Concepts for the translation of genome-based innovations into public health: a comprehensive overview

Recent vast and rapid development of genome-related sciences is followed by the development of different assessment techniques or attempts to adapt the existing ones. The aim of this article is to give an overview of existing concepts for the assessment and translation of innovations into healthcare, applying a descriptive analysis of their present use by public health specialists and policy makers. The international literature review identified eight concepts including Health Technology Assessment, analytic validity, clinical validity, clinical utility, ethical, legal and social implications, Public Health Wheel and others. This study gives an overview of these concepts (including the level of current use) applying a descriptive analysis of their present use by public health specialists and policy makers. Despite the heterogeneity of the analyzed concepts and difference in use in everyday healthcare practice, the cross-integration of these concepts is important in order to improve translation speed and quality. Finally, some recommendations are made regarding the most applicable translational concepts.