Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy

Medical Ethics and Health Policy Research

Master
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The Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy is renowned for its comprehensive and original bioethics and policy research using mixed methods (normative analysis, qualitative and quantities research and various policy methods). Faculty members work closely with clinical and scientific colleagues at Baylor College of Medicine, the Texas Medical Center, and throughout the country, to explore a broad range of emerging ethical issues. With a funded research portfolio of over $5 million annually, the center has one of the largest funded research program of any bioethics center in the United States. Our multidisciplinary team of faculty members work closely with clinical and scientific colleagues at Baylor College of Medicine, the Texas Medical Center, and throughout the country.

The following is a list of the areas of research in the center. Explore the projects and personnel who drive our research program.

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Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) & Genetics/Genomics

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Investigating the ethical and responsible integration of advanced technologies, such as genomic sequencing, as well as the policy challenges that accompany these new genomic technologies. This includes topics such as clinical sequencing outcomes and utility evaluation, DTC genetic testing and investigative genetic genealogy, law and policy related to data sharing, coverage and reimbursement, FDA regulation, intellectual property and commercialization, return of research results, biobanking engagement, consent, and governance, psychiatric genomics and gene editing. 

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Neuroethics

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Neuroethics explores the philosophical, ethical, legal, and social implications of advances in neuroscience, as well as broader issues that stem from our expanding insight into memory, consciousness, and personal identity. This includes the ethics of novel neurotechnologies and ethical considerations related to advances in psychiatric genomics research and the translation of this research into clinical practice.
 

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Philosophical Bioethics

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Philosophy and philosophers have a very important and meaningful role to play in contemporary bioethics. As outlined in a recent article in the American Journal of Bioethics, The Place of Philosophy in Bioethics. Today, led by Baylor College of Medicine's Jennifer Blumenthal-Barby, Ph.D., M.A., Cullen professor of Medical Ethics and center associate director, there is a critical need for more meaningful integration of philosophy and bioethics, with not enough current funding for normative and conceptual work in bioethics. This program involves several initiatives and resources to increase the “footprint” (quality and quantity) of normative and conceptual work in bioethics.

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Astro Ethics

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Exploration of the ethical, legal and social issues associated with human experimentation in extra-terrestrial environments

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