Mildred Cho, PhD

Administrative Appointments

• Associate Director, Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics , (2003– present )

Web Site Links

• Center for Integration of Research on Genetics and Ethics

Research Interests

Dr. Cho's major areas of interest include: ethical and social issues in genetic research, stem cell research, bioweapons and microbial genome research, the effects of gene patenting on clinical genetic testing and research, and the impacts of academic-industry ties on biomedical research.

Publications

• Research ethics consultation: the Stanford experience. Cho MK,  Tobin SL, Greely HT, McCormick J, Boyce A, Magnus D.  IRB.  2008 Nov-Dec; 30 (6): 1-6
• The ethics of characterizing difference: guiding principles on using racial categories in human genetics. Lee SS,  Mountain J, Koenig B, Altman R, Brown M, Camarillo A, Cavalli-Sforza L, Cho M, Eberhardt J, Feldman M, Ford R, Greely H, King R, Markus H, Satz D, Snipp M, Steele C, Underhill P.  Genome Biol.  2008; 9 (7): 404
• Practical approaches to incidental findings in brain imaging research. Illes J,  Kirschen MP, Edwards E, Bandettini P, Cho MK, Ford PJ, Glover GH, Kulynych J, Macklin R, Michael DB, Wolf SM, Grabowski T, Seto B.  Neurology.  2008; 70 (5): 384-90
• Research Ethics Recommendations for Whole-Genome Research: Consensus Statement Caulfield, T,  my L. McGuire, Mildred Cho, Janet A. Buchanan, Michael M. Burgess, Ursula Danilczyk, Christina M. Di.  PLoS Biology.  2008; 6 e73
• Understanding incidental findings in the context of genetics and genomics. Cho MK,  J Law Med Ethics.  2008; 36 (2): 280-5, 212
• Strangers at the benchside: research ethics consultation. Cho MK,  Tobin SL, Greely HT, McCormick J, Boyce A, Magnus D.  Am J Bioeth.  2008; 8 (3): 4-13
• Response to open peer commentaries on "Thinking about the human neuron mouse". Greely HT,  Cho MK, Hogle LF, Satz DM.  Am J Bioeth.  2007; 7 (5): W4-6
• Research ethics and the challenge of whole genome sequencing. McGuire AL,  Caulfield T, Cho MK.  Nature Reviews Genetics.  2007; doi:10.1038/nrg2302
• The Future of Personal Genomics McGuire, AL,  Cho MK, McGuire SE, Caulfield T.  Science.  2007; 317 (5845): 1687
• Ethical implications of array comparative genomic hybridization in complex phenotypes: points to consider in research. Tabor HK,  Cho MK.  Genet Med.  2007; 9 (9): 626-31
• Thinking about the human neuron mouse. Greely HT,  Cho MK, Hogle LF, Satz DM.  Am J Bioeth.  2007; 7 (5): 27-40
• Race and Ethnicity in Genetic Research Sankar, P,  Cho MK, Mountain J.  American Journal of Medical Genetics.  2007; 143A 961-970
• ELSI priorities for brain imaging. Illes J,  De Vries R, Cho MK, Schraedley-Desmond P.  Am J Bioeth.  2006 Mar-Apr; 6 (2): W24-31
• A commentary on oocyte donation for stem cell research in South Korea. Magnus D,  Cho MK.  Am J Bioeth.  2006 Jan-Feb; 6 (1): W23-4
• Ethics. Incidental findings in brain imaging research. Illes J,  Kirschen MP, Edwards E, Stanford LR, Bandettini P, Cho MK, Ford PJ, Glover GH, Kulynych J, Macklin R, Michael DB, Wolf SM.  Science.  2006; 311 (5762): 783-4
• Research conduct. Lessons of the stem cell scandal. Cho MK,  McGee G, Magnus D.  Science.  2006; 311 (5761): 614-5
• What is in a cause? Exploring the relationship between genetic cause and felt stigma. Sankar P,  Cho MK, Wolpe PR, Schairer C.  Genet Med.  2006; 8 (1): 33-42
• How do women decide? Accepting or declining BRCA1/2 testing in a nationwide clinical sample in the United States. Sankar P,  Wolpe PR, Jones NL, Cho, M.  Community Genetics.  2006; 9 78-86
• Racial and ethnic categories in biomedical research: there is no baby in the bathwater. Cho MK,  J Law Med Ethics.  2006; 34 (3): 497-9, 479
• Ethics. Issues in oocyte donation for stem cell research. Magnus D,  Cho MK.  Science.  2005; 308 (5729): 1747-8
• What are gene patents and why are people worried about them? Merz JF,  Cho MK.  Community Genet.  2005; 8 (4): 203-8
• What are gene patents and why are people worried about them? Merz JF,  Cho MK.  Community Genetics.  2005; 8 203-208
• Forensic genetics and ethical, legal and social implications beyond the clinic. Cho MK,  Sankar P.  Nat Genet.  2004; 36 (11 Suppl): S8-12
• Genetic research and health disparities. Sankar P,  Cho MK, Condit CM, Hunt LM, Koenig B, Marshall P, Lee SS, Spicer P.  JAMA.  2004; 291 (24): 2985-9
• Financial conflict-of-interest policies in clinical research: issues for clinical investigators. Boyd EA,  Cho MK, Bero LA.  Acad Med.  2003; 78 (8): 769-74
• A pilot survey on the licensing of DNA inventions. Henry MR,  Cho MK, Weaver MA, Merz JF.  J Law Med Ethics.  2003; 31 (3): 442-9
