European Genetics Foundation holds open day
17 May 1999 - 17 May 1999
Italy
The European Genetics Foundation (EGF) will hold a Genetics Open Day in Sestri Levante, Italy, on 17 May 1999.
The Open Day comes a year after the approval of the European Directive on Biotechnology and the UNESCO Declaration on Human Rights and Biomedicine. The EGF and the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) have called for the event to discuss the media coverage of social, ethical and legal issues raised by the patenting of human DNA sequences in public and private research and to promote the public understanding of genetics.
The role of the media seems crucial in providing correct information for the general public on the issues raised by the growing interest of private companies in population studies and patenting of sequences of the Human Genome, according to EGF. The expansion of this new-born, very promising sector, known as pharmacogenomics, which aims to develop drugs tailored to individual genetic profiles, holds enormous potential for society and could lead to new, more efficient therapeutic tools.
At the same time, the nature of this research raises questions on the protection of genetic privacy and property of the Human Genome. A larger and informed debate, including the citizens as well as patient support-groups, specialists of different disciplines, from lawyers to journalists and scientists, seems a necessary step in the construction of a legal and ethical framework for this kind of research, suggests EGF. Participation to the meeting is free of charge.
For additional information and registration, please contact:
European Genetics Foundation
Piazza Campetto 2/8
I-16122 Genoa
Italy
Tel. +39-010-2464166; Fax +39-010-2466055
E-mail: eurgef@tin.it
URL: http://www.eurogene.org
The Open Day comes a year after the approval of the European Directive on Biotechnology and the UNESCO Declaration on Human Rights and Biomedicine. The EGF and the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) have called for the event to discuss the media coverage of social, ethical and legal issues raised by the patenting of human DNA sequences in public and private research and to promote the public understanding of genetics.
The role of the media seems crucial in providing correct information for the general public on the issues raised by the growing interest of private companies in population studies and patenting of sequences of the Human Genome, according to EGF. The expansion of this new-born, very promising sector, known as pharmacogenomics, which aims to develop drugs tailored to individual genetic profiles, holds enormous potential for society and could lead to new, more efficient therapeutic tools.
At the same time, the nature of this research raises questions on the protection of genetic privacy and property of the Human Genome. A larger and informed debate, including the citizens as well as patient support-groups, specialists of different disciplines, from lawyers to journalists and scientists, seems a necessary step in the construction of a legal and ethical framework for this kind of research, suggests EGF. Participation to the meeting is free of charge.
For additional information and registration, please contact:
European Genetics Foundation
Piazza Campetto 2/8
I-16122 Genoa
Italy
Tel. +39-010-2464166; Fax +39-010-2466055
E-mail: eurgef@tin.it
URL: http://www.eurogene.org