Harnessing the full potential of genomics to improve health is an endeavor that will span decades, if not centuries. In the near term, several key scientific challenges must be met to ensure maximal future benefit. First, research is needed in both in vitro and animal model systems to explore the consequences of multiple human genetic variations acting in concert. Achieving a comprehensive understanding of the functional consequences of genetic variation at the biochemical, cell, organ, and organism level is a monumental undertaking, much exceeding the Human Genome Project in complexity. Second, methods for studying the complicated, longitudinal interactions of environmental factors with human genetic variation are needed. All conditions are affected to some degree by environmental exposures affecting risk, progression, and/or treatment response. To date, only a handful of interactions between genes and environmental factors are well understood. Without a better understanding of such interactions, rational approaches to mitigating or exploiting environmental factors – or genetic ones - will be difficult to achieve. Third, efficient clinical trial methods are needed that leverage genomic information to optimize discovery and patient outcomes.
