Laura Hercher

Laura Hercher is a Research Professor and Director of Research in the Joan H. Marks Graduate Program in Human Genetics at Sarah Lawrence College, where she has served since 2004. She also directs the Ethics course and leads the Current Events/Monday Afternoon Discussion series. Her academic background includes a BA from Colgate University, MA from Columbia University, and MS from Sarah Lawrence College.

Her research focuses on the ethical, legal, and social implications of genetic medicine, particularly in reproductive health, prenatal testing, and abortion access. She co-founded The DNA Exchange and hosts the podcast The Beagle Has Landed, engaging the clinical genetics community and the public on emerging issues.

Her scholarly contributions address challenges posed by restrictive abortion laws to genetic counselors, controversies around embryo personhood, and the ethical dimensions of direct-to-consumer genetic testing. She actively advocates for equitable access to prenatal care and navigates the legal complexities arising from state-level policy shifts.