What is Molecular Epidemiology?

Molecular epidemiology has recently been defined as "a science that focuses on the contribution of potential genetic and environmental risk factors, identified at the molecular level, to the etiology, distribution and prevention of disease within families and across populations". This new field has recently emerged from the integration of molecular biology into traditional epidemiologic research. The objectives of molecular epidemiology are quite broad and include:

Descriptive and analytical studies to evaluate host/environmental interactions in disease
The development of prevention strategies for the control of bacterial, parasitic and viral disorders through molecular diagnosis
The prevention of non-communicable diseases and genetic disorders by assessing risk and identifying susceptible individuals through genetic screening

The achievement of these objectives is dependent upon the availability of:

Advanced biotechnology equipment, reagents and supplies for analyses of potential genetic and environmental risk factors.
Trained molecular epidemiologists able to integrate molecular biology into epidemiologic research and public health practice.

As yet, few countries are involved in molecular epidemiology due to a lack of trained molecular epidemiologists and a pervasive shortage of appropriate equipment, supplies and reagents.

The International Molecular Epidemiology Task Force (IMETAF) has been established to develop capabilities in molecular epidemiology for international health.

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