Vence L. Bonham, Jr, JD

Vence Bonham received his bachelor of Arts from James Madison College at Michigan State University and his juris doctor degree from the Moritz College of Law at the Ohio State University. Mr. Bonham was a fellow in the American Association of Medical Colleges Health Services Research Fellowship Program. Mr. Bonham was a faculty member at Michigan State University in the Colleges of Medicine and Law. Since 2003, Mr. Bonham has served as an associate investigator in the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) within the Division of Intramural Research’s Social and Behavioral Research Branch. He leads the Health Disparities Genomics Unit, which conducts research that evaluates approaches to integrating new genomic knowledge and precision medicine into clinical settings without exacerbating inequities in healthcare delivery.

His research focuses primarily on the social influences of new genomic knowledge, particularly in communities of color. He studies how genomics influences the use of the constructs of race and ethnicity in biomedical research and clinical care and the role of genomics in health inequities.

Mr. Bonham also serves as the senior advisor to the NHGRI director on genomics and health disparities.

Representative Publications:

Framing the research agenda for sickle cell trait: building on the current understanding of clinical events and their potential implications

Screening student athletes for sickle cell trait–a social and clinical experiment

Sickle cell disease related pain: crisis and conflict