Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis using Whole Genome Sequencing

Subhashini (Shubha) Chandrasekharan, Ph.D, IGSP. Subhashini (Shubha) Chandrasekharan, Ph.D. is an Assistant Research Professor at the Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy with an affiliate appointment at the Duke Global Health Institute. She received her doctorate in genetics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and completed postdoctoral training in ethical, legal, and social issues surrounding genomics at the Duke Center for Public Genomics. Her broad research interests include ethical, legal and social issues surrounding proprietary protection and commercialization of biomedical technologies, particularly effects of intellectual property (IP) on innovation and access to biomedical products and services both in the US and the developing world. Her ongoing research examines the effect of commercialization on clinical translation of NIPT (R01HG007074 “Intellectual Property and Access to Noninvasive Prenatal Testing” PI Chandrasekharan S) and practical and ethical challenges for NIPT implementation in the developing world.

Suggested Readings:

• Clark L. First child born using DNA sequencing IVF technique. Wired.co.uk. 8 July 2013. Available here.
• S Sterckx et al. “I prefer a child with…”: designer babies, another controversial patent in the arena of direct-to-consumer genomics. Genetics in Medicine. Published online 3 October 2013. doi: 10.1038/gim.2013.164. Available to members of the Duke Community here.
• K Hens et al. Comprehensive embryo testing. Experts’ opinions regarding future directions: an expert panel study on comprehensive embryo testing. Human Reproduction 2013, 28(5): 1418-1425. doi: 10.1093/humrep/det018. Available to members of the Duke Community here.