Straight talk with...Joan Scott

Abstract

As advances in genetics continue to flow from the laboratory into the clinic—and, increasingly, into courts—it's crucial to parse the influence of gene-based technologies. The Genetics & Public Policy Center (GPPC) launched in 2002 to do just that. Located within the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics in Washington, DC, its staff monitors advances in human genetics, including genetic testing, and their translation into clinical medicine. The GPPC staff also advises decision-makers on developing sound policies. In September 2009, Joan Scott was named the new director of the Genetics & Public Policy Center. Scott spoke with Genevive Bjorn about the twists and turns of using information from the double helix.