Forum to explore genetic testing

The numerous ethical dilemmas posed by the emergence of new abilities to conduct genetic tests for disease and predisposition to disease will be the focus of the Third Annual International Bioethics Forum on Thursday and Friday, April 22-23.

The forum — titled “Who Knows? Who Should Know? Welcome to the World of Genetic Testing!” — will be held at Promega Corp.’s BioPharmaceutical Technology Center, 5445 E. Cheryl Parkway, off of South Fish Hatchery Road in Fitchburg.

The Biotechnology Center, the Center for Biology Education and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation are sponsors.

Moderated by Todd McVey of HospiceCare Inc., the event will facilitate participants’ understanding of how genes are identified and analyzed; how genes are associated with human health conditions; ethical issues related to genetic testing, and the diversity of viewpoints regarding these issues; and the complexities involved in understanding both the scientific and social dimensions of genetic testing.

Keynote speakers include R. Alta Charo, professor of law and bioethics, UW–Madison; Henry T. Greely, professor of law, Stanford University, and co-director of the Stanford Program on Genetics, Ethics and Society; Jeffrey P. Kahn, director of the Center for Bioethics and chair of Bioethics, University of Minnesota; Barbara A. Koenig, professor, School of Medicine, Stanford University; and Robyn S. Shapiro, director of the Center for the Study of Bioethics and professor of bioethics, Medical College of Wisconsin.

In addition to keynote presentations, concurrent sessions to be offered include: “The Right Not to Know”; “Stem Cells and Genes: What’s the Connection?”; “Diagnosis and Treatment of Genetic Diseases”; “Genetic Counselors: Our Purpose and How We Work”; “Finding a Gene: Current Technologies”; and “Genetic Enhancement: Where Do We Draw the Line Between Treatment and Enhancement?”

Charo, Greely and Kahn will participate in a free, public panel discussion of the forum’s theme from 7-8:30 p.m., Thursday, April 22, in the auditorium of the UW–Madison Genetics-Biotechnology Center.

The registration fee is $65. Information: http://www.btci.org, 273-9737.