PROJECT NARRATIVE Very little research has been done regarding non-STI-related health disparities affecting sexual and gender minorities (SGM). Even less is known about what these minorities think about the desirability of research that combines genetic variation and data about sexual orientation and gender identity with other health and demographic information, strategies required to understand and address these disparities.
PROJECT NARRATIVE The sickle cell trait (SCT) screening program of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is regarded as one of the largest mandated genetic screening programs in the United States (US). Estimates suggest that over 2,000 NCAA Division I student-athletes with SCT will be identified under the screening policy and that, without intervention, about seven NCAA Division I student-athletes would die suddenly from a complication of SCT over a 10-year period.
PROJECT NARRATIVE The sickle cell trait (SCT) screening program of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is regarded as one of the largest mandated genetic screening programs in the United States (US). Estimates suggest that over 2,000 NCAA Division I student-athletes with SCT will be identified under the screening policy and that, without intervention, about seven NCAA Division I student-athletes would die suddenly from a complication of SCT over a 10-year period.
While great strides are being made in identifying early signs that place people at a ?high risk state? for different illness conditions, at the same time, advances are being made in the identification of genes associated with ?high-risk states?. This study proposes to develop two innovative clinical tools that could greatly facilitate dissemination of a beneficial genetic malleability framing to high-risk youth in order to encourage increased treatment engagement and uptake of healthy behaviors. The impact of genetic information assumes special importance in the ?high-risk state?
Project Narrative There is much that is not yet known about the implications of microbiome-based diagnostic or screening test results and, similar to the early days of genetic testing, it is possible that existing laws and regulations that did not contemplate these technological advancements are not adequate to address concerns they raise.
Modern genetic research gives us unprecedented ability to understand and manipulate fundamental biological processes. Our growing potential to understand and shape the world in genetic terms also seriously challenges basic beliefs and ethical norms. At the same time, values and norms affect the way genetic research is designed and conducted. Despite the significant ethical and societal implications of emerging genetic research, there are few venues for geneticists to participate in interdisciplinary research and to discuss these issues.
New information from the mapping of the human genome has the potential to significantly alter the way we view and react to individuals and groups. At the same time, our reactions to this new information will be shaped by the manner in which it is presented to and understood by the public and by existing attitudes about the groups to whom the information applies. The proposed research examines the impact of human genomic research on existing forms of stigma.
Psychiatric genetic research (PGR) holds great promise for preventing, understanding, and treating neuropsychiatric disorders - a source of immense societal burden and personal suffering. Such research poses many ethical challenges, and failure to perform systematic study of the ethical issues surrounding PGR may threaten societal acceptance of this important scientific work. To date, NIH has not funded any work on PGR that focuses on collecting empirical data about ethical issues.
This qualitative, ethnographic project addresses a "Grand Challenge" for the future of genomic research and a NHGRI ELSI Research Program priority area: the analysis of the impact of genomics on concepts of race, ethnicity, and individual and group identity.