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Ongoing

BioGOV

PI: Jane Kaye, Centre for Law, Health and Emerging Technologies at Oxford (HeLEX)

(2018-2021)

BioGOV stands for Governing Biomodification in the Life Sciences.

“New technologies allow accurate modification of DNA, transformation of skin or hair cells into stem cells, and printing of 3D structures made of cells. These deliberate modifications of living tissue and can be used to improve human health and treat disease.

These new, disruptive technologies present novel risks and challenge existing regulatory systems. This project will therefore investigate the laws, regulations and guidelines which apply to these technologies; how this regulatory framework influences their development, and the options for improving governance of biodmodifying technologies in the future.

The project will focus on three case-study technologies:

  1. Gene editing, which allows scientists to make changes to the structure and function of DNA in living tissues and cells,
  2. Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology that can convert any ordinary skin or hair cell into a potent stem cell, and
  3. 3D printing of biological material, which aims to create novel structures for bodily repair and renewal”.

SIENNA project

PI: Philip Brey, University of Twente

(2017-2021)

“The SIENNA project addressed ethical issues in three new and emerging technology areas: human genomics, human enhancement and human-machine interaction. These areas all come with major socio-economic impact. They also raise issues related to human rights. 

Our ethical analysis is based on research and informed by stakeholders. We have worked to identify and assess ethical issues and risks and produce three ethical frameworks: one for each technology area. Based on these frameworks, we have developed tools for the ethical management of new and emerging technologies. research ethics protocols and professional ethical codes”.