# The Stanford Training Program in ELSI Research

> **NIH NIH T32** · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · 2023 · $179,052

## Abstract

In 2016, we established a T32 research training program at Stanford University to create independent ELSI
scholars who can conduct rigorous research on ethical, legal, social or policy implications of genetics and
genomics (ELSI). This program built on 10 years of experience in training ELSI researchers. With support of
the T32 award, we have appointed 7 postdoctoral scholars into the program, all women, one Latina and one
African-American. The goal of this renewal is to train 7 more postdoctoral fellows and to continue our
successful contribution to the diversity and excellence of the ELSI research communities.
Program: Multi- and interdisciplinary three-year postdoctoral training. A total of seven postdoctoral predoctoral
fellows will have completed their training over the five-year award period.
Trainees: PhDs and PhD candidates recruited from diverse backgrounds, including genetics, biological
sciences and engineering, medicine, computer and information sciences, philosophy, health services research,
anthropology, and other social sciences.
Mentors: Multiple mentorship model, tailored to individual trainee needs and interests. Trainees are assigned
a primary mentor responsible for overall development of the trainee’s plans, and secondary mentors assigned
based on specific career, research methods, and topic area needs.
Program Co-Directors: Mildred Cho, PhD, the current director of the research training program, will be joined
by Holly Tabor, PhD as a Co-Director, bringing her experience in ELSI research and training.
Program Faculty: 14 Program Faculty from 9 primary departments and centers, representing Schools of
Medicine, Humanities and Sciences, Law, and Engineering who conduct ELSI-relevant research. Core Faculty
members Holly Tabor, PhD David Magnus, PhD, Hank Greely, JD and Kelly Ormond, MS are experienced
mentors in the program. Four new faculty were added, broadening the range of opportunities for ELSI
research projects and methodological approaches for fellows.
Education Program: Individualized training program for each trainee that includes core courses in bioethics,
and human genetics, elective courses, and program-specific ELSI seminars, providing rich interdisciplinary
interaction with faculty and trainees from this program and from other training programs. Career development
opportunities include participation, research ethics and clinical ethics consultation, an award-winning grant
writing academy and the opportunity to obtain a teaching certificate through Stanford University.
Research Program: Mentored research by trainees will bring together faculty from diverse disciplines to
identify and address important and novel ELSI issues through empirical or normative research. Trainees have
numerous opportunities to conduct research as part of ongoing ELSI projects as well as to develop new ideas,
and to present their research at professional meetings and publish in peer-reviewed journals.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10665572
- **Project number:** 5T32HG008953-08
- **Recipient organization:** STANFORD UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Mildred K. Cho
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $179,052
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-07-01 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10665572

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10665572, The Stanford Training Program in ELSI Research (5T32HG008953-08). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10665572. Licensed CC0.

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