The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #70739

Linda McCauley, PhD¹, Marc Weinstein, PhD², Steven Hecker, MSPH², Marcus Widenor, MA², SueAnn Bottoms, MA³, Geri Washington⁴, Jeri Sundval⁴, Gary Rischitelli, MD, MPH, JD⁵, and Frederick Berman, DVM, PhD⁵. (1) Oregon Health Sciences University, Oregon Health Science University, CROET, 3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Rd., mail code L606, Portland, OR 97239, (2) Labor Education Research Center, University of Oregon, 1289 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR OR, (3) SMILE Program, Oregon State University, 18 Gladys Valley Ctr, Corvallis, OR 97331, (4) Environmental Justice Action Group, 5825 N. Greeley Ave., Portland, OR 97217, (5) Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology, Oregon Health & Sciences University, 3181 Sam Jackson Park Rd.L606, Portland, OR 97201, 503 494 4398, rischite@ohsu.edu

The current project to map the human genome represents a revolutionary opportunity for scientists to understand how individual genetic pre-disposition interacts with environmental and workplace exposures. This new field of inquiry, toxicogenomics, presents great promise for unraveling the mysteries of why some persons are more susceptible than others to the adverse health effects of environmental exposures. While this new technology will undoubtedly become a major tool in environmental medicine, it is important to understand the public's knowledge about the promise of these scientific advances and to engage communities in discussions of the ethical and legal issues associated with this technology. In this session we will present four papers describing our efforts to work different communities under the auspices of a recently awarded National Institute of Health outreach grant. In the first paper, we will provide an overview of toxicogenomics and national initiatives in this area. In a second paper researchers will relate their experience in working with organized labor on this issue. A third paper explains efforts in working with historically discriminated populations. The final paper describes initiatives to integrate educational programs on gene-environmental susceptibility in high school education. Those attending this session will learn about the social and ethical implications of toxicogenomic research as well as the efforts to engage diverse segments of U.S. society in shaping the research agenda of the scientific community.

Learning Objectives:

• Those attending this session will learn about the social and ethical implications of toxicogenomic research as well as the efforts to engage diverse segments of U.S. society in shaping the research agenda of the scientific community.

Keywords: Environmental Health, Genetics

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.