In the summer of 2023, the Journal of Community Genetics for the first time received its Impact Factor from the Clarivate Group: 1.9! A moment to celebrate and to reflect on the impact of the Journal. Community Genetics has a special position in the domain of Genetics and Heredity journals. It does not publish manuscripts on the characteristics of inheritance and the structures of genes and techniques to analyse the genome and interpret variants but instead emphasizes the application of genomics knowledge from a multidisciplinary angle. Authors have diverse backgrounds, ranging from clinical geneticists and genetic counsellors to health scientists, policy advisors, psychologists, sociologists, ethicists, legal experts and experts in education. Contributions come from all over the world and discuss applications relevant for many countries or groups, such as Ireland, Turkey, Jordan, USA (including tribal groups in Alaska and Latina women in Texas), and also countries in Africa and South America (Ward et al. 2023; Kadiroğlu et al. 2023; Abudahab et al. 2023; Beans et al. 2023; Madhiri et al. 2023; Opoku et al. 2023; Ruderman 2023). The application of genomics knowledge will, we hope, contribute to sustainable development worldwide, especially in health (SDG3), education (SDG4) and reducing inequalities (SDG10) as these are the areas that not only this journal but also others in the SpringerNature stable are best positioned to support. This trio of SDGs of course includes health, one of the three SDGs recently championed as the highest priority SDGs, the other two top priorities being poverty (SDG1) and climate (SDG13) (Kickbusch and Alakija 2023).

To make the contribution of the Journal of Community Genetics to the SDG agenda even more visible, the journal now has three SDG collections for the sustainable development goals 3, 4 and 10:

In this way, we support the SpringerNature SDG Programme that aims to connect the researchers who are tackling the world’s toughest challenges with the practitioners in policy and business who desperately need those insights to achieve their goals in improving the world, by making our publishing activities more visible to our key communities through a variety of channels. Figure 1 illustrates the growing SDG content of this journal.

The growing SDG content of the Journal of Community Genetics

It is fair to say that Genetics and Genomics does not always lead to reduced inequalities but that special attention is needed to apply genomics knowledge in such a way that people and families all over the world will profit. We will need to work hard to ensure that how this wider application of genomics is implemented leads to a lessening of social inequities in health and health care and not the exacerbation of pre-existing inequities and social injustice (Clarke and van El 2022). This is necessary if progress in SDG3 is not to undermine progress in SDG10.

The collection of biological samples and medical information about individuals in large population groups initially largely focused on populations of European descent. The development of the specialities of clinical genetics and genetic counselling mainly took place in the USA and Western Europe. It was therefore no surprise that the genome sequencing of large numbers of people, and the documentation of genomic differences between groups, focused very largely on the same populations. This has the potential to lead to those of European descent then having readier access to the benefits potentially brought by genomics than others, especially those from Africa, where most human genetic variation is found.

Perspectives from parents and patients from other parts of the world provide another aspect of genetics-related knowledge and experience that it is important to document and that fits perfectly within the scope of the Journal of Community Genetics. For instance, a paper from Ghana assesses the support needs for parents caring for a child with a genetic disorder (Opoku et al. 2023). The authors report the needs for three layers of support. Psychological and personal support of individuals may help to counter the self-blame and guilt and the anxiety and depression that may be triggered by these circumstances. Support may need to be provided through families and communities, however, in order to counter stigmatisation and discrimination as well as provide the practical help needed to manage everyday living. Support provided through institutions can also be crucial if a family’s ability to work is compromised by caring for one or more affected individuals. All these topic areas—entangled as they are with the impact of genetic conditions on family life and communities—are highly eligible and appropriate for the journal.

Some of the papers that are part of the SDG collections are very often cited and downloaded. We therefore trust that the Journal of Community Genetics will have a global impact to contribute to Good Health and Wellbeing, Quality Education, and Reduced Inequalities.