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ELSI Research ProgramThe Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) Research Program

ELSI Research Program Overview

The National Human Genome Research Institute's (NHGRI) Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) Research Program was established in 1990 as an integral part of the Human Genome Project (HGP) to foster basic and applied research on the ethical, legal and social implications of genetic and genomic research for individuals, families and communities. The ELSI Research Program funds and manages studies, and supports workshops, research consortia and policy conferences related to these topics.

An article describing the ELSI Research Program in greater detail can be found here:The Ethical, Legal and Social Implications Program of the National Human Genome Research Institute: Reflections on an Ongoing Experiment

The NHGRI Division of Genomics and Society has identified the following three research domains to be considered for support by the Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) Research Program. The domains are overlapping, and it is anticipated that many research projects will address issues that cut across domains. A more detailed discussion of these domains and a list of examples of possible research topics is available atELSI Research Domains.

Genetic and Genomic Research. These projects may investigate and address the ethical, legal, social, and policy issues that arise in connection with the design and conduct of genetic and genomic research.

Genetic and Genomic Health Care. These projects may investigate and address the ethical, legal, social, and policy issues that arise in connection with the translation of genetic and genomic research into clinical medicine and health care in a variety of healthcare settings.

Broader Legal, Policy and Societal Issues. These projects may investigate and address a range of broader ethical, legal, policy and societal issues raised by the use of genetic and genomic technologies and information in research, clinical or non-medical settings.

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The NHGRI ELSI Program accepts Conference Grant (R13) applications. For specific instructions for preparing a conference grant application, see:

The ELSI program participates in a number of training and career development funding opportunities.

The Fogarty International Center's international bioethics training programs[fic.nih.gov] support education and research training to develop ethics expertise in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The programs complement other global health research and research training programs in the mission areas of NIH Institutes and Centers.

PA-16-288[grants.nih.gov]:Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp)Expiration Date: September 30, 2019

PA-16-288[grants.nih.gov].Research Supplements to Promote Re-Entry into Biomedical and Behavioral Research Careers (Admin Supp)Expiration Date: September 30, 2019

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In the Fall of 2003, the NHGRI in collaboration with U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) launched a new initiative to create interdisciplinary Centers of Excellence in ELSI Research (CEER). The CEERs are designed to bring investigators from multiple disciplines together to work in innovative ways to address important new, or particularly persistent, ethical, legal, and social issues related to advances in genetics and genomics. In addition, the centers will support the growth of the next generation of researchers on the ethical, legal and social implications of genomic research. Special efforts will be made to recruit potential researchers from under-represented groups.

NIH funds new studies on ethical, legal and social impact of genomic information NewMay 17, 2016

For more information about the CEER's program, see: Centers of Excellence in ELSI Research (CEER).

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Joy Boyer, B.A.E-mail: boyerj@exhange.nih.gov

Dave Kaufman, Ph.D.E-mail: dave.kaufman@nih.gov

Nicole Lockhart, Ph.D.E-mail: lockhani@mail.nih.gov

Jean McEwen, J.D., Ph.D.E-mail: mcewenj@mail.nih.gov

Erin CurreyE-mail:Erin.currey@nih.gov

Margaret GinozaE-mail:margaret.ginoza@nih.gov

Tasha StewartE-mail: Tasha.stewart@nih.gov

AddressThe Ethical, Legal and Social Implications Research ProgramNational Human Genome Research InstituteNational Institutes of Health5635 Fishers LaneSuite 4076, MSC 9305Bethesda, MD 20892-9305

Phone: (301) 402-4997Fax: (301) 402-1950E-mail: elsi@nhgri.nih.gov

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Last Updated: July 10, 2017

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ELSI Program - National Human Genome Research Institute

This entry was posted on August 1, 2017 at 7:49 pm and is filed under Legal Issues Genetic Medicine. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |