Our Mission

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The Miami Institute for Human Genomics (MIHG) seeks to discover and explain the genetic influences on human health and to pioneer the application of this knowledge to the diagnosis, intervention, and prevention of disease, thus changing the practice of medicine and fulfilling the promise of the Human Genome Project for direct patient care.

In recent years, the fields of genetics and genomics have grown more rapidly than any other area of medicine. The field extends far beyond traditionally recognized single-gene disorders such as Huntington Disease, Sickle Cell Anemia, and Cystic Fibrosis to include complex and common human diseases such as autism, Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases, heart disease, and cancer. Understanding the complicated interactions behind these multi-gene disorders as well as the interactions of these gene networks with non-genetic or environmental factors is the foundation for the creation and development of genomic medicine as a new and promising field with implications for the practice of medicine and the healthcare industry.

MIHG consists of five integrated centers, which house the expertise and technology to conduct cutting edge genomics research. In order to be successful, modern genetic and genomics research must draw on the expertise of many in diverse fields including molecular biology, statistical genetics, genetic epidemiology, and computational science. Additionally, the high cost of state-of-the-art technologies and the requisite specialization required to operate them makes the shared use of equipment and knowledge crucial. Recent breakthroughs in genomics have been made possible by pooling resources, sharing information and equipment, and therefore by sharing the costs. The creation of MIHG supplies an infrastructure around which to coordinate the varied and state-of-the-art technologies and expertise required to perform leading edge genomics research