Translational Bioethics and Health Privacy

Moving to the Middle Ground: Redefining Genomic Utility to Expand Understanding of Familial Benefit

Translational research has tended to ignore the question of whether receiving a genomic diagnosis provides utility in community care contexts outside of doctors' offices and hospitals. However, empirical research with parents has highlighted numerous ways that a genomic diagnosis might be of practical value in the care provided by teachers, physical or occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, behavior analysts, and nonphysician mental health providers. In this essay, we propose a new conceptual model of genomic utility that offers the opportunity to better capture a broad range of potential implications of genomic technologies for families in various social and organizational systems. We explore crucial research directions to better understand how redefined utility might affect families and nonphysician professionals.

Translational Research and Communities

Impactful translational research requires new approaches to computational analysis and bioethics, both of which have been advanced by adoption of community-engagement strategies. Community knowledge and experience will hone data collection, research, and insights and accelerate the impact of derived translational applications to improve individual health, medical decision-making, and public health policy. In the context of translational research with big health data, meaningful community-researcher engagement will require developing and deploying coengagement tools across the research life cycle and developing approaches for novel coproduction.