The proposed CWRU training grant in international research ethics builds upon and expands a highly successful international research training program, funded by the Fogarty International Center for a total of six years, and longstanding relationships with our overseas collaborating institutions. The training program includes trainees from Nigeria, Russia, and Romania in a Master's degree program in Bioethics and, in addition, offers one in-country certificate program per year.

Duke's Center for the Study of Public Genomics will gather and analyze information about the role of publication, data sharing, materials-sharing, patenting, database protection, and other practices that affect information flow in genomics research and development. Managing intellectual property and ensuring the preservation of a robust "scientific commons" could prove as difficult as or more so than the science and technology, and could have as large of an impact on what results are produced, who has access to them, and how fairly they are distributed.

Genetic service providers interact with patients who are experiencing profoundly personal and emotional life events. Many interactions occur at the time of diagnosis of a serious or life-threatening disorder in a fetus, child or adult. Other interactions occur over the course of providing on-going care to genetically affected individuals, including care rendered near the end of life.