BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam//NONSGML v1.0//EN NAME:PhD defence S.M. Onstwedder METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20260325T154500 DTEND:20260325T171500 DTSTAMP:20260325T154500 UID:phd-defence-s-m-onstwedder@8F96275E-9F55-4B3F-A143-836282E12573 CREATED:20260922T224306 LOCATION: SUMMARY:PhD defence S.M. Onstwedder X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

Public health genomi cs: guiding policy towards a responsible pursuit of health benefit

Growing knowledge about DNA offers opportunities fo r public health, but requires careful choices

More possibilities for preve ntion and treatment

Knowledge about our DNA is growing rapidly. As a result, new opportunities are emerging to detect disea ses earlier, improve diagnoses, and better tailor treatments to indiv idual patients. DNA research can provide insights into hereditary con ditions, as well as genetic risks for common diseases such as cardiov ascular disease or cancer. Early detection through screening and more targeted treatments can lead to health gains. According to Onstwedde r, these developments could significantly strengthen public health.

Complex and sensitive

At the same time, g enetic information is complex and sensitive. DNA is unique to each in dividual and contains information about personal traits and health ri sks. Moreover, family members share part of their DNA. A test perform ed on one person can therefore also reveal information about relative s - sometimes without their knowledge or consent. In her research, On stwedder emphasizes the need for careful consideration of potential r isks, such as unwanted knowledge about hereditary predispositions, pr ivacy infringements, and uncertainty about what information is needed for citizens and patients to make informed decisions.

Also beyond healthcare: large-scale research and self-tests< /p>

Onstwedder mainly examined applications outside regular healthc are in two domains: large-scale scientific DNA research and the marke t for commercial direct-to-consumer DNA self-tests. In these contexts , it is especially important to carefully consider quality, reliabili ty, and guidance. Through self-tests, citizens can obtain information about their genetic predispositions without the involvement of a phy sician. This increases accessibility, but also raises questions about interpretation, privacy, and potential anxiety.

Collab oration crucial for responsible application

Onstwedder concludes that technological research and progress alone are not suf ficient. In addition to technical and clinical research, ethical, soc ietal, and legal analyses are also necessary. Responsible use of DNA technology therefore requires collaboration among many stakeholders, including researchers, healthcare professionals, policymakers, legal experts, ethicists, citizens, and patients. Doctors and researchers m ust carefully consider which genetic information they generate and co mmunicate back. At the same time, citizens and patients must be well informed about the possible consequences of a DNA test.

Ongoing dialogue needed

Because knowledge about DNA i s continuously evolving, encouraging dialogue among professionals fro m different disciplines and society at large is essential. Only by br inging together different perspectives can responsible use be defined - now and in the future. DNA technology offers many opportunities to improve health, but requires care, transparency, and shared responsi bility to use those opportunities safely and fairly. “The lessons f rom my research help RIVM move forward in research and policy advice for ministries, such as the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport,” said Onstwedder.

More information on the thesis

DESCRIPTION: Public health genomics: guiding policy towards a responsi ble pursuit of health benefit

Growing knowledge about DNA offers opportunities for public health, but requires careful choices

New DNA knowledge and DNA technologies offer major oppo rtunities for public health, but also require careful implementation and broad collaboration. This is shown by research conducted by Suzan ne Onstwedder, affiliated with the RIVM and the Department of Human G enetics at Amsterdam UMC, on the responsible application of genetic i nformation within and beyond public healthcare.More possibili ties for prevention and treatmentKnowledge about our DNA is growing rapidly. As a result, new opportunities are emerging to detec t diseases earlier, improve diagnoses, and better tailor treatments t o individual patients. DNA research can provide insights into heredit ary conditions, as well as genetic risks for common diseases such as cardiovascular disease or cancer. Early detection through screening a nd more targeted treatments can lead to health gains. According to On stwedder, these developments could significantly strengthen public he alth.Complex and sensitiveAt the same time, genetic information is complex and sensitive. DNA is unique to each individua l and contains information about personal traits and health risks. Mo reover, family members share part of their DNA. A test performed on o ne person can therefore also reveal information about relatives - som etimes without their knowledge or consent. In her research, Onstwedde r emphasizes the need for careful consideration of potential risks, s uch as unwanted knowledge about hereditary predispositions, privacy i nfringements, and uncertainty about what information is needed for ci tizens and patients to make informed decisions.Also beyond he althcare: large-scale research and self-testsOnstwedder main ly examined applications outside regular healthcare in two domains: l arge-scale scientific DNA research and the market for commercial dire ct-to-consumer DNA self-tests. In these contexts, it is especially im portant to carefully consider quality, reliability, and guidance. Thr ough self-tests, citizens can obtain information about their genetic predispositions without the involvement of a physician. This increase s accessibility, but also raises questions about interpretation, priv acy, and potential anxiety.Collaboration crucial for responsi ble applicationOnstwedder concludes that technological resea rch and progress alone are not sufficient. In addition to technical a nd clinical research, ethical, societal, and legal analyses are also necessary. Responsible use of DNA technology therefore requires colla boration among many stakeholders, including researchers, healthcare p rofessionals, policymakers, legal experts, ethicists, citizens, and p atients. Doctors and researchers must carefully consider which geneti c information they generate and communicate back. At the same time, c itizens and patients must be well informed about the possible consequ ences of a DNA test.Ongoing dialogue neededBecause k nowledge about DNA is continuously evolving, encouraging dialogue amo ng professionals from different disciplines and society at large is e ssential. Only by bringing together different perspectives can respon sible use be defined - now and in the future. DNA technology offers m any opportunities to improve health, but requires care, transparency, and shared responsibility to use those opportunities safely and fair ly. “The lessons from my research help RIVM move forward in researc h and policy advice for ministries, such as the Ministry of Health, W elfare and Sport,” said Onstwedder.More information on the thes is END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR