ELSI Personal Genomics Seminar Series

DTC Genetic Testing and Consumer Genomics. “The Retail DNA Test” was Time magazine’s 2008 Invention of the Year, reflecting widespread public interest in access to personal genome data. Yet critics contend that offering health risk and ancestry information based on one’s genome is premature, and they argue for stricter controls on the provision of DTC testing. How should this nascent industry proceed? How should it be evaluated and regulated?

Biobanks, Genomic Research and the “Tissue-Industrial Complex”. Large-scale biorepositories are increasingly being used for research purposes both in the US and abroad, raising complex ethical and policy questions. How should informed consent be managed? How should profits resulting from such research be shared? What should be the roles of scientists, government and the community in developing and implementing these activities?

Pharmacogenomics and the Promise and Perils of Personalized Medicine. Pharmacogenomics is based on the belief that medications tailored to patients’ genomic profiles will enhance therapeutic response and minimize side effects. Skeptics counter that pharmacogenomics is a prime example of “genohype.” Will this field be a leading force of biomedical innovation? How might personalized medicine impact the cost-effectiveness of health care?