title: Knowledge integration at the center of genomic medicine.
abstract: Three articles in this issue of Genetics in Medicine describe examples of "knowledge integration," involving methods for generating and synthesizing rapidly emerging information on health-related genomic technologies and engaging stakeholders around the evidence. Knowledge integration, the central process in translating genomic research, involves three closely related, iterative components: knowledge management, knowledge synthesis, and knowledge translation. Knowledge management is the ongoing process of obtaining, organizing, and displaying evolving evidence. For example, horizon scanning and "infoveillance" use emerging technologies to scan databases, registries, publications, and cyberspace for information on genomic applications. Knowledge synthesis is the process of conducting systematic reviews using a priori rules of evidence. For example, methods including meta-analysis, decision analysis, and modeling can be used to combine information from basic, clinical, and population research. Knowledge translation refers to stakeholder engagement and brokering to influence policy, guidelines and recommendations, as well as the research agenda to close knowledge gaps. The ultrarapid production of information requires adequate public and private resources for knowledge integration to support the evidence-based development of genomic medicine.
authors.affiliation: Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA. muk1@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Muin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Khoury
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gwinn
authors.forename: W David
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Dotson
authors.forename: Sheri D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Schully
mesh_terms: D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D023281:Genomics / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D058436:Knowledge Management; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D012107:Research Design; D012196:Review Literature as Topic; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical