Mayo Clinic Wins Grant to Study Ethics of Sharing Genetic Test Results with Relatives

A team of researchers, Gloria Petersen, Ph.D., of Mayo Clinic, Barbara Koenig, Ph.D., of the University of California, San Francisco, and Susan Wolf, J.D., of the University of Minnesota, have received a five-year, $2.5 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to study the ethical and legal implications of providing genetic research results, such as DNA test results, from tissue donated to research bio banks to relatives of the donor.
The study will examine family preferences, produce a detailed analysis of the legal and ethical issues involved, and offer recommendations for best practices. Dr. Petersen talks about the importance of the study.