As part of the DNA Day celebration, join us for a conversation or host your own activity at your library with our ready-to-use Reading Club Kit. DNA Day commemorates the discovery of DNA's double helix in 1953 and the completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003.

Author Talk Event

Join us for a virtual conversation with Whitney Stewart and Hans C. Andersson, MD, authors of Genomics: A Revolution in Health and Disease Discovery (Genomics). They will be joined by genetic counselor Anya Revah-Politi, MS, CGC, and event host Edgar Gil Rico from the National Alliance for Hispanic Health (NAHH).

This event is offered in partnership with NAHH and the NNLM Reading Club.

How to Watch

Watch the event on YouTube (36:25): https://youtu.be/07Xj7U8dpGw

Accessibility: English Closed Captioning, American Sign Language

About Genomics: A Revolution in Health and Disease Discovery

Over the past 50 years, scientists have made incredible progress in applying genetic research to human health care and disease treatment. Innovative tools and techniques, including gene therapy and CRISPR-Cas9 editing, can treat inherited disorders that were previously untreatable or prevent them from happening in the first place. You can take a DNA test to learn where your ancestors are from. Police officers can use genetic evidence to identify criminals or innocents. Some doctors are using new medical techniques for unprecedented procedures.

Genomics: A Revolution in Health and Disease Discovery delves into the history, science, and ethical implications of recent breakthroughs in genetic research. Authors Whitney Stewart and Hans C. Andersson, MD, present fascinating case studies showing how real people have benefitted from genetic research. Though the genome remains full of mysteries, researchers and doctors are working hard to uncover its secrets and find the best ways to treat patients and cure diseases. The discoveries to come will inform how we target disease treatment, how we understand our health, and how we define our very identities.

--From Publisher Site (Link)

About the Author Talk Speakers

• Whitney Stewart, Author, Nonfiction author for young readers. Mindfulness teacher for kids.
• Hans C. Andersson, MD, Author, Karen Gore Chair of Human Genetics and Director of the Hayward Genetics Center at Tulane University Medical School
• Anya Revah-Politi, MS, CGC, Assistant Professor of Genetic Counseling at Columbia University Institute for Genomic Medicine

Want to promote this event to your community?

Sign up to be a promotional partner at the following link: https://bit.ly/Genomicspartner

Interested in reading Genomics with your community? Request a Reading Club Kit!

Request a kit today!

Your free reading club kit includes:

• 8 print or digital copies of Genomics: A Revolution in Health and Disease Discovery
• Virtual Discussion Guide
• All of Us Bookmarks
• MedlinePlus Bookmarks
• Digital Promotional toolkit to promote your Reading Club

This reading club kit is available for your library to keep! Libraries and organizations receiving the kit will be expected to:

• Be or become an NNLM member. Check our membership directory or join today for free!
• Attend the Author Talk on April 25, 2022 with reading club participants (Registration link) OR share/watch the talk recording with reading club participants (YouTube link forthcoming).
• Host at least one virtual or in-person event within the first twelve months (12) of receiving the kit. The program will raise awareness of the NIH All of Us Research Program. The event must include attending or watching the Author Talk mentioned above.
• Share information about All of Us included in the reading kit shipment to reading club participants and patrons.
• Distribute the NNLM All of Us Participant Survey (to be provided) to reading club participants and share responses with NNLM.

Additional Information

Individuals needing accessibility accommodations are encouraged to attend all NNLM All of Us Community Engagement Center events. If you are a person who requires accessibility accommodations to participate in this program, please contact lib-nnlmallofus@uiowa.edu no later than two weeks before the scheduled program date.

Questions? Email us at lib-nnlmallofus@uiowa.edu.

This event is in collaboration with the NIH All of Us Research Program, which is inviting one million or more people across the U.S. to help build one of the most diverse health databases in history. Researchers will use this data to learn how our biology, lifestyle, and environment affect health to help personalize medicine in the future. Learn more about this historic program here: JoinAllofUs.org/nlm.

This event is supported by funds from the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health under cooperative agreement number UG4 LM012346-05S1 at the University of Iowa, Hardin Library for the Health Sciences.

Additional Resources

Dr. Hans C. Andersson’s research at Tulane University Medical School (YouTube; 2:59)

Tulane Hayward Genetics Center (Instagram)

Whitney Stewart’s website

Genomic Traits Flyer (PDF, 1.8 MB): This illustrated flyer highlights genetic trait information All of Us participants may receive.

Genomics General Information Flyer (PDF, 764.4 KB): This flyer discusses genomics at a high level.

Genomic Ancestry Flyer (PDF, 2.51 MB): This flyer educates potential All of Us participants on the difference between ethnicity and genetic ancestry.

Spotlight on Anya, Revah-Politi, MS, CGC
How can genetics tell us about our health? When should we get a genetics test? Learn more from a genetic counselor at Columbia University. (12:48) https://youtu.be/9SQqyPCfwl8

Spotlight on Hans C. Andersson, MD
Dr. Andersson reflects on the history of human genetics research, a field he has worked in for decades. (4:16) https://youtu.be/FhfV5UeLtWU

Spotlight on Whitney Stewart
Learn how the book, Genomics: A Revolution in Health and Disease Discovery, came to be from co-author, Whitney Stewart! (9:35) https://youtu.be/1r0CGEzubVo