BRIDGE: Building Religious Insights for Developing Genomic Engagement

Significance:  Religion is an understudied and significant factor that shapes attitudes toward genomic medicine. Our project, BRIDGE: Building Religious Inclusion for Diverse Genomic Engagement, addresses critical gaps in understanding concerns among racially and ethnically heterogenous Christian populations in the US. Through a subaward from Biola University, we will build on the Healthcare, Values and Spiritual Life Research Program established at Washington University to identify facilitators and obstacles to engagement with genomics from reproduction through early childhood (GREC) among Christians in the US, considering the intersection of demographic variables and religion. The research will focus on understanding what aspects of religious faith shape attitudes toward prenatal genetic testing, IVF and genetic screening, gene editing, and stem cell research. DuBois will co-lead this research project with Biola University faculty, Drs. Eu Gene Chin and Liz Hall.

This collaborative project was funded by the National Human Genome Research Institute’s “Building Partnerships and Broadening Perspectives to Advance Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) Research (BBAER) Program.” The purpose of this program is to increase the involvement of research organizations like Biola University that are underrepresented in NHGRI’s ELSI Research Program. Building on earlier research collaborations with faculty in the Rosemead School of Psychology at Biola, The BRC’s Dr. James DuBois collaborated with the other principal investigators, Drs. Liz Hall and Eu Gene Chin, in designing the overall program. The BRIDGE program will offer Biola University the opportunity to develop its research compliance and administration infrastructure and grow its research workforce, including faculty and graduate students.

The BRIDGE research project will involve conducting theological research across Christian traditions, large-scale surveys, and qualitative interviews, considering the intersection of religion with demographic variables. BRC faculty Dr. Lauren Baker will be a co-investigator on the qualitative project while Drs. Alison Antes and Tristan McIntosh will support the development of training in the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) at Biola. Building on research findings, Dr. Bryan Sisk from the BRC and Department of Pediatrics will help Biola faculty to develop and evaluate online educational materials to assist parents and healthcare professionals as they navigate decisions about genomics from reproduction through early childhood.