The American Museum of Natural History in New York, in creating what it claims is the first comprehensive museum exhibit on genomics, faced unique challenges. "The Genomic Revolution," which began May 26 and runs through January 1, 2002, explores the promise and the potential ethical perils of genomics advances. The exhibit, geared to ages 9 and up, according to exhibit curator Rob DeSalle, couldn't rely on an awe-inspiring specimen like the museum's famous blue whale to capture young imaginations. Instead, it attempts to charm all ages with interactive, double-helix-adorned audio-visual displays. DeSalle says he and his colleagues tried to "layer" each display to pique everyone's interests. Much of the display deals with the bioethical implications of genetically modified foods, gene therapy, cloning, and access to personal genetics profiles. Questionnaires on computer terminals ask visitors controversial questions; one, for example, asks their opinions about gene therapy, presuming it were relatively safe and effective. Those answers are then compared with those of other museum visitors and with those of respondents to a nationwide survey. The exhibit also includes provocative sound bites from scientists and bioethicists: Harold Varmus, director of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, declares that "race is going to be exposed as not a biological concept." Craig Venter, CEO of Celera Genomics in Rockville, Md., says that "cloning is the least of our worries." Princeton University bioethicist Lee Silver comments on genetic enhancement. A hands-on laboratory within the exhibit helps groups of high-school students isolate a bit of their own DNA, specifically the gene region cytochrome B--often used in evolutionary studies--which is then compared to other mammals. The results are available online a few days later. Asked about the exhibit's departure from typical museum fare, museum staff member Jeff Rodgers, says that these days "you can't do science without genomics." He envisions a time when a "layer" of genomics information will be integrated into exhibits throughout the museum.
New Accreditation for Research
Amid growing concerns over the state of human-subject protections in clinical research trials, seven organizations recently announced the formation of the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP). Incorporated in April, and formally announced May 23, this nonprofit organization will soon begin testing a voluntary, peer-driven, educational accreditation program for any institution performing clinical research. The founding organizations are the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), Association of American Universities, Consortium of Social Science Associations, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, National Associations of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, National Health Council, and Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research. The group, created under loans guaranteed by founding members and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, as well as a gift from Burroughs Wellcome Fund, will accredit institutions using a site visit model and an educational program that encourages the institution to continuously improve human research protection programs. David Korn, senior vice president of biomedical and health sciences research at AAMC, says that the organization's primary goal is "making the safety and well-being of the subject the first and foremost concern; the entity stimulates, drives, and encourages [institutions] to make that part of their culture rather than something they have to pass when the government comes around." AAHRPP, located in Rockville, Md., should be fully operational by January 2002, a few months before the Institute of Medicine releases phase two of its report, "Preserving Public Trust: Accreditation and Human Research Participant Protection Programs." In the first phase issued in April, the IOM report called accreditation "one element of a long-term strategy," in improving protection standards. And in May, the National Bioethics Advisory Commission recommended that the federal government create an office to monitor public and private research involving human volunteers. The commission's complete report is expected to be published in late summer.
