Behavioral Epigenetics in Children: Exploring the Social and Ethical Implications of Translation

表观遗传学已成为科学家、医生、政策制定者和公众越来越感兴趣的领域。 表观遗传学是指在不改变DNA序列的情况下改变基因表达的分子过程， 表明，包括饮食，毒素，压力，创伤和父母照顾在内的因素可能会对 代际健康这些主张重新引起了人们对表观遗传学的关注， 对健康、疾病和个人责任的理解。这个K99/R 00奖是一个为期五年的培训， 一个研究项目，将使用定性和生物伦理学方法来解决社会和伦理问题 与儿童健康有关的表观遗传学。具体目标是：1）基于深度访谈，描述 科学研究人员概念化的表观遗传机制和这些观点的影响， 了解与儿童精神、行为和心理健康相关的遗传风险和责任， 神经发育健康; 2）进行3项基于社区的干预的民族志案例研究 表观遗传学的发现被用来改善儿童的精神，行为， 神经发育健康; 3）根据目标1和2的结果进行规范性分析， 确定表观遗传学在研究和社区环境中的社会和伦理影响。迄今为止，没有研究 系统地研究了生产，翻译， 以及与儿童健康有关的表观遗传学发现的应用。本研究将首次收集和分析 经验证据，以了解不同立场的利益相关者对这一重要问题的看法， 公共卫生问题。这些证据将用于为道德行为提供建议， 表观遗传学在研究、临床和社区环境中的翻译。候选人将获得 在遗传学和表观遗传学、生物伦理学和定量方法方面进行指导培训，以促进研究 和职业发展目标。候选人的职业目标是：1）培养高素质， 独立资助的研究计划，探索基因组科学的影响-包括 表观遗传学-对健康，疾病和责任的当代概念化; 2）生成 有助于更好地理解表观遗传学的伦理和社会影响的实证研究;以及3） 为未来与实施表观遗传和基因组研究结果有关的研究和政策提供信息， 研究、临床和社区环境中的儿童健康。在本项目的K99阶段，候选人 培训将包括课程作业，指导阅读，并指导一个完成，多学科 具有丰富经验的导师团队支持年轻的研究人员。该奖项将允许候选人 过渡到一个独立的ELSI研究人员与专业知识的影响的实证研究 基因组学和表观遗传学为我们如何概念化和理解健康，疾病和个人 责任-ELSI在更广泛的社会问题领域的研究优先事项。

Epigenetics has become an area of growing interest for scientists, physicians, policymakers, and the public. Referring to molecular processes that alter gene expression without changing DNA sequence, epigenetics suggests that factors including diet, toxins, stress, trauma, and parental care may have lasting impacts on intergenerational health. These claims have brought renewed attention to the implications of epigenetics for understandings of health, disease, and individual responsibility. This K99/R00 Award is a five-year training and research project that will use qualitative and bioethical methods to address the social and ethical implications of epigenetics related to child health. The specific aims are: 1) to describe, based on in-depth interviews, how scientific investigators conceptualize epigenetic mechanisms and the implications these views have for understandings of genetic risks and responsibilities related to children's psychiatric, behavioral, and neurodevelopmental health; 2) to conduct 3 ethnographic case studies of community-based intervention programs where epigenetic findings are used to improve children's psychiatric, behavioral, and neurodevelopmental health; and 3) to perform normative analyses, based on findings from Aims 1 and 2, to identify the social and ethical implications of epigenetics in research and community settings. To date, no study has systematically investigated the conceptualizations and processes involved in the production, translation, and application of epigenetic findings related to child health. This study will be the first to collect and analyze empirical evidence to understand the perspectives of differently positioned stakeholders on this important public health issue. This evidence will be used to inform recommendations for the ethical conduct and translation of epigenetics across research, clinical, and community settings. The candidate will receive mentored training in genetics and epigenetics, bioethics, and quantitative methods to facilitate the research and career development goals of this project. The candidate's career goals are: 1) to develop a high-quality, independently funded research program exploring the influence of the genome sciences – including epigenetics – on contemporary conceptualizations of health, disease, and responsibility; 2) to generate empirical research that aids in better understanding the ethical and social implications of epigenetics; and 3) to inform future research and policy related to the implementation of epigenetic and genomic findings related to child health in research, clinical, and community settings. During the K99 phase of this project, the candidate's training will include coursework, directed readings, and the guidance of an accomplished, multidisciplinary mentor team with extensive experience supporting young investigators. This Award will allow the candidate to transition into an independent ELSI researcher with expertise in the empirical study of the implications of genomics and epigenetics for how we conceptualize and understand health, disease, and individual responsibility–an ELSI research priority in the area of Broader Societal Issues.