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Jankovic-Rankovic J, Panter-Brick C. Physiological and genomic signatures of war and displacement: A comprehensive literature review and future directions. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 166:107084. [PMID: 38788460 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2023] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
There are now 108.4 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, many of whom endure adversities that result in trauma, toxic stress, and potentially, altered epigenetic development. This paper provides a comprehensive review of current literature on the biological signatures of war and forced migration among refugee populations. To consolidate evidence and identify key concerns and avenues for future research, we reviewed 36 publications and one article under review, published since 2000, most of which focused on refugees relocated in Europe and the Middle East. This body of work - including cross-sectional, observational, and experimental studies - reveals heterogenous findings regarding human biological responses to war-related adversities and their associations with health outcomes. We conclude with four main observations, regarding why genomic and physiological biomarkers are valuable, what study designs advance understanding of causality and health-promoting interventions, how to prepare for ethical challenges, and why theoretical frameworks and research procedures need more detailed consideration in scientific publications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Catherine Panter-Brick
- Department of Anthropology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Jackson School of Global Affairs, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
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Dupras C, Knoppers T, Palmour N, Beauchamp E, Liosi S, Siebert R, Berner AM, Beck S, Charest I, Joly Y. Researcher perspectives on ethics considerations in epigenetics: an international survey. Clin Epigenetics 2022; 14:110. [PMID: 36056446 PMCID: PMC9440515 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-022-01322-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade, bioethicists, legal scholars and social scientists have started to investigate the potential implications of epigenetic research and technologies on medicine and society. There is growing literature discussing the most promising opportunities, as well as arising ethical, legal and social issues (ELSI). This paper explores the views of epigenetic researchers about some of these discussions. From January to March 2020, we conducted an online survey of 189 epigenetic researchers working in 31 countries. We questioned them about the scope of their field, opportunities in different areas of specialization, and ELSI in the conduct of research and knowledge translation. We also assessed their level of concern regarding four emerging non-medical applications of epigenetic testing—i.e., in life insurance, forensics, immigration and direct-to-consumer testing. Although there was strong agreement on DNA methylation, histone modifications, 3D structure of chromatin and nucleosomes being integral elements of the field, there was considerable disagreement on transcription factors, RNA interference, RNA splicing and prions. The most prevalent ELSI experienced or witnessed by respondents were in obtaining timely access to epigenetic data in existing databases, and in the communication of epigenetic findings by the media. They expressed high levels of concern regarding non-medical applications of epigenetics, echoing cautionary appraisals in the social sciences and humanities literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Dupras
- Centre of Genomics and Policy, McGill University, 740, Avenue Dr. Penfield, Suite 5200, Montreal, QC, H3A 0G1, Canada. .,School of Public Health, University of Montreal, 7101 Parc avenue, Montreal, QC, H3N 1X9, Canada.
| | - Terese Knoppers
- Centre of Genomics and Policy, McGill University, 740, Avenue Dr. Penfield, Suite 5200, Montreal, QC, H3A 0G1, Canada
| | - Nicole Palmour
- Centre of Genomics and Policy, McGill University, 740, Avenue Dr. Penfield, Suite 5200, Montreal, QC, H3A 0G1, Canada
| | - Elisabeth Beauchamp
- Centre of Genomics and Policy, McGill University, 740, Avenue Dr. Penfield, Suite 5200, Montreal, QC, H3A 0G1, Canada
| | - Stamatina Liosi
- Centre for Health Ethics and Law, University of Southampton, Building 4, Highfield, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Reiner Siebert
- Institute of Human Genetics, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Alison May Berner
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 5PZ, UK
| | - Stephan Beck
- University College London (UCL) Cancer Institute, 72 Huntley Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Ian Charest
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, 90, Avenue Vincent-d'Indy/Boulevard Édouard-Montpetit, Montréal, QC, H2V 2S9, Canada
| | - Yann Joly
- Centre of Genomics and Policy, McGill University, 740, Avenue Dr. Penfield, Suite 5200, Montreal, QC, H3A 0G1, Canada
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