Research Project

Summary

While life expectancies in industrialized countries are about 80 years and rising, in some parts of the developing world, especially in sub-Saharan Africa because of HIV/AIDS, they are 40 years and falling. Inequalities in knowledge underlie these differences in health.

This project team sought to reduce these imbalances by examining the environmental, ethical, legal, and social implications of advances in biotechnology and genomics.  Its members studied ethical questions that biotechnology companies face and how they deal with them; its aim was to encourage firms to adopt suitable ethical policies.

The team led the writing of a proposal for the Canadian government to guide its strategy for development of genomics and biotechnology, which has helped shape federal policy. In addition, the team was part of the Genomics and Nanotechnology Working Group of the United Nations Science and Technology Task Force; this body’s report received distribution all over the world. The team also helped create a report that argued that the struggle against biological terrorism must not undermine the ability to apply genomics for social benefit, especially in developing countries; the recommendations of the United Nations for a counter-terrorism strategy referred to these conclusions.  The team conducted courses in five developing regions, with 232 participants from 58 countries, to help these countries formulate policies in genomics and public health.  It also produced ethical guidelines for research, development, regulation, and commercial use of nutritional genomics and transgenic food products.

Fast Facts

• Highlighted outcome: Reports and articles that address world-wide biotechnology issues.
• Number of research personnel:  12 undergraduate students, 5 graduate students, 2 post-doctoral fellows, and 19 research associates and assistants.
• Number of peer-reviewed publications:  17 plus 12 books and monographs and 5 book chapters.
• Number of public outreach events:  49 lectures, 1 public forum, and media coverage (118 items).

Notable Publications
Mackie JE, Taylor AD, Finegold DL, Daar AS, and Singer PA. 2006.  Lessons on ethical decision making from the bioscience industry. PLoS Med. 3(5):e129.

Mackie JE, Taylor AD, Daar AS, and Singer PA. 2006. Corporate social responsibility strategies aimed at the developing world: perspectives from bioscience companies in the industrialized world.  Int. J. Biotech. . 8(1/2):103-18.

Kaput J, Ordovas JM, Castle D,  et al. 2005. The case for strategic international alliances to harness nutritional genomics for public and personal health. Brit.  J.  Nutrition 94:623-32.

Castle D, Finlay K, and Clark S. 2003. Public consultation on the introduction of transgenic animals into the food system. Proc.  Fourth Cong.  Eur.  Soc.  for Agric.  and Food Ethics 51-3.

Dowdeswell E, Singer PA, and Daar AS. 2006.  Increasing human security through biotechnology. Int. J. Biotech. 8(1/2): 119–31.