Nominations for EGAPP Working Group membership are accepted on a continuous basis

The Evaluation of Genomic Applications in Practice and Prevention (EGAPP) initiative is seeking nominations for qualified and diverse individuals to replace outgoing  EGAPP Working Group (EWG) members in the future. 

The EGAPP initiative was established in late 2004 by the Office of Public Health Genomics (OPHG) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop and test a systematic, evidence-based process for evaluating genetic tests and other applications of genomic technology in transition from research to practice.  The independent, multidisciplinary EWG was established in April, 2005.  The group currently consists of 15 members, representing broad areas of expertise.

The Nomination and Selection Process
It is important that the EWG reflect diverse expertise and experience.  EGAPP is seeking professionals from varied backgrounds and work settings, with expertise in one or more relevant disciplines that may include clinical and laboratory practice, economics/decision analysis, healthcare research, evidence-based medicine/health technology assessment, genomics, epidemiology, ethics, education, healthcare policy, and public health).  Federal employees and those with clear financial or professional conflicts of interest are not eligible for consideration.

To submit a nomination, please provide a cover letter (may be from an organization, individual nominator, or a self-nominee) that briefly describes why the individual is interested in, and would be a good fit for, the EWG.  Please include all relevant experience, with particular emphasis on service on other committees, working groups, or panels. The cover letter should be accompanied by a current curriculum vita.  The nominations will initially be reviewed by selected members of the federal EGAPP Steering Committee.  A subset of nominees will be contacted for a telephone interview that will elicit more information on experience and interest.  They will also be asked to provide information on financial holdings, consultancies, corporate affiliations, and research grants/contracts, in order to permit assessment of real or perceived conflicts of interest.  After this in depth review, new EWG members will be selected from nominees by the EGAPP Steering Committee.

EWG members must be able to attend three one and one-half day meetings per year (usually in Atlanta, GA) to deliberate on evidence reports, develop recommendations, and conduct votes.  They also participate in activities between meetings by teleconference and e-mail.  Members are reimbursed for travel expenses and receive a $175 honorarium for each in-person meeting day.  Membership terms remain under consideration.
 
Specific roles of the EWG include:

• establishing and testing processes and methods for evidence review and recommendation development that are optimized for genetic tests and other genomic applications;
• identifying, prioritizing, and selecting topics for review;
• framing the scope of selected topics (e.g., analytic frameworks, key questions);
• serving on Technical Expert Panels (TEPs) that provide technical guidance for specific evidence reviews;
• developing conclusions or recommendations based on the evidence and subsequent deliberations on clinical and social issues; and
• considering comments of expert and peer reviewers before finalizing and submitting recommendation statements for publication.

The EWG develops recommendation statements based on rigorous scientific evaluations conducted by Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Evidence-based Practice Centers or by EGAPP staff and consultants, according to established standards.  Recommendations are communicated to health care practitioners and payers, policymakers, consumers, and a wide range of other stakeholders through journal publication, the www.EGAPPreviews.org website and other web postings, email notification, and through other partners and collaborators.  The activities of the independent EWG are supported by OPHG-based EGAPP staff and core contracted consultants.

It is important to note that the EWG is an independent, multidisciplinary panel.  Opinions and recommendations of the EWG, and EWG-developed materials posted on the www.EGAPPreviews.org website, are not designed to be advice to the Federal government and should not be construed as official positions of the CDC or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

For more information:
See websites below or contact [email protected]
EGAPP Working Group
EGAPP Initiative