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Collaborative genomics for human health and cooperation in the Mediterranean region

Nature Genetics volume 42, pages 641–645 (2010)Cite this article

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Abstract

The US government has proposed the development of scientific centers of excellence to solve global challenges. We propose such a center of excellence devoted to the genomic analysis of Mediterranean populations of all creeds. This genomic focus is rooted in the region's demographic history, builds on the area's rapidly developing expertise in human genetics, and will yield scientific discoveries of both local and global significance. The genome sequence data of Mediterranean populations will offer unique insights into human evolution and early human migration. The potent combination of highly consanguineous populations in the Mediterranean's southern and eastern rims and regional medical and scientific expertise could lead to the identification and characterization of many genes responsible for human disease. Such discoveries will enable genetic knowledge to be translated into medical knowledge that will benefit local populations and contribute substantially to the understanding of the genetic bases of human diseases worldwide.

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Acknowledgements

This Commentary is dedicated to the memory of Ihsan Dogramaci, a pioneer and reformer in child health and higher education, one of the founders of WHO, the longest serving Executive Board member of UNICEF and a tireless campaigner for world peace.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tayfun Özçelik is at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science & Institute of Materials Science and Nanotechnology (UNAM), Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey.,

    Tayfun Özçelik

  2. Moien Kanaan is at the Department of Life Sciences, Bethlehem University, Bethlehem, Palestine.,

    Moien Kanaan

  3. Karen B. Avraham is at the Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,

    Karen B Avraham

  4. Drakoulis Yannoukakos is at the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, IRRP, National Centre for Scientific Research 'Demokritos', Aghia Paraskevi, Athens, Greece.,

    Drakoulis Yannoukakos

  5. André Mégarbané is at the Unité de Génétique Médicale, and the INSERM, Laboratoire International Associé à l'UMR_S 910, Faculté de Médecine, Université Saint-Joseph, Beirut, Lebanon.,

    André Mégarbané

  6. Ghazi O. Tadmouri is at the Centre for Arab Genomic Studies, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.,

    Ghazi O Tadmouri

  7. Lefkos Middleton is at the School of Public Health, Imperial College, London, UK.,

    Lefkos Middleton

  8. Giovanni Romeo, President of the European Genetics Foundation, is at the Unità di Genetica Medica, Policlinico Universitario S. Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy.,

    Giovanni Romeo

  9. Mary-Claire King is at the Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA.,

    Mary-Claire King

  10. Ephrat Levy-Lahad is at the Medical Genetics Institute, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.,

    Ephrat Levy-Lahad

Authors
  1. Tayfun Özçelik
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  2. Moien Kanaan
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  3. Karen B Avraham
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  4. Drakoulis Yannoukakos
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  5. André Mégarbané
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  6. Ghazi O Tadmouri
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  7. Lefkos Middleton
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  8. Giovanni Romeo
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  9. Mary-Claire King
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  10. Ephrat Levy-Lahad
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Tayfun Özçelik or Ephrat Levy-Lahad.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Özçelik, T., Kanaan, M., Avraham, K. et al. Collaborative genomics for human health and cooperation in the Mediterranean region. Nat Genet 42, 641–645 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/ng0810-641

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