TED2016
Keolu Fox: Why genetic research must be more diverse
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Ninety-six percent of genome studies are based on people of European descent. The rest of the world is virtually unrepresented -- and this is dangerous, says geneticist and TED Fellow Keolu Fox, because we react to drugs differently based on our genetic makeup. Fox is working to democratize genome sequencing, specifically by advocating for indigenous populations to get involved in research, with the goal of eliminating health disparities. "The research community needs to immerse itself in indigenous culture," he says, "or die trying."
Keolu Fox - Geneticist, indigenous rights activist
Keolu Fox explores the links between human genetic variation and disease in underrepresented populations. Full bio
Keolu Fox explores the links between human genetic variation and disease in underrepresented populations. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
As a little Hawaiian,
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my mom and auntie always told me
stories about Kalaupapa --
stories about Kalaupapa --
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the Hawaiian leper colony
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surrounded by the highest
sea cliffs in the world --
sea cliffs in the world --
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and Father Damien,
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the Belgian missionary who gave his life
for the Hawaiian community.
for the Hawaiian community.
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As a young nurse,
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my aunt trained the nuns
caring for the remaining lepers
caring for the remaining lepers
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almost a 100 years after
Father Damien died of leprosy.
Father Damien died of leprosy.
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I remember stories she told
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about traveling down
switchback cliff paths on a mule,
switchback cliff paths on a mule,
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while my uncle played
her favorite hula songs on the ukulele
her favorite hula songs on the ukulele
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all the way down to Kalaupapa.
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You see, as a youngster,
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I was always curious about a few things.
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First was why a Belgian missionary
chose to live in complete isolation
chose to live in complete isolation
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in Kalaupapa,
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knowing he would inevitably
contract leprosy
contract leprosy
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from the community of people
he sought to help.
he sought to help.
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And secondly,
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where did the leprosy bacteria come from?
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And why were Kānaka Maoli,
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the indigenous people of Hawaii,
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so susceptible to developing
leprosy, or "mai Pake?"
leprosy, or "mai Pake?"
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This got my curious about what
makes us unique as Hawaiians --
makes us unique as Hawaiians --
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namely, our genetic makeup.
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But it wasn't until high school,
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through the Human Genome Project,
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that I realized I wasn't alone
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in trying to connect
our unique genetic ancestry
our unique genetic ancestry
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to our potential health,
wellness and illness.
wellness and illness.
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You see,
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the 2.7 billion-dollar project
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promised an era of predictive
and preventative medicine
and preventative medicine
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based on our unique genetic makeup.
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So to me it always seemed obvious
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that in order to achieve this dream,
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we would need to sequence
a diverse cohort of people
a diverse cohort of people
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to obtain the full spectrum
of human genetic variation on the planet.
of human genetic variation on the planet.
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That's why 10 years later,
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it continues to shock me,
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knowing that 96 percent of genome studies
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associating common genetic variation
with specific diseases
with specific diseases
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have focused exclusively
on individuals of European ancestry.
on individuals of European ancestry.
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Now you don't need a PhD
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to see that that leaves four percent
for the rest of diversity.
for the rest of diversity.
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And in my own searching,
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I've discovered that far less
than one percent
than one percent
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have actually focused on indigenous
communities, like myself.
communities, like myself.
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So that begs the question:
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Who is the Human Genome
Project actually for?
Project actually for?
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Just like we have
different colored eyes and hair,
different colored eyes and hair,
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we metabolize drugs differently
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based on the variation in our genomes.
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So how many of you
would be shocked to learn
would be shocked to learn
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that 95 percent of clinical trials
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have also exclusively featured
individuals of European ancestry?
individuals of European ancestry?
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This bias
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and systematic lack of engagement
of indigenous people
of indigenous people
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in both clinical trials
and genome studies
and genome studies
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is partially the result
of a history of distrust.
of a history of distrust.
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For example,
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in 1989, researchers
from Arizona State University
from Arizona State University
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obtained blood samples
from Arizona's Havasupai tribe,
from Arizona's Havasupai tribe,
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promising to alleviate the burden
of type 2 diabetes
of type 2 diabetes
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that was plaguing their community,
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only to turn around and use
those exact same samples --
those exact same samples --
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without the Havasupai's consent --
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to study rates
of schizophrenia, inbreeding,
of schizophrenia, inbreeding,
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and challenge
the Havasupai's origin story.
the Havasupai's origin story.
