Thus, many presentations in the Congress helped to demonstrate a lively ongoing theoretical discussion of the nature and scope of researcher obligations and benefit-sharing in genomic research [A-2; A-5, Caga-Anan; A-5, Lehmann]. Findings presented at the ELSI Congress play an important role in animating this theoretical discourse, and document perceptions that the boundary between research and clinical care is increasingly blurred in the context of translational genomic research [A-5, Whitener; A-8, McDonald; D-5, Cappella; G-5, Frank]. It is noteworthy that the scientific complexity of genomic research and the high degree of public interest it attracts has highlighted the need to increase scientific literacy by means of public education. Despite the recognition of this need, the blurriness of the research-treatment distinction itself, as perceived by many genomic research subjects and potential subjects, represents the primary challenge to efforts aimed at improving public understanding of and dialogue about genomic research [B-3; E-1].
