CERA is led by a multi-disciplinary team with advanced expertise in genomics, bioethics, legal analysis, social science research, and related fields. The CERA leadership identifies priority areas in ELSI, ensures the integrity of our collection of ELSI resources and analysis, and guides the community building and engagement activities of the Center.
The External Scientific Panel is selected by NHGRI to evaluate CERA progress and provide the agency with input and advice on the project.
Anna C F Lewis, D.Phil. is a Research Scientist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, where she is part of the Genomes2People research program. Dr. Lewis is a bioethicist focusing on the Ethical, Legal and Social Implications of Genetics and Genomics (ELSI), and in particular on issues related to the ethical and equitable implementation of genomic medicine for all. She is also co-founder and co-director of the Broad Institute's bioethics initiative.
Debra JH Mathews, Ph.D., M.A., is the Associate Director for Research and Programs for the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics, and a Professor in the Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Mathews also runs the Genomics and Society Mentorship Program and serves as the Chair of the Berman Institute’s Inclusion, Diversity, Anti-Racism, and Equity (IDARE) Committee. SHE IS ALSO THE ETHICS AND GOVERNANCE LEAD FOR THE INSTITUTE FOR ASSURED AUTONOMY. Dr. Mathews’s academic work focuses on ethics and policy issues raised by emerging technologies, with particular focus on genetics, stem cell science, neuroscience, synthetic biology, and artificial intelligence.
Jeff Leek, Ph.D. is vice president and chief data officer of Fred Hutch. Dr. Leek develops statistical methods, software, and data resources and analyses that help researchers make sense of massive-scale genomic and biomedical data and has helped craft online open courses in data science that have enrolled millions. He has also partnered with community-based nonprofits to use data science education for economic and public health development.
Camille Nebeker, Ed.D. directs the UC San Diego Research Ethics Program and is a professor of public health with appointments in the UC San Diego Design Lab and the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science. In 2018, Dr. Nebeker co-founded the ReCODE Health center, which is dedicated to conducting cutting edge research to inform ethical practices in digital/AI health research – including machine learning and the use of large language models. Nebeker has taught courses on research ethics for over 20 years and has developed educational resources to foster research literacy among citizen scientists and those involved in leading community-engaged research projects.
Rosario Isasi, J.D., M.P.H., is an Associate Professor of Human Genetics at the Dr. J. T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Adjunct Professor of Law at UM School of Law. She directs the Program in Genome Ethics and Policy at the John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics.
Her research is devoted to identifying and analyzing the social, ethical and policy dimensions of disruptive technologies (e.g., precision, genomics, and regenerative medicine). She has built an international reputation as a scholar with unique expertise in international comparative law, ethics, and health disparities.