VAST Center: Viromes Across Space(s) and Time

ELSI CORE ABSTRACT The VAST ELSI core aims to synchronize across all VAST cores to critically engage and innovatively approach the understanding of human Viromes in research particularly in the clinical and public health contexts. Our focus will additionally be on indigenous communities in the US Northern Plains region, and other marginalized communities with similar concerns and interests over big-data science and open data sharing. Our co-development of best practices guidelines can give rise to better virome science through ethical reflection and meaningful engagement. This ELSI research will be grounded on normative analysis of the practices and meanings of such research and informed by empirical research that investigates factors likely to facilitate or undermine warranted trust, contribute to promoting or undercutting equality and respect, and enhance or minimize the potential benefits of these research. To support the understanding of the virome, ELSI core will conduct focus groups among relevant stakeholders, i.e., virome scientists, lay members of the public, and members of Indigenous Sovereign Nations. An educational virome packaged will also be co-developed focus of these educational strategies and content will be the minimization of well-known problems, e.g., bias, underrepresentation. Altogether, an ELSI-informed (and with the Plan for Enhanced Diverse Perspectives) a guidelines will be developed that will contribute to the development of relevant information for consent documents, and of materials that ensure that researchers, counselors and clinicians have the necessary tools to be aware of the ethical issues concerning viromes.