Howard University Mini Medical School

Charmaine Royal, PhD.

Charmaine Royal is Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics (Division of Medical Genetics) and Principal Investigator in the GenEthics Unit of the National Human Genome Center at Howard University. Dr. Royal received her B.S. in Microbiology, M.S. in Genetic Counseling, and Ph.D. in Human Genetics from Howard University. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship in the Bioethics and Special Populations Research Program of the National Human Genome Research Institute at the National Institutes of Health.

Her areas of interest include: research on the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of human genetics/genome research for African Americans and other people of color; establishment of genetics education programs for both the professional and public sectors of these communities; and development of domestic and international polices related to human genetics/genome research and genetic services.

Dr. Royal has presented and published on the ethical dimensions of genetics research involving African Americans and other people of color, as well as on psychosocial aspects of sickle cell disease and prostate cancer.

Dr. Royal is a member of the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities, American Society of Human Genetics, National Society of Genetic Counselors, National Medical Association, and Sigma Xi Scientific Honor Society.

She also serves on several professional committees such as, the Cultural Competency Advisory Committee of the National Medical Association, ELSI Working Group for the Haplotype Map Project (National Human Genome Research Institute), Diversity and Cultural Competence Working Group of the National Coalition for Health Professional Education in Genetics, among others.