicians facilitates the development of research projects that will provide the base for future medical practice in Mexico. Understanding the population structure and the epidemiologic characteristics is fundamental for research in Genomic Medicine. Research areas are influenced by worldwide scientific development and available human resources. Lines of Research Genomics of metabolic diseases Oncogenomics Functional genomics of cancer Nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics Genomics of autoimmune and atopic diseases Genomics of cardiovascular disease Proteomics and protein structure Molecular bases of chronic liver diseases Pharmacogenomics Population genomics Ethical, legal and social implications of genomics Computational genomics and expression analysis Genomics of bone metabolism Genomics of cellular response to oxidative stress Genomics and infectious diseases Epigenomics Genomics of premature delivery Genomics of psychiatric and neurological disease 5

8 Leader in Genomic Medicine in Latin America INMEGEN has nurtured a comprehensive education program containing a portfolio of activities directed toward teaching genome medicine at all levels. The Office of Education has taken the next step to get involved with the Institute s commitment to excellence in science, technology and academic training. Education and Outreach This area is devoted to highly specialized training in Genomic Medicine. It offers pre and post graduate courses, academic exchange, continuing education programs and online courses. It is responsible for diseminating scientific information to the Mexican community through the Institute s web site and other digital media. It also coordinates and regulates INMEGEN s specialized digital library. We promote and implement education programs specialized in Genomic Medicine, thus contributing to train professionals capable of assimilating and applying this new knowledge. 6

9 Technological Development Genomic research is characterized by the management and analysis of the massive amounts of data generated by cuttingedge genome technologies. Therefore, there is a constant demand for best practices involving services in highperformance computing, networking, and storage. The sustainability and scalability of information technology (IT) infrastructure are vital to support INMEGEN s science research and its translation to genomic medicine. For the first time in Latin America, products and equipment from leading companies around the world are put together into four High Technology Units at INMEGEN. These offer researchers a broad range of options for genome analysis and high throughput molecular profiling technologies such as Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS). INMEGEN is continuously adapting to increasingly complex research with state of the art technology. The well established and broad training program provides its trainees with advances in genomic innovations in compliance with ethical principles and respect for human rights. By using genomic information we can select the optimal therapeutic strategy for each individual within a specific population. We innovate molecular diagnostics for the Mexican population. 7

10 Leader in Genomic Medicine in Latin America We establish mechanisms that assure compliance with an ethical, legal and social framework within the realm of the development of Genomic Medicine. Entailment and Institutional Development Genomic medicine plays a central role in current healthcare. It has become an important part of diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment in clinical practice. It is therefore essential to include new discoveries as they develop in education and medical practice. INMEGEN maintains strategic alliances with other public and private institutes of health in Mexico and around the world. People at INMEGEN foster an innovative environment fundamental for the generation of services and products that will serve public health. Projects at INMEGEN follow strategic planning, establishing and formalizing legal actions for all of the institute s activities. Services INMEGEN is the Genomic Medicine reference center in Mexico. It offers a variety of services not only to the healthcare sector but also to academic and other non-academic organizations. Services include molecular diagnosis such as paternity tests, pharmacogenomic tests and monitor hematopoietic cell transplant, to mention just a few. Genome research technology services include gene expression, genotyping, next generation sequencing, protein identification, histology and microscopy services. A variety of other projects in the areas of nutrigenomics, pharmacogenomics, cytogenetics and epigenetics can also be proposed. 8

11 Healthcare and wellness decisions will soon include a genomic component. INMEGEN has taken the first steps leading the analysis of genomic diversity of the Mexican population. This research will be translated into medical applications to improve healthcare in Mexico with an important impact on costs for public health. INMEGEN offers continuing and online education, scientific advice and management consulting for technological development and innovation. In order to support research, INMEGEN provides specialized bibliographic services through its digital library. Learn more about INMEGEN and its services at 9

12 Leader in Genomic Medicine in Latin America The library and e-library at INMEGEN aim at disseminating reliable information about discoveries, trends and advances in Genomic Medicine to the scientific community. Our website is designed to provide insights of INMEGEN s research and education to the society. 10

13 Contact Us General Director phone: +52 (55) Ext Research phone: +52 (55) Ext Education Programs and Outreach phone: +52 (55) Ext Entailment and Institutional Development phone: +52 (55) Ext Digital Library phone: +52 (55) Social Communication and Press phone: +52 (55) Ext Courses phone: +52 (55) Ext Internships phone: +52 (55) Ext

14 Leader in Genomic Medicine in Latin America Do you have a smartphone? Scan our QR code and follow us! Facebook Twitter #!/INMEGEN Vimeo Scientific Publications of INMEGEN YouTube Library

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