ELSIhub: National Center for ELSI Resources and Analysis

NIH RePORTER · NIH · U24 · $2,158,999 · view on reporter.nih.gov ↗

Abstract

The Center for ELSI Resources and Analysis (CERA) was established in 2019 to develop a platform for dissemination, sharing, curation, and synthesis of ELSI research products (ELSIhub) and to convene a broad base of ELSI-interested communities to support the development of CERA resources. Building on over four years of experience and relationship-building with ELSI-relevant communities, and the knowledge-to-action (KTA) framework, we will develop innovative processes for content development and facilitate collaboration to enhance the dissemination, uptake, and translation of ELSI research findings. CERA is a collaboration between Stanford University, Columbia University and partners at The Hastings Center and Case Western Reserve University. CERA | ELSIhub will be guided by the principles of responsiveness, inclusion, adaptability, rigor, transparency, and open access. Our specific aims are to: Aim 1: Develop and maintain the ELSIhub platform for researchers to share and search for ELSI research products Aim 2: Curate and synthesize ELSI research Aim 3: Facilitate new collaborations and increase uptake of ELSI research Over the past four years, we have established a solid foundation for community-building and resource development, focusing on the ELSI research community. We also conducted a comprehensive accessibility assessment of ELSIhub and CERA events and implemented a plan to broaden accessibility and develop best practices for accessibility for the ELSI research community. In the next award period, CERA will expand its focus on ELSI researchers by establishing new collaborations with genome scientists, ELSI scholars and trainees in The Hastings Center Sadler Fellows Program and Summer Bioethics Program for Underrepresented Undergraduates, the Broad Institute, the SING Consortium, Black in Genetics, and other groups to promote diversity in ELSI research and ELSI-adjacent communities. We will introduce the ELSI Connect program, an online discussion board called ELSI Exchange, and ELSI Journal Clubs to encourage collaboration and resource sharing among a wide range of ELSI-interested groups and to crowdsource identification of high priority areas for CERA events and resources. We will explore innovative methods to assess the feasibility of responsible and valid AI-assisted curation and synthesis of ELSI research, using large language models trained on ELSI research products drawn from ELSIhub databases. We will also add an independent Evaluation Team to design and conduct program evaluation and analyze platform use.

Key facts

NIH application ID
10974975
Project number
2U24HG010733-06
Recipient
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
Principal Investigator
Mildred K. Cho
Activity code
U24
Funding institute
NIH
Fiscal year
2024
Award amount
$2,158,999
Award type
2
Project period
2019-08-13 → 2029-07-31