Genomics in research and health care with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Genomics is increasingly becoming an integral component of health research and clinical care. The perceived difficulties associated with genetic research involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people mean that they have largely been excluded as research participants. This limits the applicability of research findings for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients. Emergent use of genomic technologies and personalised medicine therefore risk contributing to an increase in existing health disparities unless urgent action is taken. To allow the potential benefits of genomics to be more equitably distributed, and minimise potential harms, we recommend five actions: (1) ensure diversity of participants by implementing appropriate protocols at the study design stage; (2) target diseases that disproportionately affect disadvantaged groups; (3) prioritise capacity building to promote Indigenous leadership across research professions; (4) develop resources for consenting patients or participants from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds; and (5) integrate awareness of issues relating to Indigenous people into the governance structures, formal reviews, data collection protocols and analytical pipelines of health services and research projects.
Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia. Rebekah.McWhirter@utas.edu.au.|Faculty of Law, Centre for Law and Genetics, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia. Rebekah.McWhirter@utas.edu.au.
Rebekah
R
McWhirter
Faculty of Law, Centre for Law and Genetics, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.
Dianne
D
Nicol
Faculty of Philosophy, Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Julian
J
Savulescu
D001315:Australia; D044383:Black People / Q000235:genetics*; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D032984:Ethics, Research; D036281:Genetic Research; D006801:Humans; D008542:Melanesia; D056186:Metagenomics / Q000941:ethics*; D044382:Population Groups / Q000235:genetics*; D057285:Precision Medicine
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; Genetic research; Genomics; Indigenous health; Personalised medicine