Against this rapidly evolving commercial, public health and regulatory agenda around genomics and dietary and other lifestyle advice we propose to conduct a policy-driven baseline analysis of information provided to the public about nutrigenomics. We will analyse marketing of the commercial screens, public health initiatives in the area, information provided to intermediaries, such as clinicians, and media and scientific discourses on health, food and genes. The research provides a policy-relevant and broad-based analysis of diverse public discourses on the interaction between nutrition and genomics and the health implications of this first popular, commercial and public application of human genomics.

We will analyse the material from three perspectives: First, we will analyse how the often uncertain and controversial scientific evidence on the interaction of nutrients and genetic variation and its health and ethical implications is staged in public. Second, we will examine how discourses on nutrigenomics articulate cultural symbols around food, genes, health, science and distinctions between medicine and lifestyle. Third, we will investigate political agendas, such as personal and social responsibility, that structure discussions on nutrigenomics. We will discern the differences between marketing, public health and media discourses both in the UK and US and reflect on the problems and merits of the various ways in which they invite their audiences to imagine not only their health but also their eating, everyday life, family and society.

The material will be mainly collected from public and online sources; the project involves brief fieldwork in the US observing the direct retail of nutrigenomic tests. The analysis is informed by the theoretical framework of public understanding of science and will use descriptive quantitative (content analysis) and qualitative (discourse analysis) methods.       

The project is grounded in Dr. Saukko's research on patient understanding of complex genetic information (genetic testing, family history, online information) and Professor Melzer’s work on regulation of genetic testing. The outcomes will be of interest to policy makers, the industry, public health specialists, clinicians, consumers and scholars working on the ethical, legal and social implications (ELSI) of human genetics. The two years project has been initiated in the fall of 2006 and will be completed end of 2008.

Researcher: To be appointed

Research Team:
Dr Paula Saukko (PI), Egenis
Professor Steve Hughes, Egenis