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Patel RA, Ungar RA, Pyke AL, Adimoelja A, Chakraborty M, Cotter DJ, Freund M, Goddard P, Gomez-Stafford J, Greenwald E, Higgs E, Hunter N, MacKenzie TMG, Narain A, Gjorgjieva T, Martschenko DO. Increasing equity in science requires better ethics training: A course by trainees, for trainees. CELL GENOMICS 2024; 4:100554. [PMID: 38697124 PMCID: PMC11099339 DOI: 10.1016/j.xgen.2024.100554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
Despite the profound impacts of scientific research, few scientists have received the necessary training to productively discuss the ethical and societal implications of their work. To address this critical gap, we-a group of predominantly human genetics trainees-developed a course on genetics, ethics, and society. We intend for this course to serve as a template for other institutions and scientific disciplines. Our curriculum positions human genetics within its historical and societal context and encourages students to evaluate how societal norms and structures impact the conduct of scientific research. We demonstrate the utility of this course via surveys of enrolled students and provide resources and strategies for others hoping to teach a similar course. We conclude by arguing that if we are to work toward rectifying the inequities and injustices produced by our field, we must first learn to view our own research as impacting and being impacted by society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roshni A Patel
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
| | - Rachel A Ungar
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
| | - Alanna L Pyke
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Alvina Adimoelja
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | | | - Daniel J Cotter
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Malika Freund
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Pagé Goddard
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Justin Gomez-Stafford
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Emily Greenwald
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Emily Higgs
- Department of Cardiovascular Genetics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Naiomi Hunter
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Tim M G MacKenzie
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Anjali Narain
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Tamara Gjorgjieva
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Daphne O Martschenko
- Center for Biomedical Ethics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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Madden D, Barnert E, Svetaz MV, Huston S. Commentary: Accounting for Migrant Family Separations: When Numerical Chaos Exacerbates Health Inequity. FAMILY & COMMUNITY HEALTH 2024; 47:62-65. [PMID: 37882451 DOI: 10.1097/fch.0000000000000390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Diana Madden
- Mary Ann & J. Milburn Smith Child Health Outcomes, Research, and Evaluation Center, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (Mss Madden and Huston); Department of Pediatrics, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles (Dr Barnert); Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, and Family Medicine, Hennepin Healthcare, Minneapolis, Minnesota (Dr Svetaz); and Department of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois (Ms Huston)
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Madden D, Baker BA, Wagner JK, Katsanis SH. Framing the utility and potential pitfalls of relationship and identity DNA testing across United States immigration contexts. HGG ADVANCES 2022; 3:100060. [PMID: 35047850 PMCID: PMC8756547 DOI: 10.1016/j.xhgg.2021.100060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic information is increasingly used at US border entry points, but the use of DNA in immigration contexts is not new. DNA testing for verification of identity or relationships for visa and asylum petitions began in the 1980s. Long-standing applications demonstrate both the utility and pitfalls of DNA testing in immigration contexts. Some of these pitfalls are shared with health-related contexts of DNA testing, but the power of government officials to deny immigration benefits, separate families, or make accusations of fraud among a vulnerable population elevates the potential harms, including stigmatization, discrimination, and coerced consent. We conducted semi-structured interviews with professional stakeholders on their understandings of the process of DNA testing, opinions on the role of DNA testing in immigration, and experiences with DNA applications in immigration. From the 22 interviews, we sourced 21 case examples involving DNA testing and supplemented these with 10 case examples provided by the study team. The 31 case examples capture instances of DNA testing for relationship or identity across five immigration contexts. Using the case examples, we developed three overarching utilities and six overarching pitfalls of DNA testing that apply across these immigration contexts. Our framework allows long-standing applications of DNA testing in immigration to inform stakeholders’ approaches to applications in new contexts. As the use of DNA data in immigration contexts expands, its implementation should recognize the utility of DNA data to both migrants and government while guarding against pitfalls that could undermine the human rights and dignity of a vulnerable population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Madden
- Mary Ann & J. Milburn Smith Child Health Outcomes, Research, and Evaluation Center, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60611-2991, USA
| | - Brianna A Baker
- Stigma, Identity, and Intersectionality Research Lab, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York City, NY 10027, USA
| | - Jennifer K Wagner
- School of Engineering Design, Technology, and Professional Programs, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Sara H Katsanis
- Mary Ann & J. Milburn Smith Child Health Outcomes, Research, and Evaluation Center, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60611-2991, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611-2991, USA
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