# Penn Postdoctoral Training Program in the Ethical, Legal and Social Implications of Genetics and Genomics

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2024 · $433,850

## Abstract

Rapid advances in genomic technologies are transforming our understandings of both human
health and human history. These technologies also promise unprecedented power to intervene
on the bodies of individuals with or at risk of disease and even to alter the identities or futures of
individuals not yet born. Such knowledge and power imply immense responsibility to use them
in ways that promote core ethical values, including individual and collective welfare, social
justice, protection of the vulnerable, and respect for both the autonomy of persons and the
interests of communities. Fulfilling these responsibilities requires a diverse, highly trained cadre
of interdisciplinary scholars prepared to engage critically and respectfully with the profound
ethical, legal and social challenges raised by genomic technologies. Responding to this need,
the fundamental goal of the Penn Postdoctoral Training Program in the Ethical, Legal and Social
Implications (ELSI) of Genetics and Genomics is to prepare trainees for success as creative,
independent investigators in the field of ELSI research. The program, housed within the
Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy at the Perelman School of Medicine, will
achieve this goal through three core components: 1) mentored original research leading to high-
impact empirical and conceptual scholarly publications; 2) individualized didactic training
including, when appropriate, a Master of Science in Medical Ethics degree; and 3) intensive
career development preparation. Trainees will participate as fellows for three years. An
outstanding program faculty, consisting of 13 experienced ELSI scholars and mentors with
appointments in departments at the Perelman School of Medicine, the School of Arts and
Sciences, and the Penn Carey Law School, will serve as preceptors to program trainees.
Trainees will present at and participate in the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy’s
monthly works-in-progress and seminar series, attend a wide range of seminars and
conferences across the University focused on genetic medicine and science as well as on
ethics, law, economics and health policy, and present at national meetings. Trainees will also
gain exposure to genetic medicine through shadowing expert geneticists and counselors drawn
from the full spectrum of adult, pediatric and reproductive genetics practice. Finally, trainees will
serve as members of one of the UPenn institutional review boards (IRBs) that review ELSI-
related research. The program will ensure the fullest possible range of discipline and
background among enrolled trainees by extensive targeted outreach to diverse and
underrepresented academic communities.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10868448
- **Project number:** 5T32HG009496-08
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Steven Joffe
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $433,850
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-06-07 → 2027-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10868448

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10868448, Penn Postdoctoral Training Program in the Ethical, Legal and Social Implications of Genetics and Genomics (5T32HG009496-08). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10868448. Licensed CC0.

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