Cleveland community voices project on health inequalities and translational genomics research

The relevance of genomics research for reducing health inequalities is being debated by geneticists, social scientists, policy analysts and bioethicists. Some believe that genomics can provide important clues for isolating causal factors in health disparities, while others argue that an overemphasis on genetic determinants might lead researchers to ignore important social or environmental contributions to health inequalities. Further, underserved and minority communities may be resistant to research that potentially could be used to stigmatize either their lineage or their lifestyles as unusually unhealthy or defective. However, the views of underserved communities on the implications of using genetic research to address health disparities have rarely been studied.

This presentation will discuss a recent community-based study on genomic research and health inequalities. The “Cleveland Community Voices Project” has developed multiple local and regional community partnerships to achieve its goal of better understanding the opinions of underserved African Americans, Hispanics, and Whites in Cleveland about the use of genetics to address health disparities. Preliminary data from a series of focus groups and in-depth interviews suggest an awareness of the causes of health inequalities in underserved communities and the link between family health histories and genetics. This presentation will also discuss the development of innovative approaches to disseminate study results back to community members as well as researchers and policy makers. We believe that engaging communities who are experiencing health disparities is essential when considering the potential impact of translational genomic research applications on public health.