Page 18 - Genomic Medicine in Emerging Economies

Why Should We Use Genomics in Developing Countries? 7

National GeneBank in 2016, which is supported by the world’s most advanced
and sophisticated high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics capac-
ity, will provide an unprecedented opportunity to conquer diseases through
genomic tools.

Latin America
Like other emerging economies in the world, several countries in Latin America
have been developing small and targeted initiatives in medical genomics that
are now following the path to clinical implementation. Genetic screening of
cancer genes in Latin American countries have been performed for the last
10–15 years and have been mainly focused on breast and colorectal cancer,
permitting advances in clinical decisions based on genetic diagnosis in the
countries were these studies have been performed (Sanchez et al., 2011). The
size, scope, and extent of these studies varies widely from country to country.
These studies are small and only represent a limited number of the popula-
tion but are already an initial step toward the use of genomics technologies. In
addition, ancestry determination in cancer patients is highly relevant in order
to determine the influence of ethnic origins in the development of cancer
(Alvarez et al., 2017). To increase knowledge and expertise in cancer genetics,
a significant increase in funding for research grants, training of young scien-
tists in genetics, installation of PhD programs in genetics and genomics, and
an increased overall investment and interest from local government in Latin
American countries is necessary (Chapter 4). An illustration of the correlation
between investment in science and the implementation of clinical genomics
practices can be found in Brazil, where strong investments in science have led
to the very advanced “omics” programs (Wünsch-Filho et al., 2006). Similar
examples from the transition of genomics knowledge from academia to indus-
try and the establishment of corporate entities with genomics-related activities
are reported in Argentina (see Chapter 7).
An important aspect explored in this book is the benefits and challenges of col-
laborations between developed countries and developing or emerging econo-
mies. After many years of collaborations that have been mostly controlled by
developed countries, in particular as they relate to the overall benefit and out-
comes of research, there is now a new tendency in which developing countries are
promoting more balanced collaboration projects. Collaborations between Latin
American scientists and scientists from countries with a more developed science
are very welcome and necessary (see Chapter 4); however, the collaborations are
now aiming at keeping the samples in the country of origin (Zawati et al., 2014).
Aside from extensive work being done in cancer, this book also presents work
being done in the area of molecular genetics of psychiatric disorders in Latin
America. Some of this work focuses on the replication of previous findings