Modern science across disciplines is increasingly faced with often controversial public debates surrounding its societal applications.
Consortium Introduction
The Consortium conducts original research, serves students and faculty, and advances public dialogue and understanding on emerging issues at the intersection of science and society.
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Health Law, Ethics & Policy
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Environment, Agriculture & Food
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Emerging Technologies
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Public Health & Biosecurity
Latest News
Combating Minnesota's Opioid Epidemic
September 13, 2019
The University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management Medical Industry Leadership Institute is hosting "Combating Minnesota's Opioid Epidemic" on Thursday, October 24, 2019 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Carlson School of Management. This event is a one-day policy forum convening public and private stakeholders in Minnesota and at the federal level to discuss how to collaboratively build upon current federal, state, and local efforts to combat the opioid epidemic.
Learn more and register today.
Upcoming Events at the Center for Bioethics
August 20, 2019
The Center for Bioethics is kicking off fall semester with Ethics Ground Rounds and Mini Bioethics Academy. The Center for Bioethics' Ethics Grand Rounds is a series of monthly seminars featuring noted local, national, & international bioethics scholars lecturing on a variety of ethical issues in health care & the life sciences. The Mini Bioethics Academy is a three-evening series that engages with faculty and fosters discussion on complex, thought-provoking bioethical issues facing society. Read More.
Profs. Wolf and Clayton Moderate Panel at 2019 Health Law Professors Conference in Chicago: LawSeq: Building a Legal Foundation for Genomics & Precision Medicine
July 8, 2019
Professor Susan M. Wolf, JD (University of Minnesota) and Professor Ellen Wright Clayton, JD, MD (Vanderbilt University), recently moderated a panel discussion on “LawSeq: Building a Legal Foundation for Genomics & Precision Medicine” at the 2019 Health Law Professors Conference, sponsored by the American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics and Loyola University Chicago School of Law. Panelists included Professor Barbara J. Evans, LLM, JD, PhD (University of Houston), Professor Gary Marchant, JD, MPP, PhD (Arizona State University), and Professor Mark Rothstein, JD (University of Louisville). Based cooperatively at the University of Minnesota and Vanderbilt University Medical Center, the LawSeqSM project has convened a national working group of top legal and scientific experts to compile, collect, and analyze current US federal and state law and regulation on translational genomics. Read More
Turner Warns of Explosive Growth in Bogus Stem Cell Therapies
June 18, 2019
According to Wired magazine, "Since the mid-2000s, clinics have been selling expensive, unproven stem-cell treatments to any patient desperate enough to believe their claims of cures for everything from arthritis to autism." These clinics have "been tied to serious infections, several cases of blindness, and one patient’s death." Leigh Turner, a professor at the Center for Bioethics, a Consortium member, has authored several major research papers on the growing availability of questionable stem-cell therapies. Turner notes that despite greater FDA scutiny, which includes an "increase the rule changes and the public hearings and more inspections and warning letters and the lawsuits, the market is still expanding at a rapid rate.” A recent Pro Publica/New Yorker investigation provides additional details of the promotional methods and dubious science that ensnares consumers in these dangerous interventions.