Over the past decade, the development of three-dimensional mammalian cell organization--called human organoids--from stem cells has provided a framework for future clinical therapies. As human organoid research progresses, we also need to keep in mind the cross-cultural and ethical dimensions of human organoids research. Our review article aims to…

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) and their federal overseers protect human subjects, but this vital work is often dysfunctional despite their conscientious efforts. A cardinal, but unrecognized, explanation is that IRBs are performing a specific function -- the management of risk -- using a flawed theoretical and practical approach. At the time…

These are interesting days in the scientific, social, and political debates about human embryonic stem cell research. Pluripotent stem cells--cells that can, in principle, give rise to the body's full range of cell types--were previously derivable only from human embryos that were destroyed in the process. Now, a variety of somatic cell types can…

Stem cells are being touted as the greatest discovery for the potential treatment of a myriad of diseases in the new millennium, but there is still much research to be done before it will be known whether they can live up to this description. There is also an ethical debate over the production of one of the most valuable types of stem cell: the…

Describes the policies, operation, and some decisions of the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research instituted to study the ethical aspects of scientific research. (MLH)

Presents arguments in favor of continued medical research even though there appear to be social and/or ethical consequences involved in the research. (SL)

It seems hard to believe that Dolly the cloned sheep was born 10 years ago, kindling furious arguments over the prospects and ethics of cloning a human. Today, the controversy over cloning is entwined, often confused, with concerns over the use of human embryonic stem cells. Most people are unclear what cloning is, and they know even less when it…

Discusses social, political, and ethical aspects of conducting medical clinical trials as well as their cost, benefits, and pitfalls. (SL)

Described are problems faced by the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research. They are identifying and recommending regulations concerned with the ethical, social and legal principals of research involving human subjects. (SL)

Discusses the controversy surrounding amniocentesis (used to detect and abort mongoloid fetuses) as an example of the ethical and social assessments that must be made with new scientific and medical developments. (JR)

This Senate bill includes a discussion of the need for legislation protecting human subjects of biomedical and behavioral research and provides synopses of public hearings on this subject conducted by the Committee on Labor and Public Welfare. The legislation providing for the establishment of the Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of…

Three recent government initiatives that impinge on the ability of the medical and scientific community to provide high quality medical care and to advance knowledge in the biological sciences are addressed at the AAMC meeting. They are categorized as (1) medicine, science, and civil rights; (2) no-risk medical care; and (3) technology and…

Summarizes and comments on three presentations relative to the life sciences and medicine given at the October 1995 working symposium of the Project on Conflict of Interest in University-Industry Research Relationships and included in this issue. Discusses the work of medical researcher David Blumenthal, political scientist Mark Frankel, and…

Perspectives, policy issues, and options for Congressional action that relate most directly to the development and implementation of alternatives to animal use in research and testing are addressed in this report. Testimonies and reports include those from the Office of Technology Assessment, the National Institute of Health, and the Food and Drug…

The board that advises the Secretary of HEW on ethics has given a qualified approval for further review of federal funding for research on human embryos conceived in the laboratory. Issues and concerns that influenced the board's decision are addressed. (JMD)