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Genetics

Recent breakthroughs in genetics have the potential to significantly improve health outcomes. RAND research examines the impact of genetics on personal and public health, disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Journal Article
Influence of SNP*SNP Interaction on BMI in European American Adolescents: Findings from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health
Our results are suggestive of epistatic effects on BMI during adolescence and point to potentially interactive effects between genes in biological pathways important in obesity.
Nov 9, 2023
Journal Article
Playing God? Media Coverage of CRISPR in the United States
Review of online and television news sources in the United States determined that coverage of CRISPR remained ambiguous and infrequent, indicating media have not established the salience of CRISPR to a degree that engages the public or policymakers.
Nov 8, 2023
Journal Article
Examining the Cross-sectional Association Between Neighborhood Conditions, Discrimination, and Telomere Length in a Predominantly African American Sample
Disproportionate exposure to adverse neighborhood conditions and greater discrimination may contribute to health disparities among African Americans.
Jan 10, 2023
Research Brief
Assessing the potential impact of developments in genetic testing on the British insurance industry
Predictive genetic testing provides individuals with information about their future risk of developing health conditions. Determining whether a genetic test could affect the insurance industry is complex and needs to be evaluated on a per-test basis.
Apr 8, 2022
News Release
COG-UK Consortium's Pathogen Genomics Expertise Played Important Role in UK Response to COVID-19; Valuable Contribution to Public Health Genomics Should Not Be Lost
The COVID-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK) Consortium's efforts to sequence and understand the diverse variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, have been key to informing public health decisionmaking and efforts to control its spread.
Feb 15, 2022
Report
COVID-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK) Consortium: Final Report
RAND Europe evaluated how the COVID-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK) Consortium contributed to the pandemic response in the United Kingdom and examined the role of pathogen genomics research and sequencing networks in pandemic response.
Feb 15, 2022
Journal Article
Demonstrating Trustworthiness When Collecting and Sharing Genomic Data: Views Across 22 Countries
We examine how participants from 22 countries perceived the relative value of measures to demonstrate the trustworthiness of those using donated DNA and/or medical information.
Feb 10, 2022
Journal Article
Members of the Public in the USA, UK, Canada and Australia Expressing Genetic Exceptionalism Say They Are More Willing to Donate Genomic Data
This paper examines how acceptance of data sharing pertains to the perceived similarities and differences between DNA and other forms of personal data.
Feb 10, 2022
Journal Article
Return of Genomic Results Does Not Motivate Intent to Participate in Research for All: Perspectives Across 22 Countries
The aim of this study was to determine how attitudes toward the return of genomic research results vary internationally.
Feb 8, 2022
Report
Assessing the impact of developments in genetic testing on insurers' risk exposure
Predictive genetic testing provides individuals with information about their future risk of developing health conditions. Determining whether a genetic test could affect the insurance industry is complex and needs to be evaluated on a per-test basis.
Feb 3, 2022
Report
Technological Approaches to Human Performance Enhancement
Human performance enhancement (HPE) will have implications for military and intelligence operations. A variety of HPE could be of potential military and intelligence operational value. What are some approaches to HPE?
Nov 23, 2021
Commentary
Commercialisation and Open Science Do Not Have to Be Uneasy Bedfellows
On the surface, tension exists between commercialization and open science approaches to research. But the two approaches are not irreconcilable—they can exist in harmony and complement one another to generate greater impact from investments in research and innovation.
Aug 6, 2021
Journal Article
B-cell Lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Treatment: How Do Participants of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) Therapy Research Studies Compare With Patients in the US Population?
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T-cell therapy appears to be a promising treatment for B-cell and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. CAR-T therapy effectiveness in the general population of patients may differ from effectiveness demonstrated in trials.
Jun 17, 2021
Journal Article
An Evidence Map of Randomised Controlled Trials Evaluating Genetic Therapies
This evidence map provides a broad overview of the genetic therapies that have been evaluated in randomised controlled trials for efficacy and safety.
Mar 12, 2021
Report
What Is the Value of Invention?
Inventions help people around the world live longer, healthier, and more-productive lives. The inventions of Lemelson-MIT Prize winners illustrate the scientific, technological, economic, and social effects that inventions can have on society.
Feb 11, 2021
Report
Wellcome Sanger Institute and Wellcome Genome Campus Landscape Review
RAND Europe was commissioned by Wellcome to analyse the role and contribution of the Sanger Institute and the Wellcome Genome Campus within the field of genetics and genomics, set within the context of four comparator organisations.
Jan 19, 2021
Journal Article
Global Public Perceptions of Genomic Data Sharing: What Shapes the Willingness to Donate DNA and Health Data?
Analyzing genomic data across populations is central to understanding the role of genetic factors in health and disease. This paper presents results from a very large public survey on attitudes toward genomic data sharing.
Sep 22, 2020
Journal Article
Trust in Genomic Data Sharing Among Members of the General Public in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia
Trust may be important in shaping public attitudes to genetics and intentions to participate in genomics research and big data initiatives. This study examined trust in data sharing among the general public in the USA, Canada, UK and Australia.
Oct 10, 2019
Tool
Forensic DNA Surveillance Tool
This tool shows criminal justice policymakers how state policies affect the size and racial composition of forensic DNA databases. Users can view current state policies or change inputs and assumptions to see how database composition is impacted.
Aug 12, 2019
Report
Forensic Familial and Moderate Stringency DNA Searches: Policies and Practices in the United States, England, and Wales
Forensic DNA databases help solve crimes. When an exact DNA match is not found, familial DNA and moderate stringency search may provide investigative leads. Evidence-based practices can guide policymakers on the use and effectiveness of this method.
Aug 12, 2019

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Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Andrea Richardson

Policy Researcher

Andrea Richardson is a senior policy researcher at the RAND Corporation and a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. Her research focus is nutrition epidemiology and encompasses the social and biological risk factors that underlie obesity throughout the life course. Through her work in…
Sana Zakaria

Research Leader

Sana Zakaria (she/her) is a research leader at the RAND Corporation. Working in science and emerging technology at RAND Europe, her research interests and experience span the fields of Research and Development ecosystem and Emerging biotechnologies converging with other sectors like machine…

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