The NHGRI Centers of Excellence in Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) Research (CEER) Program started in 2004 and has funded investigators from a wide range of disciplines. After 20 years, the CEER program is set to sunset to make way for new types of sponsored research.
One goal of this meeting is to reflect on some of the CEER Program’s broad accomplishments. Looking back, we will examine the roles that CEERs and ELSI have played informing field of genomics and addressing some of its challenges. Looking ahead, attendees will also explore how emerging fields outside genomics might consider incorporating ELSI research and ELSI Centers, and how funders and ELSI scholars can continue to foster the team-oriented, interdisciplinary, and educational spirit of the CEER program.
This meeting will incorporate presentations, panels, and discussions on a variety of noteworthy topics detailed in the linked agenda. This will include, but will certainly not be limited to exploring 1) how to train (and cross-train) students to conduct impactful ELSI research, 2) how to develop research projects around quickly evolving societal issues with public policy implications, 3) the role of humanities, social sciences, computational sciences, and the law in ELSI and genetics, and 4) discussions on how other fields, such as neuroscience and artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) can learn from the experiences of genetics and ELSI.
A small in-person meeting hosted by the Vanderbilt CEER Staff is taking place on May 1 and 2, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. Although the in-person meeting is limited to NHGRI staff and a small number of investigators from current and former CEER sites, those not attending in person are welcome to register online here for a Zoom link to join the meeting. Virtual participants will be able to listen to the sessions and engage through the chat. The meeting runs from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Central time on Wednesday May 1, and 8:30 AM to noon on Thursday, May 2. We hope that you can join us.
The agenda is online.