Genomic medicine in Mexico: Initial steps and the road ahead

Abstract

Mexico faces important demographic and epidemiological transitions with significant implications to patterns of disease, disability, and death. On the one hand, there are problems of underdevelopment and, on the other, the emerging challenges of the chronic and degenerative diseases of the industrialized world. For these diseases, prevention becomes a key strategy for alleviating a major burden to the economy and health of the Mexican population. Genomic medicine has become a priority to the Mexican government as a means of finding new strategies to tackle common diseases. In 2000, strategic planning for genomic medicine began, from a feasibility study and a multi-institutional consortium effort, to the creation of a National Institute of Genomic Medicine by the Mexican congress in 2004. Current research programs in genomic medicine in Mexico include the construction of a haplotype map of the Mexican population, several genome-wide association studies for common diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, as well as translational medicine projects that include biomarkers discovery for several kinds of cancer, pharmacogenomics, and nutrigenomics. Although this strategy has been successful, there are challenges that still need to be addressed, including increased investment in science and technology to stimulate a more vigorous and competitive research environment, development of more effective basic and clinical research synergies, recruitment and training of more human resources in genomic medicine, developing mechanisms to stimulate translational research, and developing a more modern regulatory framework to ensure that genomic medicine will successfully contribute to improve healthcare in the Mexican population.

Analysis of genomic diversity in Mexican Mestizo populations to develop genomic medicine in Mexico

“…In addition, this information will increase our knowledge of genomic variability in Latino populations. The scientific and technological infrastructure derived from this project will significantly contribute to the development of genomic medicine in Mexico and Latin America (3,6).…”

“…Although the diversity of Latino populations poses several challenges for genetic studies (1), it makes them a powerful resource for analyzing the genetic bases of complex diseases (2). In the past 5 years, Mexico has been committed to develop a human and technological infrastructure for genomics with special emphasis on the development of a national platform of genomic medicine to improve healthcare of Mexicans (3)(4)(5)(6). This effort, together with a population of Ϸ105 million inhabitants including 60 Amerindian groups and a complex history of admixture, makes Mexico an ideal country in which to perform genomic analysis of common complex diseases.…”

Polymorphisms of Alcohol Metabolizing Enzymes in Indigenous Mexican Population: Unusual High Frequency of CYP2E1*c2 Allele

“…However, controversial results are reported (Bosron and Li, 1986;Vidal et al, 2004;Zintzaras et al, 2006) probably because heterogeneity and racial admixture is playing an important role, among other factors. Mexican population has been arisen by the admixture of indigenous, Spaniard, and African genes (Jimenez-Sanchez et al, 2008). Therefore, elucidation of the genomic structure of ethnic groups constitute significant contributions to this topic.…”

Molecular Diagnostics and Personalized Medicine: Value-Assessed Opportunities for Multiple Stakeholders

“…Presently, many Rx companies supply medicines at a low cost to the developing world on the basis of onesize-fits-all, but low-cost Dx testing could soon make it possible to offer objective pretreatment testing in nontraditional markets. It is likely that Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) countries, already viewed as emerging markets for various industries, including healthcare, will become early adopters of the personalized medicine paradigm [26]. In addition, the rise in distance-based telemedicine and patient monitoring may allow physicians to introduce Dx/Rx effectiveness to patients outside the hospital setting.…”