Mission

Founded in 2006, the Roberts Research Group is based at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. This interdisciplinary team, led by Professor Scott Roberts, conducts research with two main focuses. The first is research on the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of genetics and genomics. Within this domain, the group has examined how best to communicate genetic risk information for complex conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and cancer, as well as the psychological and behavioral impacts of disclosing such information to at-risk individuals and their families. A second area of focus is mental health education and support for older adults. Within this domain, the group has studied public understanding and perceptions of dementia and has developed mental health programs to support older adults in improving brain health and coping with later-life depression and anxiety. Since 2001, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have continuously funded Dr. Roberts’ work. He has authored over 140 peer-reviewed publications in journals, including The New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, Genetics in Medicine, and Alzheimer’s & Dementia.