Nutrigenomics: Research projects
A Foundation for Evidence-Based Management of Nutrigenomics Expectations and ELSIs
With the introduction of genomic technologies and their application to nutritional sciences, the field of nutrigenomics is rapidly coming of age. Nutrigenomics allows the study of ‘variability questions’ in host-diet interactions and attendant contribution of genetic factors. Nutrigenomics information may be relevant for patients but also for healthy populations. However, this public health focus of nutrigenomics research, and day-to-day importance of food in people’s lives, may raise hitherto unexpected ethical-legal-social issues (ELSIs). Clinical and public health expectations on nutrigenomics are slowly developing which can exceed the threshold for biohype if not approached by the scientific community in an evidence-based manner.
For nutrigenomics research to maintain its present pace and momentum, investigators cannot neglect the significance of socio-ethical factors in the uptake of innovation and adoption of new health technologies in the clinic. Although there have been discussions about the future potential of applied nutrigenomics research and clinical services, little attention has been given to the specific ELSIs... Read more
With the introduction of genomic technologies and their application to nutritional sciences, the field of nutrigenomics is rapidly coming of age. Nutrigenomics allows the study of ‘variability questions’ in host-diet interactions and attendant contribution of genetic factors. Nutrigenomics information may be relevant for patients but also for healthy populations. However, this public health focus of nutrigenomics research, and day-to-day importance of food in people’s lives, may raise hitherto unexpected ethical-legal-social issues (ELSIs). Clinical and public health expectations on nutrigenomics are slowly developing which can exceed the threshold for biohype if not approached by the scientific community in an evidence-based manner.
For nutrigenomics research to maintain its present pace and momentum, investigators cannot neglect the significance of socio-ethical factors in the uptake of innovation and adoption of new health technologies in the clinic. Although there have been discussions about the future potential of applied nutrigenomics research and clinical services, little attention has been given to the specific ELSIs related to nutrigenomics research. We suggest that clinical and public health expectations for nutrigenomics can significantly interact with applied biomedical research in ways that were not anticipated previously. In this context, there is much to be learned from the evolution of the field of ‘omics’ technologies and the ways in which this understanding may benefit successful transition of nutrigenomics from an exploratory technology to the clinic. In addition, we suggest that ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to ELSIs research on genomics technologies needs further customization by taking into account the socio-technical nuances of their application in diet-genome interactions.
Our goal is to lay an empirical foundation that can both discern and anticipate the socio-ethical issues associated with nutrigenomics research and its applications in an evidence-based manner. An empirical foundation discerning and anticipating nutrigenomics ELSIs will have broad implications for equitable adoption of genomics technologies in nutritional sciences and public health as well as future development of nutrigenomics tests and clinical services.
Close
Publications
Hurlimann, T., Stenne, R., Menuz, V. and Godard, B. (2011) "Inclusion and exclusion in nutrigenetics research: ethical & scientific challenges" Journal of Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics 4(6): 322-43
Godard, B., Hurlimann, T. (2009) "Nutrigenomics for Global Health: Ethical Challenges for Underserved Populations" Current Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicine 7(3): 205-14.
Hurlimann, T. (2009) "Les promesses de la nutrigénomique pour les pays en voie de développement: au-delà de l’exploitation commerciale et du battage médiatique" Online
Date: From 2008 - ongoing
Research Team : Béatrice Godard, Thierry Hurlimann, Vincent Menuz, Julie Robitaille, Raphaëlle Stenne, Marie-Claude Vohl
Funding: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Contact:
Béatrice Godard
Aligning Socio-Ethical Studies with '-Omics' Technology Applications: From Discovery Research to Personalized Health Interventions
Following the completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003, the availability of high throughput -omics technologies led to the emergence of the concept of 'personalized health interventions'. Among the most prominent -omics technologies that enable personalized health interventions is nutrigenomics, that aims to individualize nutrition based on individual genetic makeup. While nutrigenomics is expected to be implemented in personalized health interventions, there has yet to be produced a comprehensive inventory of associated ethical-legal-social issues (ELSIs). Nor has ethics research on personalized health interventions sufficiently taking into account the unique ELSIs introduced by different -omics technologies (such as nutrigenomics) and the bioscience application context. Nutrigenomics tests for routine clinical use are at an early stage of development while there are intensive nutrigenomics bioscience efforts in both preclinical and clinical research domains. Nutrigenomics has broad public health significance since it focuses on both patients and healthy populations as well as the discernment of nuanced differences in pre-disease states in... Read more
Following the completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003, the availability of high throughput -omics technologies led to the emergence of the concept of 'personalized health interventions'. Among the most prominent -omics technologies that enable personalized health interventions is nutrigenomics, that aims to individualize nutrition based on individual genetic makeup. While nutrigenomics is expected to be implemented in personalized health interventions, there has yet to be produced a comprehensive inventory of associated ethical-legal-social issues (ELSIs). Nor has ethics research on personalized health interventions sufficiently taking into account the unique ELSIs introduced by different -omics technologies (such as nutrigenomics) and the bioscience application context. Nutrigenomics tests for routine clinical use are at an early stage of development while there are intensive nutrigenomics bioscience efforts in both preclinical and clinical research domains. Nutrigenomics has broad public health significance since it focuses on both patients and healthy populations as well as the discernment of nuanced differences in pre-disease states in presently healthy individuals. The strong public health and preventive medicine focus of nutrigenomics research as well as the day-to-day importance of food in peoples’ lives may raise previously unexpected ELSIs. Together with a lack of clear regulatory guidelines, societal expectations towards nutrigenomics are growing rapidly, and in the absence of an evidence-based approach, could exceed the threshold for biohype.
Our goal is to study both technology-specific ELSIs but also the broader range of ethical issues relevant to personalizedhealth interventions, spanning from clinical discoveries/innovation to publication/translation of clinical -omics research data. Such ELSI research that parallels bioscience research is crucial because it can influence and positively shape the development of personalized health interventions and help avoid predictable pitfalls, thus ensuring an effective and ethical application of nutrigenomics in the laboratory, at the clinic and in the evidence-based development of science policy. Our research program, by bringing together scientists with complementary and synergistic expertise, also aims to lay a much-needed foundation, one that is necessary to reach a critical mass of committed, interdisciplinary scientists engaged specifically in ELSI research on –omics technologies and, more broadly, in personalized health interventions in Quebec.
Close
Publications
Hurlimann, T., Stenne, R., Menuz, V. and Godard, B. (2011) "Inclusion and exclusion in nutrigenetics research: ethical & scientific challenges" Journal of Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics 4(6): 322-43
Godard, B., Hurlimann, T. (2009) "Nutrigenomics for Global Health: Ethical Challenges for Underserved Populations" Current Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicine 7(3): 205-14.
Hurlimann, T. (2009) "Les promesses de la nutrigénomique pour les pays en voie de développement: au-delà de l’exploitation commerciale et du battage médiatique" Online
Date: From 2008 - ongoing
Research Team : Béatrice Godard, Thierry Hurlimann, Vincent Menuz, Julie Robitaille, Raphaëlle Stenne
Funding: Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec (FRSQ)
Contact:
Béatrice Godard
