NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – The National Human Genome Research Institute plans to engage in a one-year public outreach effort with a partner to build relationships and enhance knowledge and awareness of genetics and genomics, NHGRI said this week.
The institute is seeking a partner organization to host, plan, develop, implement, and evaluate a one-year outreach program that will involve hosting a community forum.
NHGRI has a number of goals that it wants the Community Genetics Forum partnership to pursue, including increasing understanding and interest in genetics, genomics, and the ethical, legal, and social implications of genetics research.
The effort will attempt to increase awareness of current research areas and advances, to raise awareness about the implications of genomic science for health care and society, and to increase students' awareness of these issues.
"The goal is to engage with communities, to provide them current information regarding genetics and genomic research, and to hear from them about questions or concerns they have regarding genomics research and implications for improving health," Sarah Harding, who is community outreach analyst at NHGRI, told GenomeWeb Daily News in an e-mail.
The forum is part of NHGRI's Education and Community Involvement Branch, which is "a liaison between NHGRI and community-based organizations," Harding added.
She said that NHGRI is "interested in reaching the general public" with this forum, explaining that there are other programs aimed at advocacy organizations, the medical community, public health organizations, and science education audiences.
"The goal is to engage with communities, to provide them current information regarding genetics and genomic research, and to hear from them about questions or concerns they have regarding genomics research and implications for improving health," she said.