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When the Havasupai found out,
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they sued successfully for $700,000,
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and they banned ASU from conducting
research on their reservation.
research on their reservation.
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This culminated in a sort of domino effect
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with local tribes in the Southwest --
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including the Navajo Nation,
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one of the largest
tribes in the country --
tribes in the country --
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putting a moratorium on genetic research.
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Now despite this history of distrust,
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I still believe that indigenous people
can benefit from genetic research.
can benefit from genetic research.
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And if we don't do something soon,
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the gap in health disparities
is going to continue to widen.
is going to continue to widen.
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Hawaii, for example,
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has the longest life expectancy
on average of any state in the US,
on average of any state in the US,
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yet native Hawaiians like myself
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die a full decade
before our non-native counterparts,
before our non-native counterparts,
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because we have some
of the highest rates of type 2 diabetes,
of the highest rates of type 2 diabetes,
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obesity,
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and the number one and number
two killers in the US:
two killers in the US:
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cardiovascular disease and cancer.
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So how do we ensure
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the populations of people
that need genome sequencing the most
that need genome sequencing the most
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are not the last to benefit?
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My vision is to make
genetic research more native,
genetic research more native,
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to indigenize genome
sequencing technology.
sequencing technology.
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Traditionally, genomes
are sequenced in laboratories.
are sequenced in laboratories.
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Here's an image of your classic
genome sequencer.
genome sequencer.
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It's huge.
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It's the size of a refrigerator.
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There's this obvious physical limitation.
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But what if you could sequence
genomes on the fly?
genomes on the fly?
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What if you could fit a genome
sequencer in your pocket?
sequencer in your pocket?
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This nanopore-based sequencer
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is one 10,000th the size
of your traditional genome sequencer.
of your traditional genome sequencer.
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It doesn't have the same
physical limitations,
physical limitations,
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in that it's not tethered to a lab bench
with extraneous cords,
with extraneous cords,
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large vats of chemicals
or computer monitors.
or computer monitors.
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It allows us to de-black box genome
sequencing technology development
sequencing technology development
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in way that's immersive and collaborative,
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activating and empowering
indigenous communities ...
indigenous communities ...
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as citizen scientists.
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100 years later in Kalaupapa,
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we now have the technology to sequence
leprosy bacteria in real time,
leprosy bacteria in real time,
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using mobile genome sequencers,
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remote access to the Internet
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and cloud computation.
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But only if that's what
Hawaiian people want.
Hawaiian people want.
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In our space,
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on our terms.
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IndiGenomics is about science
for the people by the people.
for the people by the people.
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We'll be starting with a tribal
consultation resource,
consultation resource,
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focused on educating
indigenous communities
indigenous communities
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on the potential use and misuse
of genetic information.
of genetic information.
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Eventually we'd like to have our own
IndiGenomics research institute
IndiGenomics research institute
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to conduct our own experiments
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and educate the next generation
of indigenous scientists.
of indigenous scientists.
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In the end,
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indigenous people need to be partners in
and not subjects of genetic research.
and not subjects of genetic research.
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And for those on the outside,
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just as Father Damien did,
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the research community needs
to immerse itself in indigenous culture
to immerse itself in indigenous culture
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or die trying.
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Mahalo.
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(Applause)
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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Keolu Fox - Geneticist, indigenous rights activistKeolu Fox explores the links between human genetic variation and disease in underrepresented populations.
Why you should listen
Keolu Fox's research interests include genome sequencing technologies, genome editing and indigenizing medical research. Fox is currently a PhD Candidate at the University of Washington, Department of Genome Sciences working with experts at Bloodworks Northwest, in Seattle, WA. His work focuses on the application of genome sequencing to increase compatibility for blood transfusion therapy and organ transplantation.
Along with fellow indigenous geneticists Katrina Claw (PhD) and Joe Yracheta, Fox co-founded IndiGenomics, a tribal non-profit organization with a mission of bringing genomic expertise to indigenous communities, empowering indigenous research capacity and positively contributing to health research with indigenous communities for present and future generations.
Recently Fox's work has been in the international media spotlight, with recognition in outlets such as Wired, the BBC, CBC, NPR, The Atlantic, Forbes, Indian Country Today and others. He was named a TED Fellow in 2016.
Keolu Fox | Speaker | TED.com