Bioethics helps balance scientific discovery with its impact on society.
Whether they are providing insights on the innerworkings of cellular pathways or creating new products for everyday use, most scientists likely see their work as having an overall benefit to humanity and the world. Within these altruistic goals, though, can lie thorny ethical questions.
Bioethicist Alta Charo said that tackling these hypothetical quandaries at the outset of research can help plan for and mitigate ethical issues before they arise. Currently an independent consultant for private companies, advocacy groups, and the US government, Charo provides recommendations on biotechnology with an emphasis on emerging genetic therapies.
What are some examples of bioethical concerns in life science research?
Common examples that researchers regularly encounter include considering animal welfare in science, appropriate inclusion and exclusion criteria in clinical trials, and informed consent. However, as the focus of scientific projects expands beyond the lab, these questions also expand in scope. What types of changes are acceptable in genome editing? What are the potential impacts of releasing genetically modified organisms in an ecosystem? How can the public be informed about technology without causing panic? Who has access to groundbreaking therapies?
Who is involved in discussing ethical issues in life science research?
Alta Charo has served as a bioethical advisor on several government committees and helped draft guidelines on topics such as embryonic stem cell research and reports on human cloning and other research involving humans.
Alta Charo
We include several parties in these discussions. The researchers familiar with the scientific topics or technology in question are important because that’s often where the questions arise from, so their expertise on the potential applications for the research is vital. If there is a specific population impacted by the research, we’ll want to include those people or advocates for them. We’ll include politicians and general members of the public who can weigh in on their respective concerns.
As a bioethicist, my role is to provide analysis and advice or recommendations for these conversations. On committees, I may outline certain issues and possible approaches to address them, but I’m not in a decision-making role most of the time.
Why is bioethics important in life science research?
By considering ethical issues ahead of time, we can prepare for or outright avoid some challenges down the road. In the case of new therapies that involve gene editing tools, such as for sickle cell disease, these are currently very expensive and difficult to implement, and many of the communities who need them the most don’t have the means to access these treatments. By thinking about this challenge ahead of time, researchers were able to start new lines of investigation to create approaches to deliver these therapies in vivo—which would make them more attainable than the current ex vivo method—while the initial research continued, putting us closer to closing this access gap without stifling important work.
In other scenarios, experts may decide to put limitations on research applications, like gene editing for aesthetic reasons. Alternatively, groups may agree to avoid a field of research altogether, like what we are seeing with the conversation about mirror bacteria, because the potential risks are too great.
At the end of the day, bioethics is at its best when it helps direct research toward responsible innovation and equitable access to its gains. It’s balancing the complexity of scientific information with our values so that we can make responsible decisions to move forward.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity
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