Advocacy

ASHG supports policies that enable a productive and safe working environment for all scientific professionals. The Society is committed to promoting a harassment-free workplace for geneticists, and believes that science can only achieve its goals when we are able to fully engage the minds, talent, and perspectives of all who wish to participate. Related: Letter... Read More

Protections against genetic discrimination advance genetics research and the clinical use of genetics, as well as ensure the ethical use of genetic data. Ten years after the passage of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), ASHG remains a staunch advocate for GINA’s strong implementation and for other laws that enhance protections for the public. Related:... Read More

ASHG denounces the misuse of genetics to feed racist ideologies, and affirms that the research community should be clear about genetic knowledge related to ancestry and genomic diversity. Any attempt to use genetics to rank populations demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of genetics. Related: AJHG Perspective: ASHG Denounces Attempts to Link Genetics and Racial Supremacy (November... Read More

In 2018, a legislative amendment was proposed that would protect the genetic privacy of immigrant families by restricting the use of their genetic material and data to helping reunify family members. The amendment would require that government officials restrict their use of DNA analysis to when it is truly needed and ensure that biological samples... Read More