Current Research at the MacDuffie Lab
Early Intervention Services After Whole Genome Sequencing
Supporting the Developmental Needs of Children After Newborn Genomic Sequencing (SERVICE) study aims to understand the experience of families with early intervention services for their child after whole genome sequencing. Learn how to join.
Institutional Oversight of Emerging Stem Cell Technologies
Institutional committees serve a critical role of reviewing proposals for novel stem cell research. This project aims to understand and enhance ethical review of emerging science.
Brain Organoid Ethics
Scientists have developed the ability to coax cells from human donors to grow into tiny pieces of neural tissue known as “brain organoids”. These organoids express genes and recapitulate aspects of neurodevelopment that are shared with their human donors, allowing insight into individual-specific disease processes and potential treatments.
This project seeks to understand how human donors feel and think about brain organoids grown from their cells, with the ultimate goal to ensure that future brain organoid research is conducted in accordance with donor values.
What are brain organoids?
Working with Booster Shot Media, the MacDuffie Lab created this 5-minute video explaining what brain organoids are and how they are used in research. We recommend watching with the sound on! Please feel free to use or share.
Brain-Based Prediction of Autism
Multiple research teams are rapidly advancing the search for biomarkers that can predict autism from brain changes observed in infancy, months or years prior to the emergence of defining behavioral characteristics. These brain-based detection techniques have the potential to improve upon existing screening measures and more accurately predict which infants will go on to develop autism.
This project seeks to understand the social and ethical implications of these predictive technologies for families, neurodiverse communities and service systems.
Open Science and Data Sharing in Down Syndrome Research
Federal research funders are shifting to an Open Science model, requiring that all data and research products be made publicly available. As an example, the NIH INCLUDE Data Hub is a cloud-based, open, digital platform for accessing and sharing data collected for research on Down syndrome.
This project seeks to understand the attitudes of parent participants towards sharing neuroimaging, genetic, and behavioral data collected from their child as part of participation in Down syndrome research.