Current projectJoint project

Genomics, neuroscience and education

Exploring the implications of genomic research relating to education and its potential translation into in policy and practice.

We are working in partnership with the Nuffield Foundation to explore emerging directions in educational genomic research. The Nuffield Foundation is an independent charitable trust with a mission to advance educational opportunity and social well-being. It founded and co-funds the Nuffield Council on Bioethics.

In February 2025 we published a scoping report giving an overview of scientific developments in the fast-moving area of polygenic index (PGI) research. This report describes the current research landscape and identifies barriers to filling existing gaps in knowledge. It highlights where scientific, practical and ethical challenges arise within PGI research relating to education, providing a foundation for further exploration of the ethical and policy implications of translating genomic insights into educational policy and practice.

Following this scoping report we are seeking to engage with a range of stakeholders from research, ethics, education and policy to delve further into the key ethical questions raised by the potential of translating PGIs in education contexts. We will publish the outcomes of the workshop later in Spring 2025.