Center for Bioethics: Indiana University

Ethics for the future of health and medicine

Founded in 2001, the IU Center for Bioethics is a gathering place for discussion, education, research, and collaboration in bioethics and related fields. Based at the IU School of Medicine, faculty from schools across IU - Indianapolis lead these efforts, guiding healthcare providers and researchers in their work and helping society confront important questions about health, science, and technology.

Resources

The Center hosts talks, publishes a blog, and provides resources and consultations to researchers and others.

Research

Center faculty write and conduct research on bioethics, communication, policy, and other areas.

Education

Center faculty teach bioethics, responsible conduct of research, health law, medical humanities, and related topics.

Blog

Center faculty and staff write accessible short essays on various topics in bioethics, current events, and other various interests.

News from the Center

IUCB Studies Role of Social Media Support Groups for Rare Disease Community

A recent study conducted by members of the IUCB highlights the role of social media support groups in providing informational and emotional support to the rare disease community.

IUCB Publishes in Medical Decision Making

IUCB investigates why patients didn't receive the test they initially preferred.

Click here for more news

All IU Events

Regenstrief Institute: Healthcare AI Conference

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Starts at 8:30 a.m.

This conference provides a unique opportunity to engage, learn and contribute to the next big breakthrough in healthcare AI.

Bioethics Grand Rounds: “Balancing Acts: Navigating Distributive Justice, Health Equity, and Scarce Resource Allocation in Liver Transplantation”

Thursday, February 13, 2025

12 p.m.—1 p.m.

2025 Fairbanks Conference for Clinical Ethics: “Overcoming the Curse of Janus: Ethical Communication Strategies in Clinical Research Excellence” ‍

Friday, February 21, 2025

7:30 a.m.—4 p.m.

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Ruemu Ejedafeta Birhiray

Hall Center for Law and Health McDonald-Merrill-Ketcham Award Lecture & Panel, “Solid Organ Transplants: When Policies, Patients, and Politicians Collide”

Friday, February 21, 2025

10 a.m.—12:15 p.m.

IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law Hall Center for Law and Health 2025 MMK Memorial Award of Excellence in Law and Health Lecture & Panel

Bioethics Grand Rounds: “Whose values define the value of new genomics technologies for rare disease diagnosis and treatment?”

Thursday, March 13, 2025

12 p.m.—1 p.m.

Upcoming Events in Ethics and Humanities

Holocaust Genocide and Contemporary Bioethics Program ~ How Healers Become Killers: Eugenics, Power and Repercussions

Monday, January 27, 2025, 12 p.m.—Monday, January 27, 2025, 2 p.m.

Join us as Matt Wynia, MD, MPH and Spero Manson, PhD talks about the chilling legacy of U.S. eugenics, its role in shaping Nazi racial policies, and the ongoing ethical challenges in medicine, race, and public health today.

A Fireside Chat with Anthony Fauci, MD

Thursday, January 30, 2025, 6:30 p.m.—Thursday, January 30, 2025, 7:30 p.m.

Join us for an interactive, virtual fireside chat with Dr. Fauci as he examines our nation’s past, present, and future responses to pandemics and other public health crises.

OPTN Modernization: A New Era in Organ Transplantation – An Update from Dr. Macey Levan

Friday, January 31, 2025, 12 p.m.—Friday, January 31, 2025, 1 p.m.

Join Macey Levan, JD, PhD, for an in-depth update on the ongoing modernization of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). In this talk, Dr. Levan will explore the latest in the governance restructure for the national organ donation and transplant system.

Ethical Issues in Using Artificial Intelligence in Research and Scholarly Writing

Thursday, February 06, 2025, 12 p.m.—Thursday, February 06, 2025, 1 p.m.

This talk will examine some of the ethical issues raised by using artificial intelligence in scientific research and scholarly writing and discuss some proposed solutions.

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