Investigating ELSI Issues That May Facilitate or Impede Clinical Translation of Epigenetic Research. Phase 3b

Investigating ELSI Issues That May Facilitate or Impede Clinical Translation of Epigenetic Research.

Status

Not yet recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT07713784

Enrollment

1000

Registered

2026-07-20

Start date

2026-08-01

Completion date

2026-10-01

Last updated

2026-08-28

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Healthy

Keywords

Epigenomics, Epigenetics, Genetics, Behavioral, Bioethics

Brief summary

Few people realize that environmental pollution and some behaviors like physical activity and tobacco smoking can affect their health by "turning on" or "turning off" certain genes through a process called "epigenetic modification." This study will develop and test strategies for communicating about epigenetics that are understandable and that do not increase ethical, legal or social issues (ELSI).

Interventions

BEHAVIORALEpigenetics Video

Video about the concept of epigenetics

BEHAVIORALIndividual Responsbility Video

Video discussing epigenetics and health with a focus on individual behavioral factors affecting epigenetics.

BEHAVIORALExternal Responsibility Video

Video discussing epigenetics and health with a focus on external factors affecting epigenetics.

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

OTHER

Masking

NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to No maximum

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

* English language speaker, * Identify as one of five racial/ethnic groups: 1. Non-Hispanic White 2. Non-Hispanic Black, 3. Non-Hispanic Asian 4. Non-Hispanic Indigenous (i.e., Alaska Native/Native Hawaiians/American Indian/Other Pacific Islander) 5. Hispanic (all races)

Exclusion criteria

* Self-identify as a genetics expert

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Knowledge & understanding of epigenetics Information	Baseline survey, after intervention video	Sum score of correct answers for 11 individual items. Scale ranges from 0 points to 11 points with higher scores indicating higher epigenetics knowledge.
Acceptability of epigenetics information	Baseline survey, after intervention video	Three constructs including perceived benefits of epigenetic research (7 items, ranging from 1 to 5 with higher scores indicating higher perceived benefits), perceived drawbacks of epigenetic research (3 items, ranging from 1 to 5 with higher scores indicating higher perceived drawbacks), and acceptance of using epigenetic research in medical support (3 items, ranging from 1 to 5 with higher scores indicating higher acceptance of using epigenetic research in medical support).

Secondary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Perceptions of epigenetic information	Baseline survey, after intervention video	6 item scale. Scores range from 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating greater perceptions of epigenetic information.

Contacts

CONTACTJulia M Maki, PhD

jmaki@wustl.edu314-286-2835

CONTACTErika Waters, PhD, MPH

waterse@wustl.edu314-747-5705

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Aug 29, 2026