Cyberinfrastructure for public health

ABSTRACT

Great strides were made during the 20^th Century to improve the diagnosis and treatment of many common diseases, but those strides are not enough. Millions die each year from diseases that are chronic and complex. To meet the challenge of combating these complex diseases, biomedical research in the 21^st Century must take advantage of advanced discovery in information technology to create interventions that are predictive, personalized, and preemptive. [1] At the patient level, 21^st Century medicine must use the precision of evidence-based diagnostic systems to deliver highly tailored treatment regimens in precise, effective ways. At the population level, 21^st Century disease control must use the power of connective surveillance infrastructures to identify targets of opportunity early, and to apply current knowledge for intervention in rapidly diffusing ways. To achieve these goals, population health in the 21^st century must rely on the connective power of powerful health informatics infrastructures, or cyberinfrastructures in health.

REFERENCES

• 1: B. J. Culliton, "Extracting Knowledge From Science: A Conversation With Elias Zerhouni," Health Aff (Millwood), 2006.
• 2: B. W. Hesse, "Harnessing the power of an intelligent health environment in cancer control," Stud Health Technol Inform, vol. 118, pp. 159--76, 2005.
• 3: A. C. von Eschenbach, "A vision for the National Cancer Program in the United States," Nat Rev Cancer, vol. 4, pp. 820--8, 2004.
• 4: R. A. Hiatt and B. K. Rimer, "A new strategy for cancer control research," Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev, vol. 8, pp. 957--64, 1999.
• 5: American Cancer Society, "Cancer Facts and Figures, 2006," American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA 2006.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.m MISCELLANEOUS

Additional Classification:
  J. Computer Applications
  J.3 LIFE AND MEDICAL SCIENCES

General Terms:
Design, Management

Keywords:
behavioral research, grid computing, health informatics, interoperable systems, knowledge management, networks, public health, surveillance