Presented By:

Aaron J. Goldenberg, Michelle Abraham, Sanjur Brooks, Laura Morello, Corine Sinnette,

Kari Zimmerman, Patricia Marshall

Department of Bioethics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA. &

Center for Reducing Health Disparities, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland OH, USA.

Abstract:

The potential for translational genomic research to address health inequalities is under debate. Some scholars believe that genomics can provide important clues for isolating causal factors in health disparities, even when those factors themselves are environmental and social.  Others argue that an overemphasis on genetic determinants might lead researchers to ignore social or environmental contributions to health inequalities. Unfortunately, we know little about what individuals and communities who are experiencing health inequalities know and think about the potential impact of genetics on their health and the ethical or social implications of using genomics research to address disparities.

This presentation will discuss: 1) the development of our community-based engagement project on genomic research and health disparities; 2) the process by which this project has utilized  local, regional, and national collaborative partnerships to facilitate the involvement of community members in the implementation of this study; and  3) preliminary data from focus groups and in-depth interviews that explore beliefs and experiences related to genomic research and its application to health disparities among underserved African American, Hispanic, and White community members in Cleveland, Ohio.

We are at a critical juncture in developing genomic research with clinical and public health applications that may have the potential to help reduce health disparities. Our study aims to help policy makers and researchers better understand the views and concerns of underserved and minority communities in order to identify the ethical and social implications of translational genomics research for health disparities and develop meaningful approaches for overcoming them.