Center faculty conduct research in a range of areas, including writing and grant funded research in bioethics, health law, communications, medical humanities, and related areas. This page list shared areas of research in the following areas. Specific projects are listed under each area, and link to the relevant section of that faculty member's research page.
Informed Consent and Shared Decision Making
Overview: Faculty carry out projects studying informed consent and shared decision making and related ethical issues in a number of areas, and test ways to improve patient involvement and choice. Areas include:
- Risk communication and quantitative information in decision aids (Dr. Peter Schwartz, MD, PhD)
- Decision making in the setting of extreme prematurity (Dr. Brownsyne Tucker- Edmonds, MD, MPH, MS)
- Race and end-of-life care (Dr. Brownsyne Tucker-Edmonds, MD, MPH, MS)
- Dignity in end-of-life care (Dr. Ryan Antiel, MD, MSME)
Other projects in the focus areas of Precision Health and Genetics and Research Ethics also involve ethics of consent and decision making (see below).
Precision Health and Genetics
Overview: Since the inception of the IU Center for Bioethics, our faculty have studied and addressed ethical issues related to genetics and other areas of precision health. Current and recent projects include:
- Genetic testing (Dr. Colin Halverson, PhD)
- Pharmacogenomics (Dr. Schwartz)
- Precision prevention (Dr. Schwartz)
Other projects in the focus areas of Informed Consent and Shared Decision Making, Health Information, and Research Ethics also involve ethics of Precision Health and Genetics (see below).
Health Information
Overview: Health information, in electronic health records, health apps, and myriad other forms, is a boon to healthcare, public health, and public policy, but also poses important ethical challenges. Faculty at the IU Center for Bioethics study the ethics and possible uses of health information in many areas, including:
- Clinical research informatics (Dr. Peter J. Embi, MD)
- Decision support (Dr. Aaron E. Carroll, MD)
- Health information technology (Dr. Embi)
- Patient control and privacy of electronic health information (Dr. Schwartz)
Research Ethics
Overview: The IU Center for Bioethics is home to the Bioethics and Subject Advocacy Program of the Indiana CTSI since 2008, and faculty collaborate, consult, and conduct research on communication and ethics of research in multiple areas. Examples include:
- Biobank consent (Dr. Schwartz)
- Biobanking: Pediatric and adolescent (Prof. Jane Hartsock, JD)
- Learning healthcare systems (Dr. Peter Embi, MD)
- Return of individual research results (Dr. Colin Halverson, Ph.D.)
Health Policy and Law
Overview: IU Center for Bioethics faculty study and recommend changes in health policy and law in multiple areas, including:
- Healthcare reform and public values (Dr. David Craig, PhD)
- Hepatitis C treatment for prisoners (Prof. Rob Katz, JD)
- HIP: Community engagement with the Healthy Indiana Plan (Dr.Craig)
- International travel for organ transplantation (Prof. Jane Hartsock, JD)
- Medical Malpractice (Dr. Aaron E. Carroll, MD)
- Opiates (Prof. Ross D. Silverman, JD, MPH)
- Public communication and discussion of health policy (Dr. Carroll)
- Utility measurement and decision analysis (Dr. Carroll)
- Vaccines (Prof. Silverman)
Pediatric Ethics
Overview: IU Center for Bioethics faculty investigators provide thoughtful analysis on ethical issues surrounding infants, children, and adolescents.
- Adolescent risk-taking and sexual behavior (Dr. Mary Ott, MD)
- Adolescent research (Dr. Ott)
- Biobanking: Pediatric and adolescent (Dr. Ott)
- Global adolescent health and research (Dr. Ott)
- Parental Attitudes in Prenatal Research (Dr. Antiel)
- COVID-19 Pandemic and Pediatric Patients (Dr. Antiel)