Recommendations for return of secondary genomic findings in observational cohort studies.

Updated guidelines for returning secondary genomic findings in observational cohort studies emphasize ethical, equitable, and scalable practices across diverse result types.

• Why it matters: Returning genomic findings is crucial for participant benefit but raises ethical, equity, and logistical challenges that need clear guidance to ensure responsible implementation.
• What they did: A 2024 workshop and literature review synthesized recommendations, addressing ethical frameworks, novel result types like polygenic scores and somatic mosaicism, health equity, community engagement, and technological scalability.
• The result: These guidelines help researchers ethically and equitably disclose complex genomic results, supporting participant autonomy and expanding access while managing practical challenges in large-scale studies.