GENETIC
Genes & Environment: New Education to Involve Communities
Gene-environment interactions are thought to play a major role in predicting risk for the development of a number of diseases. However, genetics research is almost always about groups of people, and when research creates knowledge about a group, the whole group is affected. In recognition of the potential impact of genetic science developments in the 21st century, we have formed a broad partnership of schools, unions and workers, scientists, and minority communities to develop a forum to share views on social and ethical issues related to gene-environmental research and to educate all parties on these views.
About GENETIC
GENETIC (Genes & Environment: New Education to Involve Communities) is designed to promote public understanding of the social, ethical and legal implications of research on genetic susceptibility to environmental toxicants.
In recognition of the potential impact of genetic science developments in the 21st century, we have created a broad partnership of schools, unions and workers, scientists, and minority communities to develop a forum to share views on socio-ethical issues related to gene-environmental research and to educate all parties on these views. The four communities represented in this project are environmental scientists, labor advocacy groups, environmental justice community organizers and youth educators. Each of these four partners brings a unique and valuable view to the development of outreach and educational programs around issues of gene-environmental susceptibility. The project will assess community readiness to focus on this issue, develop community-drive educational and outreach programs and develop mechanisms for ongoing dialogue as the science develops and community issues emerge. The broader view of this project is that these activities will provide an arena for these four communities to come together and share each group's perspectives of the issues of importance in areas of gene-environmental susceptibility. The stages of the design of this project start with work within each community partner and build to activities in which the communities work together to share each other's perspective on the issues of interest.
Partners
This collaboration brings together four strong partners to develop and implement the strategies of this education/outreach endeavor.
CROET at Oregon Health and Science University
Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology (CROET): CROET is a research institute dedicated to health promotion and disease prevention among the working people of Oregon and beyond. CROET brings a unique mix of basic and applied scientists who are among the leaders in neuroscience, toxicology and toxicogenomics, experts in the ethical and legal aspects of occupational and environmental health, and environmental scientists with participatory research programs focused on environmental and occupational exposures of minority populations. http://www.ohsu.edu/croet
Portland Environmental Justice Action Group (EJAG)
EJAG is a community-based, membership-driven organization founded by a group of Portland residents in 1996 to address the significant public health and environmental hazards faced by residents of northeast Portland, an urban neighborhood with many minority and economically disadvantaged residents. EJAG's emphasis on communities is exemplified by their motto, " a community that educates and speaks out for itself can best protect itself."
University of Oregon Labor Education and Research Center (LERC)
LERC was established in 1977 by the Oregon Legislature to build a bridge to the public university system for the state's working people and their unions. LERC has been the primary provider of union-based safety and health training and education in Oregon since its inception and is nationally recognized for its activities. LERC is comprised of interdisciplinary university faculty and labor stakeholders who are involved in all stages of the development of their educational programs. http://www.uoregon.edu/~lerc/
Oregon State University's Science and Math Investigative Learning Experiences Program (SMILE)
SMILE is a partnership between Oregon State University (OSU) and 13 school districts across Oregon that began in 1988. The goal of the program is to increase the number of underrepresented minority and low-income students who excel in learning science and mathematics and encourage them to pursue university degrees and science careers. SMILE brings extensive curriculum development expertise and experience in developing science programs for high school students.
Presentations
McCauley, LA, Richitelli, G, Berman F, Spencer, P. Environmental exposure and genetics: what puts people at risk? Presented at APHA Annual Meeting, November 17, 2003, San Francisco, CA.
Hecker, S, Weinstein, M, Widenor, M. Risks and promise of toxicogenomic research for workplace safety: the role of labor in shaping a future research and policy agenda. Presented at APHA Annual Meeting, November 17, 2003, San Francisco, CA.
Rischitelli, G, McCauley, L, Weinstein, M, Hecker, S, Widenor, M, Bottoms, S, Washington G, Berman F. Fostering greater understanding of toxicogenomic research: the initial results of a community outreach program. Presented at APHA Annual Meeting, November 17, 2003, San Francisco, CA.
Widenor, M and Weinstein, M. Genes and the Environment: Occupational Beryllium Exposure. Presented at Oregon Labor Safety & Health Annual Conference, November 8, 2003, Portland, OR.
Widenor, M and Weinstein, M. Genes and the Environment: Occupational Beryllium Exposure. Presented at AFL-CIO Conference, Detroit, MI, December 7-9, 2003.
Contact Information
Frederick Berman, DVM, PhD
Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology (CROET)
Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU)
181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, L606
Portland, Oregon 97239
Phone: 503.494.2383
Fax: 503.494.7397
bermanf@ohsu.edu
