Scientific discoveries over the past 30 years mean doctors now have a deeper understanding of what causes disease and how those diseases might progress.
Advances in genomic medicine – analysing a person’s unique genetic makeup to tailor diagnosis and treatment – have helped to diagnose disease, decode complex illnesses and predict a person’s risk levels for a vast array of conditions.
But Indigenous Australians have been left behind by a system of scientific advancement that has not been designed to respect their complex cultural history.
There is no clear picture of the genomic landscape of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, which means they’re missing out on the potential advantages genomic medicine can deliver.
The Kids Research Institute Australia and Australian National University’s Professor of Indigenous Genomics, Professor Alex Brown, is on a mission to change that.
He is leading the establishment of a national network - The Australian Alliance for Indigenous Genomics (ALIGN) - to advance the benefits from Genomic Medicine for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, in collaboration with researchers, genetic health services, Indigenous community-controlled health organisations and industry partners across the country.
“We know that Indigenous people the world over have been largely excluded from this genomic picture for a raft of reasons,” Professor Brown said. “Some relate to a low level of trust from communities in the scientific endeavour, based on a history of exploitation of Indigenous people.”
Genomics can unlock the information in our DNA to enable personalised, targeted approaches to the prevention and treatment of a range of health conditions including cancer, diabetes and heart disease, as well as rare diseases.
Professor Brown said the national alliance would advance the benefits of genomic medicine for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, who have so far been excluded from national genomics efforts.
Little attention has been paid to the steps required to ensure Indigenous Australians can and do benefit from all that genomics has to offer.
The national alliance will comprise six strategically located ‘nodes’ in Queensland, New South Wales, the ACT, Western Australia, Victoria and South Australia.
Professor Brown said the national network aims to improve Indigenous engagement with genomics by building a culturally safe framework that respects the traditions and beliefs of Aboriginal people who may choose to engage with genetic research and health care.