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Workshop on Personal Genetic Testing

Challenges, Pitfalls and Benefits in and Beyond the Clinic

stock picture of woman in a lab testing dna

1 October 2016

Grant

Grant: Grand Challenges Small Grants
Year awarded: 2016-17
Amount awarded: £3,000

Academics 

  • Emiliano De Cristofaro, Computer Science 
  • Sahra Gibbon, Anthropology, Social & Historical Sciences

The rapid growth of personal genetic testing is driven by advancements in DNA sequencing, genotyping technologies, and greater understanding of genetics in health and ancestry. Combined with public interest and media attention, this growth presents significant opportunities and challenges. While personal genetic testing holds potential for individuals and healthcare providers, it raises concerns about data security, privacy, and the accuracy of health and ancestry interpretations. Ethical, legal, and societal implications must also be addressed. To tackle these issues, a one-day workshop was proposed to bring together researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and industry representatives. The event aimed to foster an interdisciplinary community to explore challenges and propose solutions for responsible use of test results.

Key Objectives:

  • Develop recommendations for quality standards and tools to ensure accurate interpretation.

  • Establish foundations for future interdisciplinary collaborations.

Outputs and Impacts

  • The funding financed a conference which brought together academics as well as participants from outside academia working on personalised medicine and facilitated discussions and collaborations.

  • The collaboration contributed towards a major publication in the form of a handbook that was co-edited by the co-investigator, Sahra Gibbon. The handbook can be viewed here. 

  • The conference helped develop significant future funding, such as a large Wellcome Trust investigator award in 2020 that was indirectly influenced by the themes and connections made at the 2016 conference.

 

Grand Challenge of Transformative Technology

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