What is ‘Genomic ELSI’ ?

‘ELSI(Ethical, Legal and Social Implications)’ refers to the research on ethical, legal and social implications of Biotechnology.

The development of Biotechnology has the potential to make dramatic changes in health care and human health, but there are also concerns about the adverse effects of technology such as its impact on individual autonomy , privacy and discrimination in employment, insurance. The the research on ELSI plays a role to strengthen the validity of research by forming a social consensus on the utilization of technology by anticipating the effects of these side effects or disadvantages on individuals and society and finding appropriate countermeasures.

In Korea, research on ELSI has begun in the 2000s, centering on large-scale R&D projects such as 'The Center for Functional Analysis of Human Genome'. From July 2003 to March 2006, the project conducted the 'The ELSI Project for Utilization of Human Genome Information' for the healthy utilization of human genetic information.

○ After that, Asian Institute for Bioethics and Health Law of Yonsei University conducted the 'ELSI Center (2011. 12 - 2013. 3)’ project under the 'PGM 21(The National Project for Personalized Genomic Medicine)', and ’the 1st ELSI Center (2014. 12 - 2016. 11)’ project under the ‘Multidisciplinary Post Genome Project’, and has been continuing ‘the 2nd Genomic ELSI Center (2016. 12 – 2018. 12).