title: Overview of 'Omics Technologies for Military Occupational Health Surveillance and Medicine.
abstract: Systems biology ('omics) technologies are emerging as tools for the comprehensive analysis and monitoring of human health. In order for these tools to be used in military medicine, clinical sampling and biobanking will need to be optimized to be compatible with downstream processing and analysis for each class of molecule measured. This article provides an overview of 'omics technologies, including instrumentation, tools, and methods, and their potential application for warfighter exposure monitoring. We discuss the current state and the potential utility of personalized data from a variety of 'omics sources including genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, proteomics, lipidomics, and efforts to combine their use. Issues in the "sample-to-answer" workflow, including collection and biobanking are discussed, as well as national efforts for standardization and clinical interpretation. Establishment of these emerging capabilities, along with accurate xenobiotic monitoring, for the Department of Defense could provide new and effective tools for environmental health monitoring at all duty stations, including deployed locations.
authors.affiliation: National Security Systems Biology Center, Asymmetric Operations Sector, Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University, 12-S132, 11100 John Hopkins Road, Laurel, MD 20723-6099.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bradburne
authors.affiliation: The Center for Resources in Integrative Biology, Departments of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology and Medicine, Division of Cardiology, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 733 N. Broadway, MRB 835, Baltimore, MD, 21205.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence in Mass Spectrometry, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15282.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kingston
authors.affiliation: Air Force Medical Support Agency, USAF/SG, 7700 Arlington Boulevard, Falls Church, VA 22042.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brenner
authors.affiliation: Applied Isotope Technologies Incorporated, 2403 Sidney Street, Suite-280, Pittsburgh, PA 15203.
authors.forename: Matt
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pamuku
authors.affiliation: National Security Systems Biology Center, Asymmetric Operations Sector, Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University, 12-S132, 11100 John Hopkins Road, Laurel, MD 20723-6099.
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carruth
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D023281:Genomics; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D006801:Humans; D055633:Immune System Phenomena; D055432:Metabolomics; D008889:Military Personnel; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D062486:Public Health Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015386:Hazardous Substances