Engaging with policymakers on genetics is crucial. Genetic technologies hold immense potential for healthcare, agriculture, law enforcement, and the environment. However, they also raise ethical concerns and complex social issues. By engaging with policymakers on these scientific developments and their implications, scientists and the public can work together to ensure responsible development and fair access while navigating the ethical dilemmas head-on. This collaborative approach is essential for shaping policy that fosters the benefits of genetic technologies while mitigating potential risks.
PGED has engaged with policymakers at all levels, from law students to local politicians, and has organized Congressional briefings on Capitol Hill.
Congressional Briefings
Over the years, PGED has organized several “lunch-and-learn” briefings on Capitol Hill, hosted by Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Congressman Bill Foster. The goal of the briefings is to engage with policymakers on the rapidly developing field of personal genetics and the importance of education and dialogue.
Attendees from both sides of the aisle have packed the room for our briefings to discuss scientific and societal issues related to the use of emerging genetic technologies. Topics have included precision medicine, gene editing, ancestry, Ebola, microbial genomics, forensics, non-invasive prenatal testing, space genetics, and DNA nanotechnology. Through an informational approach, the briefings foster discourse between policymakers and the genomics community, rather than advocacy for a particular position or policy.