Draft:Riley Taitingfong

Riley Taitingfong (Chamorro) is an American social scientist. She is a postdoc in the Native Nations Institute at the University of Arizona and Harvard University. She studies gene drive systems, with a focus on Indigenous data sovereignty and benefit sharing for biomedical research.

Taitingfong has been an advocate for the community-based participatory research or CBPR model as a strategy for increasing collaboration between the field of genome engineering and Indigenous communities. She has also examined the need for careful, inclusive deliberation in developing a gene drive project registry to balance transparency, stakeholder engagement, and ethical considerations, based on findings from multidisciplinary experts.

Research
Taitingfong's research explores the governance of gene drive technology in conservation, identifying principles to address complex social, ecological, and ethical considerations necessary for its responsible application. These principles emphasize broad and empowered engagement, public acceptance, comprehensive decision-making, collaboration across states and international actors, adherence to ethical frameworks, incorporation of diverse expertise, and responsible self-regulation by developers.

Professional Activities
Riley Taitingfong is an advocate for Indigenous language revival, actively participating in the Bevacqua Chamorro Language Immersion Program in both Guam and the United States. This involvement underscores her commitment to preserving and promoting the Chamorro language, playing a significant role in efforts to revitalize and sustain Indigenous languages and cultures.