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The Geneticization of Education: ethical, social, and policy implications of polygenic scores for educational attainment

Award Number: K01HG011683
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL HUMAN GENOME RESEARCH INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2024
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2026

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The Geneticization of Education: ethical, social, and policy implications of polygenic scores for educational attainment - Project Summary This proposal addresses the psychosocial impacts of a new kind of genetic information currently available to the general public: polygenic scores for educational attainment (EA-PGS). Available for purchase via a growing number of third-party, direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing companies, an EA-PGS provides information about an individual’s genetic propensity for completing years of schooling. To the extent that it is a genetic predictor of a complex outcome with major social and environmental causes, EA-PGS research represents a “geneticization” of education that engenders a host of difficult ELSI questions to be addressed by this K01 proposal. Who seeks out EA-PGS and why? How do DTC customers interpret and use their results? How does exposure to EA-PGS research impact public attitudes toward education and schooling, including attitudes about racial/ethnic disparities in education? To address these questions, this proposal includes a plan of empirical research, including (Aim 1) qualitative research involving in-depth interviews with individuals who have recently received EA-PGS results via DTC genetic testing company, Geneplaza, and (Aim 2) quantitative research involving surveys of key stakeholder groups (students, parents of students, and educators) randomized to read stories from the popular media emphasizing either EA-PGS or social influences on education. Finally, this proposal includes (Aim 3) a plan of conceptual research, involving development of an ethical framework on the potential harms and benefits of the geneticization of education, developed through consultation with an expert advisory council of prominent scholars in education policy, ethics, and genetics. Building on the PI’s strong background in behavior genetics and philosophy of science, these aims will be achieved with an interdisciplinary, mixed-methods career development plan that includes training and coursework in quantitative methods, qualitative methods, and bioethics. The career development plan is supported by a team of highly experienced and esteemed Columbia University and Hastings Center scholars with expertise in qualitative methods, quantitative methods, and bioethics: Paul Appelbaum, Sandra Soo-Jin Lee, Ruth Ottman, and Josephine Johnston.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2025	2023	THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK	630 W 168TH ST FL 4	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Human Genome Research	001	4	1/6/2025	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$90,774
2025	2023	RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HYGIENE, INC.	1051 RIVERSIDE DR	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Human Genome Research	000	3	1/6/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$90,774
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $184,246 )
2024	2024	THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK	630 W 168TH ST FL 4	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Human Genome Research	002	5	9/12/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$184,246
2024	2023	RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HYGIENE, INC.	1051 RIVERSIDE DR	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Human Genome Research	000	3	6/12/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$91,828
2024	2023	THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK	630 W 168TH ST FL 4	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Human Genome Research	001	4	6/13/2024	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$91,828
														Subtotal = $184,246

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $184,680 )
2023	2023	RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HYGIENE, INC.	1051 RIVERSIDE DR	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Human Genome Research	001	3	8/30/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$184,680
2023	2022	RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HYGIENE INC	1051 RIVERSIDE DR	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Human Genome Research	000	2	7/26/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $184,680

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $184,680 )
2022	2022	RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HYGIENE INC	1051 RIVERSIDE DR	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Human Genome Research	000	2	6/29/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$184,680
														Subtotal = $184,680

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $184,680 )
2021	2021	RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HYGIENE, INC.	1051 RIVERSIDE DR	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Human Genome Research	000	1	9/15/2021	NEW	$184,680
														Subtotal = $184,680

Grand Total All Awards = $738,286

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The Geneticization of Education: ethical, social, and policy implications of polygenic scores for educational attainment

Award Number: K01HG011683

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL HUMAN GENOME RESEARCH INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2024

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2026

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