Opening Remarks

Opening Remarks
May 15, 1998
8:45 - 10:00 AM

Introduction to the Genome Horizons Conference
Toby Citrin, JD, Project Principal Investigator

Good morning. On behalf of the University of Michigan and Michigan State University, welcome to "Genome Horizons: Public Deliberations and Policy Pathways." We acknowledge the Greenwall Foundation, the National Human Genome Research Institute - Ethical, Legal and Social Implications Program, the University of Michigan, and the Michigan State University Center for Ethics and Humanities in the Life Sciences for providing conference funding. There are actually 3 conferences happening this week: (1) Cold Spring Harbor - the scientific community is coming together to discuss the increasing flood of genetic knowledge and technology; (2) Atlanta - the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) 1st Annual Conference on Genetics and Public Health, focusing on the prevention of disease; (3) these other meetings provide the backdrop for our conference.

The Genome Horizons Conference goals are to explore:

1.	What policies should be adopted to maximize benefits and minimize harms?
2.	What domain of policy-making is appropriate to adopt policies in this area?
	•	government - through legislation and administrative actions
	•	medical organizations
	•	providers and insurers of health care services
3.	When is it appropriate for individuals and institutions to refrain from policy-making in regards to genetic and reproductive technology?
4.	By whom should policies be developed, and by what process?
5.	As the public should be more central to policy making in this area, how can we improve the process by which the public gets informed on genetic issues and the process by which public attitudes and opinions get measured?

In terms of the conference format, Dr. Leonard Fleck will be introducing today's keynote speaker, Dr. Thomas Murray. Dr. Murray's presentation will be followed by a summary of the NIH project. In the afternoon, we will divide up into break-out sessions, after which we will be able to socialize at a reception. Tomorrow we will begin with keynote speaker Daniel Yankelovich who will discuss the dialogue process. There will be a panel discussion, "Informing and Involving the Public," moderated by Linda Wertheimer, followed by luncheon roundtables at which you can talk with the project participants. Dr. Georgia Dunston will deliver the luncheon address. She will consider the promise of genetics, the potential of public engagement in policy making, and the issue of inclusion of voices too often ignored as policies get developed. My thanks to our project administrator, Tahnee Hartman, and to her staff for their hard work in getting this conference together.