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Keolu Fox
Dr. Keolu Fox enjoying Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park (National Geographic, 2021)
NationalityKānaka Maoli, American
OccupationGenome scientist
Known forGenome sequencing, Benefit sharing, Indigenous data sovereignty
AwardsTED Fellow (2016), National Geographic Wayfinder (2017), Emerson Collective Fellow (2020), ENRICH Global Chair (2022)
Academic background
Alma materWashington (PhD), Maryland (BA)
ThesisNext Generation ABO Genetics and Genomics hdl:1773/38148 (2016)
Doctoral advisorDebbie Nickerson
Academic work
DisciplineGenomics
InstitutionsUniversity of California, San Diego

Keolu Fox is an American scientist and human geneticist at the University of California, San Diego. He is an assistant professor in the anthropology department at the University of California, San Diego[1] and an Affiliate Investigator in the Human Genomics Division at the J Craig Venter Institute. Fox's research is focused on developing and applying new technologies in genomics. Fox is recognized as a global leader in Indigenous data sovereignty and the implementation of benefit sharing in biomedical research.[2]

Fox has been an advocate for the community-based participatory research or CBPR model as a strategy for increasing collaboration between the field of genetics and Indigenous communities.[3] He has also examined the potential use of data trusts, federated machine intelligence, and blockchain technologies for Indigenous data sovereignty.[4] Fox is the first Native Hawaiian to receive a PhD in genome sciences.[2]

Research

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As a graduate student, Fox focused on improving the accuracy of blood type matching for transfusions and organ transplants to prevent fatal reactions. His thesis, "Next Generation ABO Genetics and Genomics," explored genetic variations in the ABO gene, which determines A, B, or O blood types. Recognizing the limitations of current serological methods, Fox utilized next-generation sequencing (NGS) to analyze these variations in diverse populations. His goal was to develop better tools for identifying blood types from NGS data, aiding in the understanding of links between ABO blood types and diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. Fox's research led to the discovery of new ABO blood types and the ability to predict the haplotype structures and blood types of ancient hominids, including Neanderthals and Denisovans, from ancient genome sequencing data for the first time.[5][6]

Fox has also studied the introduction of leprosy in Oceania using Ancient DNA.[7][8] He has also worked to empower Native American communities with technologies for mobile genome sequencing.[9]

In their 2019 Nature article, Fox and John Hawks were among the first scholars to highlight the lack of rules and regulations in the field of ancient DNA (aDNA) research, describing it as colonial and extractive, and a violation of Indigenous rights. They called for accountability and transparency in tracking the use and movement of ancient remains, akin to the management of natural resources.[10]

In a single author New England Journal of Medicine article titled "The Illusion of Inclusion — The 'All of Us' Research Program and Indigenous Peoples’ DNA," Fox critiqued the NIH’s All of Us program for exploiting Indigenous genetic data without proper safeguards. He emphasized the need for greater Indigenous participation in data governance and equitable benefit-sharing to prevent the misuse of genetic information and uphold Indigenous rights.[11]

In 2021, Fox and others demonstrated how genomic studies of Indigenous peoples, particularly Pacific Islanders, can reveal their migratory histories, enhance understanding of disease susceptibility due to colonial impacts, and support claims for land repatriation and Indigenous rights.[12][13]

In 2024, Fox participated in groundbreaking research in French Polynesia, identifying new mutations in Pacific Islander populations and reconstructing their voyaging histories using genome sequence data. Fox and colleagues conducted the first comprehensive study on gout prevalence and population genetics in French Polynesia. This study revealed that nearly one in five adults in French Polynesia suffer from gout and hyperuricaemia and identified specific mutations in the HLA region that may contribute to gout susceptibility among Polynesians.[14]

Professional Activities

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Fox is a co-founder and board member of the Native BioData Consortium.[15] Fox is an advocate of Indigenous futurism. [16] In 2020, Fox, Theresa Ambo, and K. Wayne Yang foundered the UCSD Indigenous Futures Institute (IFI). The IFI is an Indigenous-led institute that aims to counter the legacy of unethical scientific practice and Indigenous peoples. IFI channels a community-based participatory model to create community-driven solutions to climate crisis, global pandemics, and the continued denial of Indigenous sovereignty.[17]

As a senior advisor to Variant Bio, Fox is acknowledged as a pivotal innovator behind the company's benefit sharing and partnership initiatives. As a thought leader in the field of genomics and Indigenous data sovereignty, Fox has played a crucial role in shaping Variant Bio’s approach to ethical research practices. He has pioneered the development of equitable benefit-sharing models that ensure communities contributing genetic data receive tangible benefits. His leadership in establishing partnerships with diverse global populations underscores his commitment to integrating ethical considerations into cutting-edge biotechnology research, ensuring that the contributions of Indigenous and underrepresented groups are recognized and respected.[18][19]

In "Hawai‘i, from ashes to sustainability," Fox discussed the devastating impact of the Lahaina fire on Maui and the environmental pressures caused by overdevelopment and industrial tourism in Hawaii. Fox, a Native Hawaiian, advocates for a sustainable and equitable approach to recovery, emphasizing the need for ecotourism, Indigenous environmental management, and a green economy. He highlights successful initiatives like the Hawai‘i Clean Energy Initiative and calls for greater inclusion of Indigenous voices in environmental governance. Fox argues for a fundamental shift in Hawaii's economic model, focusing on community-based tourism and conservation, to build a resilient and sustainable future for the islands.[20]

