BACKGROUND: The translation of novel genomic technologies from bench to bedside 
enjoins the comprehensive consideration of the perspectives of all stakeholders 
who stand to influence, or be influenced by, the translational course. 
Non-invasive prenatal aneuploidy testing that utilizes cell-free fetal DNA 
(cffDNA) circulating in maternal blood is one example of an innovative 
technology that promises significant benefits for its intended end users; 
however, it is currently uncertain whether it will achieve widespread clinical 
implementation. We conducted qualitative interviews with 18 diverse stakeholders 
in this domain, including prospective users of the technology and healthcare 
personnel, researchers and developers, and experts in social, legal, and 
regulatory aspects of genetic technology, and a pilot survey of 62 obstetric 
healthcare providers. Analysis of interview and survey data was combined with a 
review of the proceedings of a full-day, multidisciplinary conference on the 
topic and published scientific and ethics literature surrounding this and other 
relevant technologies.
DISCUSSION: We constructed potential pathways for technological implementation, 
identified broad stakeholder classes party to these translational processes, and 
performed a preliminary assessment of the viewpoints and interrelations among 
these diverse stakeholders. Some of the stakeholders whose priorities are 
critical to understand and integrate into translation include pregnant women and 
their families; healthcare providers; scientists, their institutions or 
companies, and the funding agencies that support them; regulatory and judicial 
bodies; third-party payers; professional societies; educational systems; 
disability rights communities; and other representatives from civil society. 
Stakeholder interviews, survey findings, and conference proceedings add 
complexity to these envisioned pathways and also demonstrate a paramount need to 
incorporate an iterative stakeholder analysis early and throughout the 
translational endeavor. We believe that the translational framework that we have 
developed will help guide crucial future stakeholder mapping and engagement 
activities for cffDNA aneuploidy testing and inform novel methods of technology 
assessment for other developments in the growing field of genomic medicine.
SUMMARY: Mapping potential pathways for implementation and exploring the 
attitudes and interrelations of diverse stakeholders may lead to more effective 
translation of a novel method of prenatal aneuploidy testing.