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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