Human Stem Cell Study Group

The Human Stem Cell Study Group functioned during the 2001-2002 academic year. You can download the results of the group below.

Background

Among the interests of the Indiana University Center for Bioethics (IUCB) is to engage issues that raise profound moral questions and provide a resource to the IU community, to Indiana, and to the entire country. The 1998 reports by Wisconsin and Johns Hopkins University researchers respectively that they had isolated human embryonic stem cells raised important social, ethical, legal, and policy issues. Researchers, legislatures, health science campuses, the private sector, and society continue to grapple with these issues, so we believe it is fitting for the IUCB to provide an opportunity to engage in an informed discussion.

Purpose

The purpose of the Stem Cell Study Group (Study Group) was to examine the scientific, ethical, legal, social, and policy issues that arise from research involving human embryonic stem (ES) cells.

Goal

The primary goal of the Study Group was to inform the university and wider communities about various perspectives involved in this timely topic. After the completion of the Study Group, its members prepared its results within a white paper, which is featured below. Views expressed would be those of the authors, not of IU/IUPUI.

Methods

The Study Group met on a regular (preferably biweekly) basis at the IU Center for Bioethics from January until June 2002. Each meeting was devoted to a presentation and discussion of a specific question (e.g., what are the sources of embryonic stem cells and are they comparable?; should the federal government or the state permit, or prohibit funding of ES cell research?) Each session was lead by a person knowledgeable about the subject matter (often an IU/IUPUI faculty member), and designed their talk around a discussion of a particular aspect of an issue or issues. Each sessions’ discussion and presentation was summarized by those who presented and attended for those who were unable to be at a given sessions. Emails were also circulated to participants when pertinent ideas and articles arose.

Participants

The Stem Cell Study Group was open to the Faculty and students of Indiana University (IUPUI and Bloomington campuses) and, by to others in the Indianapolis community. One desire of the group was to involve a diverse group of people from various university departments and specialities.

Publications

• Indiana University Center for Bioethics Stem Cell Study Group. Diverse perspectives: considerations about embryonic stem cell research. Indiana University Center for Bioethics. October, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/1805/636