Genomic Lifecourse Literacy and Outreach for Wellness
GLOW helps people in Northeast Ohio understand genetic information that matters to their health — before, during, and after pregnancy, and across a lifetime. If you were invited to a GLOW session, this page explains what that means and who is involved.
(community event, session, or team photo)
Our Community Partners
GLOW is not built by researchers alone. These organizations help keep the project grounded in the real needs of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio families.
Local partner · Health system MetroHealth Cuyahoga County's safety-net health system, serving a large and diverse patient population, including many people who are uninsured or covered by Medicaid or Medicare. MetroHealth brings community-based care and health equity expertise to keep GLOW connected to patients and families across the region. | 
Local partner · Community organization First Year Cleveland A community organization focused on improving birth outcomes and reducing infant mortality in Cuyahoga County. Its deep relationships with parents, expectant families, and service providers help ground GLOW in the realities families face during pregnancy and early childhood. |
National partner · Patient education Genetic Support Foundation A nonprofit with extensive experience making genetics information understandable, accessible, and useful for patients and families. Their plain-language education work helps keep GLOW's materials clear and practical. | 
National partner · Patient advocacy The Light Collective Founded by genetic health advocates, this organization elevates patient and community voices in health technology and research, helping GLOW think carefully about privacy, trust, and how people want their health information handled. |
Based at CHANGE, Case Western Reserve University The Bioethics Center for Health and Genomics (CHANGE) brings together researchers, clinicians, and community partners to address the ethical, social, and practical questions of advances in genetics and genomics. | Part of CEAL4Genomics, an NIH effort GLOW is part of a national NIH-supported network strengthening community engagement in genetics research and improving trust in genomic screening and testing. |
What is GLOW?
We want to help people understand the genetic information that is important to them. Genetics is part of many differences in health between people. For example, some babies in Northeast Ohio are born with more health problems, and some adults may have a higher risk for cancer.
People who have less access to health care may have trouble learning and using this genetic information. GLOW is working with the community here in Northeast Ohio to help everyone understand their genetic information. Together, we are creating digital tools to help people learn this information — in plain language, in English and Spanish, and built with community input from the start.
GLOW is funded by a $1.7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as part of NIH's Community Engagement Alliance for Genomics (CEAL4Genomics) — the first CEAL4Genomics award in Ohio. The project is based at the Bioethics Center for Health and Genomics (CHANGE) at Case Western Reserve University.
Our Team
Aaron Goldenberg, PhD, MPH Director of CHANGE; Professor, Departments of Bioethics and Genetics and Genome Sciences, CWRU | Megan Allyse, PhD Visiting Associate Professor of Bioethics, CWRU; Development Director of CHANGE | Stephanie Meredith, DrPH Genetic Support Foundation |
Marsha Michie, PhD Associate Professor of Bioethics, CWRU; Associate Director of CHANGE | Lynette Hammond Gerido, PhD, MPH Assistant Professor of Bioethics, CWRU; Scientific Director of CHANGE |
Angela Newman-White Executive Director, First Year Cleveland | Andrea Downing & Valencia Robinson The Light Collective |
Ashley Hughes, PhD & Jacqueline Dolata, MBA MetroHealth Center for Health Equity Engagement Education and Research (CHEEER) |
Sabina Rubeck Case Western Reserve University | Harlie Custer Case Western Reserve University |
Why Was I Invited to a Session?
You may have been invited to a listening session, a planning meeting, or a co-design activity. That's because GLOW is community-first: local leaders, health professionals, and community members like you help shape what the project asks, what it addresses, and what it builds. Your questions and experiences directly guide the tools GLOW creates — this is not a one-time survey, and there are no wrong answers.
1. Listening Sessions We hear directly from families about what genomic health questions matter most to them. | 2. Co-design Meetings Community members and professionals build resources together, side by side. | 3. Shared Planning Your priorities and concerns help set the direction of the project going forward. |
From Our Community
| Add photo e.g. a listening session | Add photo e.g. a co-design meeting | Add photo e.g. the GLOW team |
Genetics Questions Come Up at Different Points in Life. GLOW Starts With Two.
Genetic information can matter before pregnancy, at birth, in childhood, or later as an adult — and it can affect parents, children, siblings, and extended family. GLOW is starting with two focus areas that reflect different life stages.
PANEL PerinAtal GeNomics and Early Lifecourse Learning For families navigating genetic screening or testing during pregnancy, birth, and early childhood — helping make sense of what tests mean, what choices exist, and how results may affect a child and family over time. | LIFT Life Course Transitions and Family Health History For adults under 50 and their families thinking about hereditary breast and ovarian cancer risk — supporting conversations about family history and when to seek genetic evaluation. |
Questions People Ask Us
Have a Question About GLOW?
Reach the GLOW team at [Add team email / phone number here.]