The Human Genome Project: Science, Law, And Social Change In The 21st Century

On April 23 and 24, 1998, more than 300 physicians, nurses, lawyers, scientists, ethicists, consumers, and journalists will gather in Cambridge, Mass., for a conference on the medical, legal, and social impact of new genetic technologies. The conference is sponsored by the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, the American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics, and the George Washington University Medical Center.

Thirty-five speakers from a variety of disciplines will explore topics such as:

Impact of new genetic technologies on cancer therapy and other fields in medicine
Genetics and drug development—new corporate interest in patient records
Widespread use of DNA data banks in forensic science
Likelihood of a universal DNA data bank in the United States
Impact of genetic tests on insurance coverage
Adverse selection and the future of the insurance industry
Limits of state-mandated genetic screening
Changing the human gene pool—Can we? Should we?

Among the speakers are genomics pioneer Dr. Eric S. Lander; gene therapy researcher Dr. James M. Wilson; scientist and patient advocate Dr. Nancy Wexler; attorneys Barry Scheck and George Annas; Commissioner Howard Koh of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health; and Commissioner Paul S. Miller of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

For press registration, call Gus Cervini at 617/258-0633, or e-mail cervini@wi.mit.edu.

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