Justice & Genomics
In their 2020 Strategic Vision, the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) highlights a number of fundamental principles and values that they believe should guide genomics research as it expands. We affirm these principles, including committing to the systematic inclusion of ancestrally diverse individuals in genomic studies, maximizing the usability of genomics for all members of the public, championing a diverse genomics workforce, embracing the highly interdisciplinary nature of genomics, and pursuing advances in genomics as part of a vibrant global community. Many of our current projects and goals reflect our commitment to these principles.
The Human Pangenome Project
The goal of the Human Pangenome Project is to create a more diverse and inclusive human genome reference that incorporates the genetic material of people from diverse ancestries. Its completion will be essential to the future of precision medicine to ensure that all people, regardless of ancestry, are able to benefit from the promise of genomic medicine. This project seeks to engage underrepresented groups and hosts a fully integrated team of Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) scholars to work on issues such as consent, data release, and resource equity.
Diversifying the Genomic Workforce
The entire field of genomics benefits when our scientists and engineers come from a diverse set of backgrounds. We have several mentorship, training, and educational programs to lower the barriers of STEM fields to students from underrepresented backgrounds, including two immersive research internship programs, several bioinformatics and coding short courses and internships, and a lab specifically devoted to creating scalable educational technologies for bringing hands-on lab experiments to classrooms around the world. Learn about our programs and initiatives.
Ensuring Access to Data
The Genomics Institute was founded on the idea that our genetic code should be open to everyone. Our UCSC Genome Browser was the first resource to distribute the initial fruits of the Human Genome Project. Over the past two decades, we have continually innovated browsers and tools to allow the public to explore human, animal, plant, and virus genomes. Explore our tools. Explore our browsers.
DEI Committee
Our Genomics Institute Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee is devoted to critically assessing the practices, research ethics, and culture of the Genomics Institute to minimize bias and foster the creation of a more diverse and inclusive organization. The committee is also responsible for planning programming related to justice in STEM, including an annual half-day symposium. More about our committee.
Bioethics Speaker Series
For the past two years, UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute Director of Human Pangenomics Karen Miga has invited a series of exciting bioethics speakers to campus as part of her BME 80G Bioethics course. Speakers focus on different ethical issues and challenges that arise from advances in technology and medicine, and how we can work toward a vision of genomics that is truly for everyone. The current schedule can be found here. Co-sponsored by the Science and Justice Research Center and the Genomics Institute.