• Privacy issues in personalized medicine. Vaszar LT,  Cho MK, Raffin TA.  Pharmacogenomics.  2003; 4 (2): 107-12
• Effects of patents and licenses on the provision of clinical genetic testing services. Cho MK,  Illangasekare S, Weaver MA, Leonard DG, Merz JF.  J Mol Diagn.  2003; 5 (1): 3-8
• Diagnostic testing fails the test. Merz JF,  Kriss AG, Leonard DG, Cho MK.  Nature.  2002; 415 (6872): 577-9
• Conflicts of interest in magnetic resonance imaging: issues in clinical practice and research. Cho MK,  Top Magn Reson Imaging.  2002; 13 (2): 73-7
• Genetics. Toward a new vocabulary of human genetic variation. Sankar P,  Cho MK.  Science.  2002; 298 (5597): 1337-8
• Genetics. DNA patenting and licensing. Henry MR,  Cho MK, Weaver MA, Merz JF.  Science.  2002; 297 (5585): 1279
• Industry opposes genomic legislation. Merz JF,  Leonard DG, Kriss AG, Cho MK.  Nat Biotechnol.  2002; 20 (7): 657; author reply 657
• Protecting subjects' interests in genetics research. Merz JF,  Magnus D, Cho MK, Caplan AL.  Am J Hum Genet.  2002; 70 (4): 965-71
• Integrating genotype and phenotype information: an overview of the PharmGKB project. Pharmacogenetics Research Network and Knowledge Base. Klein TE,  Chang JT, Cho MK, Easton KL, Fergerson R, Hewett M, Lin Z, Liu Y, Liu S, Oliver DE, Rubin DL, Shafa F, Stuart JM, Altman RB.  Pharmacogenomics J.  2001; 1 (3): 167-70
• Policies on faculty conflicts of interest at US universities. Cho MK,  Shohara R, Schissel A, Rennie D.  JAMA.  2000; 284 (17): 2203-8
• Guidelines for advertising on health web sites: who's guarding the Koop. Cho MK,  West J Med.  2000; 172 (4): 230-2
• Patenting human genetic material: refocusing the debate. Caulfield T,  Gold ER, Cho MK.  Nat Rev Genet.  2000; 1 (3): 227-31
• Policy forum: genetics. Ethical considerations in synthesizing a minimal genome. Cho MK,  Magnus D, Caplan AL, McGee D.  Science.  1999; 286 (5447): 2087, 2089-90
• Commercialization of BRCA1/2 testing: practitioner awareness and use of a new genetic test. Cho MK,  Sankar P, Wolpe PR, Godmilow L.  Am J Med Genet.  1999; 83 (3): 157-63
• Survey confirms fears about licensing of genetic tests. Schissel A,  Merz JF, Cho MK.  Nature.  1999; 402 (6758): 118
• Testing for Alzheimer's. Merz JF,  Cho MK.  Science.  1998; 281 (5381): 1288-9
• Disease genes are not patentable: a rebuttal of McGee. Merz JF,  Cho MK.  Camb Q Healthc Ethics.  1998; 7 (4): 425-8
• Masking author identity in peer review: what factors influence masking success? PEER Investigators. Cho MK,  Justice AC, Winker MA, Berlin JA, Waeckerle JF, Callaham ML, Rennie D.  JAMA.  1998; 280 (3): 243-5
• Familial disclosure in defiance of nonconsent. Merz JF,  Cho MK, Sankar P.  Am J Hum Genet.  1998; 63 (3): 898-900
• Does masking author identity improve peer review quality? A randomized controlled trial. PEER Investigators. Justice AC,  Cho MK, Winker MA, Berlin JA, Rennie D.  JAMA.  1998; 280 (3): 240-2
• Conflict of interest and institutional review boards. Cho MK,  Billings P.  J Investig Med.  1997; 45 (4): 154-9
• Disease Gene Patenting Is a Bad Innovation. Merz JF,  Cho MK, Robertson MJ, Leonard DG.  Mol Diagn.  1997; 2 (4): 299-304
• Educational material about genetic tests: does it provide key information for patients and practitioners? Cho MK,  Arruda M, Holtzman NA.  Am J Med Genet.  1997; 73 (3): 314-20
• Calculating coauthors' contributions. Merz JF,  Gorton GE, Cho MK, Merz ML, Sankar P.  Lancet.  1997; 350 (9090): 1558
• Patients and patents. Cho MK,  Merz JF.  Nature.  1997; 390 (6657): 221
• The quality of drug studies published in symposium proceedings. Cho MK,  Bero LA.  Ann Intern Med.  1996; 124 (5): 485-9
• Are clinical trials of cell transplantation for Duchenne muscular dystrophy ethical? Cho MK,  IRB.  1994 Jan-Apr; 16 (1-2): 12-5
• Instruments for assessing the quality of drug studies published in the medical literature. Cho MK,  Bero LA.  JAMA.  1994; 272 (2): 101-4
• Fast myosin heavy chains expressed in secondary mammalian muscle fibers at the time of their inception. Cho M,  Hughes SM, Karsch-Mizrachi I, Travis M, Leinwand LA, Blau HM.  J Cell Sci.  1994; 107 ( Pt 9) 2361-71
• Three slow myosin heavy chains sequentially expressed in developing mammalian skeletal muscle. Hughes SM,  Cho M, Karsch-Mizrachi I, Travis M, Silberstein L, Leinwand LA, Blau HM.  Dev Biol.  1993; 158 (1): 183-99
• Evidence for myoblast-extrinsic regulation of slow myosin heavy chain expression during muscle fiber formation in embryonic development. Cho M,  Webster SG, Blau HM.  J Cell Biol.  1993; 121 (4): 795-810
• Beta-enolase is a marker of human myoblast heterogeneity prior to differentiation. Peterson CA,  Cho M, Rastinejad F, Blau HM.  Dev Biol.  1992; 151 (2): 626-9