Genetics and Public Policy Center

The Center works to help policy leaders, decision makers, and the public better understand the rapidly evolving field of human genetics and its application to healthcare. Studying the human genome will lead to a clearer picture of the role of genetics in health and disease, which in turn will help drive the development of new diagnostic tools and treatments. But the same technologies raise a host of ethical, legal and social concerns. To inform genetic policy decisions, the Center surveys public attitudes about genetics issues, conducts analyses of the existing regulatory landscape, monitors the transition of genetic applications into clinical practice, and posits options and likely outcomes of key genetics policies.