S4.14 Genes for all: Making sure everyone benefits from genetics research
Hello, and welcome to Genetics Unzipped - the Genetics Society podcast, with me, Dr Kat Arney. In this episode we’re meeting some of the researchers who are working to make sure that everyone gets the benefits of genetic research - from underserved communities to entire continents.
Charles Rotimi: Powering up African genetics research
Charles Rotimi is the director of the Centre for Genomics and Global Health within the NIH National Human Genome Research Institute at Bethesda, Maryland in the US, and a distinguished NIH investigator. He’s also the founder of the African Society of Human Genetics and the driving force behind a major genomics project called Human Heredity and Health in Africa, or H3Africa, which he helped to establish ten years ago and is now wrapping up. Click here to learn more about Charles and his work.
Laura Koehly: Sharing family health histories
Dr Laura Koehly is a senior investigator at the National Human Genome Research Institute, with a special interest in helping people unlock the information hidden in their family health histories, particularly focusing on underserved and less privileged communities. I wanted to know why this information is so valuable. Click here to find out how our family histories can reveal incredibly valuable information about our health.
Sara Hull: Responsible genomics research with tribal and indigenous communities
Dr Sara Hull is a bioethicist who has worked at the National Institutes of Health for more than 20 years, helping researchers make sure their work is done ethically and doesn’t cause harm to the people involved. Click here to discover more about her interest in working with indigenous and tribal populations in the US - people with whom the scientific community doesn’t have the greatest track record.
Thanks to my guests Laura Koehly, Sara Hull and Charles Rotimi, and also thanks to Alyssa Jones at the NIH National Human Genome Research Institute for making it all happen.
That’s all for now. We’ll be back next time with a special excerpt from my new book, Rebel Cell: Cancer, evolution and the science of life, which is coming out in paperback in the UK on the 6th of August. If you didn’t buy the hardback already, now is your chance! Please do pre-order it from your favourite retailer and help give me a little bump up the charts so my mum will be proud. You can find link on the page for this podcast at GeneticsUnzipped.com or by going to RebelCellBook.com and clicking on the “Where to buy” tab.
For more information about this podcast including show notes, transcripts, links, references, music credits and everything else head over to geneticsunzipped.com You can find us on Twitter @geneticsunzip and please do take a moment to rate and review us on Apple podcasts - it really makes a difference and helps more people discover the show.
Genetics Unzipped is written and presented by me, Kat Arney. It is produced by First Create the Media for The Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies in the world dedicated to supporting and promoting the research, teaching and application of genetics. You can find out more and apply to join at genetics.org.uk. Our theme music was composed by Dan Pollard, and the logo was designed by James Mayall, and audio production was by Hannah Varrall. Thanks for listening, and until next time, goodbye.
Sound effects licensed from Epidemic Sound
Image credits:
Massai Tribe Kenya - Willy Horsch, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Charles Rotimi - Image courtesy of Charles Rotimi and the National Human Genome Research Institute
Laura Koehly - Image courtesy of Laura Koehly and the National Human Genome Research Institute
Sara Hull - Image courtesy of Sara Hull and the National Human Genome Research Institute
