Grant given to educate public about genetic testing, counseling
The Jewish Healthcare Foundation has awarded a $100,000 grant to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) to increase public awareness about genetic testing, counseling and services.
UPMC will use the funds to develop educational materials related to hereditary diseases and stimulate discussion on the need for policies to safeguard individuals from misuse of genetic information.
Funds also will be used to foster conversation on how a community responds to technological advances that are occurring more quickly than changes in policy and care practices.
"This grant will help provide an integrated approach to addressing the medical and social dimensions of this rapidly evolving specialty," Senior Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences Thomas Detre said.
The grant also will be used to support educational programs for health care professionals and policy makers at the state and local levels, and to work with other biogenetics centers and the National Institutes of Health on ethical, social and legal implications of genome research.
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