Human Genome Research in an Interdependent World

While many of the ethical, social, and legal issues which human genome research create can and should be debated and resolved within the borders of particular countries and regions, there are a number of issues which cannot be satisfactorily resolved without international understandings, negotiations, and accords. This group includes: international sharing of research burdens, benefits, and information; use of genetic information by the police and military; use of genetic information in identification of racial groups and in eugenic initiatives; and responsibilities of HGR scientists worldwide in determining the direction of their work. This conference will bring together approx-imately 40 scientists, officials, and ethicists from around the world to prepare an agenda of these issues for consideration by the appropriate national and international agencies. The conferees will compare views on the need for international cooperation on a number of issues and attempt to reach consensus on which issues require international accords and which do not. The resulting agenda for international action will be drawn up and published under the supervision of the planning committee. Conference date: June 2-4, 1991, Bethesda, Maryland