At UCSD, Fox is affiliated with the Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute, the Institute for Genomic Medicine, the Department of Anthropology, the Global Health Program, the Climate Action Lab, the Design Lab, and the J Craig Venter Institute. Fox also serves as a faculty advisor to UCSD's Black Surf Week program, which combines athletic training in surfing with the study of Black people's relationships to water.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Rubalcava, Amanda (28 September 2023). "Black Surf Week: Catching Waves and Building Community". UC San Diego Today. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  2. ^ a b Sofia, Maddie (12 November 2020). "A Call For Equity In Genomics Research". Short Wave. NPR. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  3. ^ Yong, Ed (23 October 2015). "Making Indigenous Peoples Equal Partners in Gene Research". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on 12 March 2019.
  4. ^ Tran, Tony Ho (21 July 2022). "Blockchain May End the Pillaging of Indigenous Genetic Data". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  5. ^ Fox, Keolu; Johnsen, Jill M.; Coe, Bradley P.; Frazar, Chris D.; Reiner, Alexander P.; Eichler, Evan E.; NHLBI Exome Sequencing Project; Minority Health-GRID Network (2016-08-31). "Analysis of exome sequencing data sets reveals structural variation in the coding region of ABO in individuals of African ancestry". Transfusion. 56 (10): 2578–2587. doi:10.1111/trf.13797. PMID 27580710.
  6. ^ Villanea, Fernando A.; Huerta-Sanchez, Emilia; Fox, Keolu (August 2021). "ABO Genetic Variation in Neanderthals and Denisovans". Molecular Biology and Evolution. 38 (8): 3373–3382. doi:10.1093/molbev/msab109. PMC 8321519. PMID 33892510.
  7. ^ Blevins, Kelly E.; Crane, Adele E.; Lum, Christopher; Furuta, Kanako; Fox, Keolu; Stone, Anne C. (2020-10-05). "Evolutionary history of Mycobacterium leprae in the Pacific Islands". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. 375 (1812). doi:10.1098/rstb.2019.0582. PMC 7702798. PMID 33012236.
  8. ^ Hutchison, Natalie (12 May 2022). "Keolu Fox: Decoding the past to build a better future". Impact. The National Geographic Society. Archived from the original on May 12, 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  9. ^ Cram, Stephanie (10 April 2016). "New era of genetic research must include more indigenous people, says Keolu Fox". CBC News. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  10. ^ Fox, Keolu; Hawks, John (August 2019). "Use ancient remains more wisely". Nature. 572 (7771): 581–583. Bibcode:2019Natur.572..581F. doi:10.1038/d41586-019-02516-5. PMID 31462783.
  11. ^ Fox, Keolu (July 2020). "The Illusion of Inclusion — The 'All of Us' Research Program and Indigenous Peoples' DNA". New England Journal of Medicine. 338 (5): 411–413. doi:10.1056/NEJMp1915987. PMID 32726527.
  12. ^ Fox, Keolu (13 October 2021). "Genomes Show the History and Travels of Indigenous Peoples". Scientific American.
  13. ^ Ioannidis, Alexander G.; Blanco-Portillo, Javier; Sandoval, Karla; Hagelberg, Erika; Barberena-Jonas, Carmina; Hill, Adrian V. S.; Rodríguez-Rodríguez, Juan Esteban; Fox, Keolu; Robson, Kathryn; Haoa-Cardinali, Sonia; Quinto-Cortés, Consuelo D.; Miquel-Poblete, Juan Francisco; Auckland, Kathryn; Parks, Tom; Sofro, Abdul Salam M.; Ávila-Arcos, María C.; Sockell, Alexandra; Homburger, Julian R.; Eng, Celeste; Huntsman, Scott; Burchard, Esteban G.; Gignoux, Christopher R.; Verdugo, Ricardo A.; Moraga, Mauricio; Bustamante, Carlos D.; Mentzer, Alexander J.; Moreno-Estrada, Andrés (September 2021). "Paths and timings of the peopling of Polynesia inferred from genomic networks". Nature. 597 (7877): 522–526. Bibcode:2021Natur.597..522I. doi:10.1038/s41586-021-03902-8. PMC 9710236. PMID 34552258.
  14. ^ Pascart, Tristan; Wasik, Kaja A.; Preda, Cristian; Chune, Valérie; Torterat, Jérémie; Prud'homme, Nicolas; Nassih, Maryline; Martin, Agathe; Le Masson, Julien; Rodière, Vahinetua; Frogier, Sylvain; Canova, Georges; Pescheux, Jean-Paul; Fan, Charles Shan Sei; Jauffret, Charlotte; Claeys, Patrick; LeBaron von Baeyer, Sarah; Castel, Stephane E.; Emde (April 2024). "The gout epidemic in French Polynesia: a modelling study of data from the Ma'i u'u epidemiological survey". Lancet Global Health. 12 (4): e685–e696. doi:10.1016/S2214-109X(24)00012-3. PMID 38485432.
  15. ^ Liverpool, Layal (18 May 2023). "First human 'pangenome' aims to catalogue genetic diversity". Nature. 617 (7961): 444–445. Bibcode:2023Natur.617..444L. doi:10.1038/d41586-023-01576-y. PMID 37165229. S2CID 258617920.
  16. ^ Fox, Keolu; Kapono, Cliff (December 6, 2022). "Back to the Future: Intertwining Indigenous knowledge with synthetic biology to restore Hawai'i's ecology". Grow by Ginkgo. The Futures Issue. Retrieved June 21, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  17. ^ "Our Mission". Indigenous Futures Institute, UCSD. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  18. ^ Brown, Kristen V. (May 28, 2020). "Variant Bio Aims to Make Gene Therapies and Drugs Using Rare DNA". Bloomberg. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  19. ^ "Benefit Sharing". Variant Bio. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
  20. ^ Fox, Keolu (24 August 2023). "Hawai'i, from ashes to sustainability". Science. 381 (6660): 815. Bibcode:2023Sci...381..815F. doi:10.1126/science.adk4197. PMID 37616353.


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