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Thursday, April 20, 2023

1:00PM – 2:30PM

Bondurant G100

 

Event Description

Genetic and genomic information has become far more accessible, and research using human genetic data has grown exponentially over the past decade. Genetics and genomics research is now being conducted by a wide range of investigators across disciplines, who often use population descriptors inconsistently and/or inappropriately to capture the complex patterns of continuous human genetic variation.

In response to a request from the National Institutes of Health, the National Academies assembled an interdisciplinary committee of expert volunteers to conduct a study to review and assess existing methodologies, benefits, and challenges in using race, ethnicity, ancestry, and other population descriptors in genomics research. The resulting report, released on March 14, 2023, focuses on understanding the current use of population descriptors in genomics research, examining best practices for researchers, and identifying processes for adopting best practices within the biomedical and scientific communities.

Dr. Charmaine Royal, Co-Chair of the NASEM Committee on The Use of Race, Ethnicity, and Ancestry as Population Descriptors in Genomics Research, will join a panel of UNC School of Medicine faculty members to discuss this report and the impact it may have on their respective fields.

Moderator: Gail Henderson, PhD, Professor of Social Medicine and Director of the Center for Genomics and Society at UNC – Chapel Hill

Panel participants: Jonathan Berg, MD, PhD, Professor of Genetics; Greg Copenhaver, PhD, Editor-in-Chief PLOS Genetics; Daniel Matute, PhD, Professor of Biology; and Laura Raffield, PhD, Asst. Professor of Genetics

Charmaine Royal, PhD is Robert O. Keohane Professor of African & African American Studies, Biology, Global Health, and Family Medicine & Community Health at Duke University; Director, Center on Genomics, Race, Identity, Difference; and Director, Center for Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation.

 

If you have not already done so, please read the report or view the webinar prior to the panel discussion.

 

This event is hosted by: Center for Genomics and Society at UNC- Chapel Hill; UNC Program for Precision Medicine in Health Care; Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, UNC – SOM; Department of Genetics, UNC – SOM