October 21, 2010
City Club asks, Do you know where your DNA is?
City Club of Seattle is hosting a conversation, “Do you know where your DNA is?” as part of its ongoing Health Care Series. The luncheon and panel discussion will begin at 12:15 p.m. Monday, Oct. 25, in the Third Floor Conference Room, Rainier Square, 1333 Fifth Avenue, Seattle. Doors open for registration at 11:30 a.m.
Panelists will give an overview of the scientific, legal and ethical aspects of collecting biological information and personal health data in large biorepositories, and invite questions and comments from the audience. The panelists are:
Kelly Edwards, UW associate professor of bioethics and humanities
Donna Russell, director of research development, Global Alliance to Prevent Premature and Stillbirth (GAPPS), Seattle Children’s
Shannon Sewards, assistant director for operations, UW Human Subjects Division.
Gretchen Sorensen, principal, Sorenson Ideas, will moderate.
The event will explore the validity of claims that the collection and management of samples and data from patients and research volunteers stand to benefit large scale medical research and lead to breakthroughs in medicine. At the same time, collecting large banks of personal information raises questions among scientists and the public alike: How are biorepositories best governed? Can people trust that their specimens and health information are secure? What are the minimal standards of donor consent allowing researchers to work with specimens and information? What other ethical ethical and legal issues are there to think about? To what extent is the promise of medical repositories real?
Attendees are invited to bring their own questions and join City Club and the co-presenting organizations in diving into these complex and timely issues.
Tickets for the buffet luncheon are $20 for City Club members, $25 for guests and co-presenters, and $30 for the general public. Coffee and dessert are $12 for City Club members, $15 for guests and co-presenters, and $18 for the general public. Register online or call 206-682-7395.
The program co-presenting organizations are: Northwest Association for Biomedical Research, Northwest Association of Science Writers, Puget Sound Health Alliance, Washington Global Health Alliance, Washington Health Foundation and Washington State Hospital Association.
Community Matters Campaign co-presenting organizations are: American Society for Public Administration – Evergreen Chapter, EA alliance of nonprofits, Executive Service Corps, King County Democratic Party, Leadership Tomorrow, Municipal League of King County, Seattle Housing Authority, Seattle Works, Washington State Arts Alliance and Washington Women’s Foundation.
UW Medicine is a presenting sponsor of the Health Care Series, Boeing is the Community Matters Campaign series sponsor, and KUOW 94.9 is the campaign series media sponsor.
The event chair is Jan Wroblewski.
City Club is a civic engagement organization that informs, connects and engages citizens to evaluate complex issues, make sound judgments, and contribute to solutions that address issues vital to our region. Each year City Club presents 35 to 40 public affairs programs featuring almost 100 leaders and newsmakers from around the region and across the nation.
