Genomics and public health in the United States: signposts on the translation highway

Successful completion of the Human Genome Project has raised public expectations that research findings will translate quickly into health benefits; however, the gap between biomedical research and clinical and public health application seems wider than ever. Public health scientists now have the opportunity to help create a broad concept of research translation that integrates genomic information into policies, programs and services benefiting the whole population. Important 'signposts' along the translation highway include conducting population-based research in genomics, developing evidence on the clinical and public health value of genomic information, and integrating genomics into health practice.