The NHGRI is dedicated to public engagement. In this spirit, the NHGRI supports the broader public engagement mission of the NIH, which seeks to encourage public dialogues around how NIH-sponsored research affects public health. In 2003, the Education and Community Involvement Branch (ECIB) of the NHGRI was created to develop and implement models of community engagement with a focus on genetics and genomics.
Through the ECIB, the NHGRI seeks to create models of community engagement that can strengthen relationships between the Institute and community-based organizations, and also to create bi-directional avenues of information between the two. The following are activities serving this purpose:
The Partnership for Community Outreach and Engagement in Genomics brings together community liaisons and health advocates representing diverse populations to engage communities around genomic science, to inform and share perspectives about genomic research, and to impact the focus of research.
The Community Genetics Forum engaged diverse communities around issues related to genetics.
These projects created model education programs and supportive materials to educate and engage communities about the use of Family History in health care.
Last Updated: February 8, 2016