Current work
Genome editing and farmed animals
In January 2019, we began an inquiry into the potential development of genome editing applications in farmed animals. This was identifed as one of the two areas that requires urgent ethical scrutiny in our 2016 report, Genome editing: an ethical view (the first was genome editing in human reproduction, which resulted in a report published July 2018).
Disagreements in the care of critically ill children
There have been several recent high-profile cases of healthcare teams and parents fundamentally disagreeing about the care of critically ill children in the UK.
This short project will explore the social and medical factors that might be contributing to how disagreements about the care of critically ill children develop in the UK, and how they are being resolved. The project will result in the publication of a Bioethics briefing note that will summarise the evidence and the potential challenges for policy makers.
Genome editing and human reproduction
In July 2018, we published a report into the social and ethical issues raised by the use of genome editing as a technology that could influence inherited characteristics in humans.
The potential development of genome editing applications in human reproduction was one of the areas identified as requiring urgent ethical scrutiny in our 2016 report Genome editing: an ethical review.
Research in global health emergencies
Recent global health emergencies have highlighted how uncertainties about what is ethically acceptable during emergencies can impede progress of potentially valuable research, or alternatively contribute to the risks of unethical practice passing undetected.
This project will explore how research may be conducted ethically in global health emergencies.
Bioethics briefing notes
Bioethics briefing notes are a different type of output from the Nuffield Council on Bioethics. Each briefing note will focus on new scientific and medical developments and the ethical and social issues raised around a particular topic.
Genome editing and farmed animals
Genome editing and farmed animalsDisagreements in the care of critically ill children
Disagreements in the care of critically ill childrenGenome editing and human reproduction
Genome editing and human reproductionResearch in global health emergencies
Research in global health emergenciesBioethics briefing notes
Bioethics briefing notes