Indigenous DNA and Data: Community Approaches to Equity in Genomics and Health

Indigenous people still constitute <1% of participants in precision and genomic medicine research despite endeavors to increase inclusivity. Past ethical issues related to Indigenous genomics have not been adequately reconciled and are now being repeated in the new era of Big Data. Concerns persist about the collectivization of Indigenous data into open-access databases that circumvent tribal research oversight, the underestimation of socioeconomic and cultural factors contributing to health disparities, and continued biocommercial exploitation of Indigenous biomarkers.

Dr. Tsosie will describe community-engaged research and describe paths forward that center Indigenous people as the agents of access for their own genomic and health data. The future of Indigenous genomics is not mere inclusion but through recognition of Indigenous genomic and data sovereignty.