The Institute of Health and Wellbeing present:

‘Conflict and controversy in the ethics of stem cell research’

Wednesday 12th March 2014, 1-2pm, Sunley Conference Centre.

This presentation will cover the major sources of conflict and controversy in the ethics of stem cell research. Some of the contested issues raised and discussed will include: the use of surplus embryos from fertility clinics; the creation of embryos specifically for research; the use of cybrid embryos that transcend the species boundary; the commodification of human embryonic tissue and the awarding of patents for the products or processes of embryo research.

In this seminar Dr Merryn Ekberg, Senior Lecturer, University of Northampton  will explore the ethical issues alongside the legal and policy framework that governs embryo research in the United Kingdom. The influence of  social norms in shaping this regulatory framework will be explored and explained as the product of an on-going deliberative, consultative and participatory approach to the governance of  biomedical research. This participatory approach to  research governance involves a range of actors. In the final analysis, this discussion of the normative, substantive and procedural issues will be related to broader theoretical debates around the transition from an industrial society to a post-industrial risk society, knowledge society and technological society.