Strategies for Documentation of Research on the Human Genome

This workshop, held by the National Reference Center for Bioethics Literature at the Kennedy Institute of Ethics, brought together 28 interested historians, social scientists, biologists, archivists and research administrators to begin to formulate a national policy for the collection and preservation of research materials related to the evolution of the human genome initiative and its social context. The morning session covered an overview of federal agency interests, models for a genome research documentation strategy, and brief descriptions of ongoing and planned projects. The afternoon was an open discussion of various topics including models for the support of archives, such as a permanent center, or a consortium of existing institutions with common interests. There was a consensus that a committee to issue recommendations about documenting human genome research should be formed and, ideally, include representatives from federal agencies, representatives from private laboratories and industrial concerns, and historians. Conference date: December 10, 1990, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia