Tuskegee Genome Conference

This conference, which will take place over a three-day period at the Kellogg Executive Conference Center at Tuskegee University in September 1996, will provide a forum for increasing awareness of the Human Genome Project (HGP) in a segment of the African-American (AA) community, particularly those associated with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). The conference, and the workshops to follow, will emphasize technological, social and ethical issues arising from the HGP. Technical and education concerns to be addressed include the need for incorporation of genome analysis in the HBCUs school curricula, and increasing internship opportunities for AA students at Genome Centers. Sociological and ethical concerns on the use of data from HGP will also be discussed. Participants to be invited to the Tuskegee Genome Conference include scholars, educators, researchers, community leaders and consumers of genetic information from the HGP. As a result of this conference, participating HBCU institutions will have an opportunity to develop an enhanced level of participation and awareness of the conduct of on-going genome research programs. In addition, it will increase awareness in the African American community of the legal and ethical issues surrounding genetic research and screening. (Co-funded with DOE)