The goal of the proposed research training program is to strengthen the capacity of Venezuelan scientists based at the University of Zulia to study genetics of common hereditable disorders relevant to Latin America and the Caribbean, and in particular to Venezuela.

This project proposes to create a new research training program in genetics for students, researchers, and professionals from the developing country, People's Republic of China. This collaborative program will be developed between The Johns Hopkins University and two major institutions in Beijing, Peking Union Medical College and Peking University. This program will train researchers in the principles of genetic research on complex disorders such as birth defects and chronic diseases.

Some socially identifiable groups have historically perceived genetic research with considerable mistrust. For this reason, and to better understand the salience of community-based ethical, legal and social issues (ELSI) with emerging genetic knowledge, a need exists to systematically engage communities simultaneously with conducting human genetic research. Community engagement processes also intended to provide protection assurances from potential harms by identifying and minimizing group perceived risks that may be acute or ongoing barriers to genetic research participation.

The Human Genome Project (HGP) is a source of hope and a cause for concern for people with disabilities and their families. Few researchers have solicited the input of the disability community about the HGP or reviewed possible responses to their concerns and expectations. In particular, little is known about the 'grassroots' disability perspectives and, within the grassroots perspective, the views of underrepresented subgroups including women, minorities, and low-income families.

The overall goal of the proposed research is to contribute to improved communication about race and ethnicity among genetics researchers and, as a result, between these researchers, professionals who are meant to apply the results of research on human genetic variation, and the public. Our primary aim is to clarify how and why researchers use race and ethnicity in forensic and medical genetic research, and what researchers think are appropriate generalizations and applications of their findings.

The National Human Genome Center at Howard University seeks to establish the Center on Genomics and Social Identity in the African Diaspora. The mission of the proposed CEER is to increase understanding of the complexities surrounding social identity within the African Diaspora and its interface with genomics in the improvement of health and well-being.