A U.S-based Nigerian academic, Dr. Charles Rotimi, is the Director of the newly created U.S National Institute of Health’s Intramural Center for Genomics and Health Disparities (NICGHD). Dr. Rotimi is a genetic epidemiologist, meaning – he develops genetic epidemiology models and conducts population genetics research that explores the patterns and determinants of common complex diseases in the African diaspora and other human populations. The mission of the center is heading is to advance research into the role of culture, lifestyle, genetics and genomics in health disparities.

A key focus of Dr. Rotimi’s research is understanding the triangular relationship between obesity, hypertension, and diabetes, which together account for more than 80% of the health disparity between African Americans and European Americans. Genetic epidemiology models developed by his group are helping to address whether high disease rates are the result of exposure to environmental risk factors, genetic susceptibility, or an interaction between the two.

Dr. Rotimi has been extensively involved in a number of genetic epidemiology projects that are being conducted in several African countries and in the United States.

Since much of his research activities are focused on vulnerable populations, Dr. Rotimi is collaborating with investigators at Case Western Reserve University and the University of Ibadan in Nigeria to study issues related to informed consent in genetics studies. These efforts are investigating whether subjects in genetics studies perceive their participation as voluntary, and whether consented individuals understand the purpose of the genetic studies in which they are participating.

Dr. Rotimi talks about his research with Technology Review recently:

“We are right at the point where genomics is beginning to yield interesting fruits, and we want to see those fruits shared by all populations across the world.We want to take advantage of the fact that we are making considerable progress in understanding genetic variation and how it impacts the disease distribution we see across different populations. Only by including all populations can we truly understand human genetic variation and its importance for disease and response to drugs.”

Some web links on Dr Rotimi:
Genome Gov
TR: Genetics’ Role in Health Disparities

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