Molecular
A state of the field: molecular epidemiology and bioethics Sarah Bassiouni* Sarah Bassiouni Jada Wiggleton-Little Emily Martin
Background: Molecular epidemiology is a subfield of epidemiology that has seen an explosion of work since its inception in the 1980s and the advent of novel molecular biological techniques that allowed us to answer questions we could not before. As molecular epidemiologists, we typically receive a great deal of training in the methods of epidemiology and molecular biology, but often a more limited training within the bioethics of using these techniques and framing our research questions. Given how scientific technologies continue to advance, it is imperative that molecular epidemiologists receive robust training in how to ground their research within a bioethical framework that balances the needs of population health with individual autonomy. Here, we discuss the current state of the research.
Methods: PubMed was searched for “bioethic*” or “bioethics” in conjunction with “molecular epidemiology” and “molecular epidemiolog*”.
Results: This resulted in 37 papers with some combination of these specific terms. The overwhelming majority of results were primary research papers studying infectious disease epidemiology or genetic epidemiology that mentioned bioethic* or bioethics in their background or discussion. Two papers discussed ethical challenges in HIV research and proposed recommendations for researchers in this topic. Another paper was an ethical reflection regarding the use of molecular typing techniques during outbreaks. Two papers discussed ethics within the subfield of genetic epidemiology.
Discussion: The paucity of peer-reviewed literature at the intersection of molecular epidemiology and bioethics represents a key opportunity that we as a sub-field have to strengthen our academic training pathways and available resources. This can further bolster the quality of the research we conduct, as well as improve the translation of our findings into public health policy.