Wrestling with Social and Behavioral Genomics

Online

Social and behavioral genomics research uses huge sets of genetic data in attempts to shed light on phenotypes from smoking and eating behaviors, to psychiatric disorders, to sexuality and educational attainment. How should we think about the risks of such research, including the risks that its results can be weaponized or lead to policy fatalism?...

The Promise and Perils of Social and Behavioral Genomics

Online

While many promise that the study of genomic variants can help us better understand ourselves and our world, others are concerned that recent scientific developments have helped fuel the rise of harmful ideologies, such as white supremacy and antisemitism. The scientific community must consider whether the misappropriation of genetic evidence has played any role in...

Should We Change “Chimeric” Human-Animal Research?

SPECIAL REPORT: Creating Chimeric Animals: Seeking Clarity on Ethics and Oversight Crossing species boundaries by inserting human cells into (nonhuman) animals for research purposes promises to yield enormous benefits, including better models of human disease and ultimately sources of tissues and organs suitable for transplantation into humans. Yet there are ethical questions about this type...

Toward Navigating Danger and Promise Together–Editing the Human Genome

A frank look at the ethics of breakthrough genetic technologies TRANSCRIPT A just-concluded summit looked at the state of human genome editing, where the scandal of China's CRISPR babies was fresh in the minds of many. But attendees also heard of the exciting promise that gene editing therapy holds for sickle cell disease, a condition...

The Battle for Your Brain

At the intersection of neuroscience and artificial intelligence lies a wealth of opportunity for business, labor, and society at large. Yet along with progress comes a host of legal and ethical dilemmas. Watch Nita Farahany and Mildred Solomon consider what our neurological information is worth, and the implications of making it available to corporations, work places...

Should AI Care For Us?

Ethics, AI, and Society Increased attention to the widespread applications of artificial intelligence—and large language models such as ChatGPT in particular—has raised questions about the integration of AI into caregiving relationships. AI will allow at least the appearance of more effective caregiving for aging adults and children by tailoring conversations to an individual’s history and...

Can AI Improve Health Care for Everyone?

Virtual

Fast-moving developments in artificial intelligence have far-reaching implications for caregivers, patients, and the entire healthcare system. Will the introduction of AI systems improve diagnosis, treatment, and research, bringing better and fairer healthcare to all? Or not? Panelists:Dr. Nicol Turner Lee of The Brookings Institute Dr. Danielle Whicher of Mathematica Moderator:Josephine Johnston of The Hastings Center...

What Ought to be the Future of Just and Equitable Policies for Healthy Aging?

NYU Division of Medical Ethics, NYU Grossman School of Medici

Hastings Center President Emerita Mildred Z. Solomon will join a panel discussion on the future of just and equitable policies for healthy aging with Professor Michael L. Freedman of NYU Grossman School of Medicine and Mehmood Khan, Chief Executive Officer, Hevolution.  Arthur Caplan, head of the division of medical ethics at NYU Grossman will moderate the session...

Rebuilding Trust in Science

Since before the pandemic we have been experiencing a breakdown in trust in science and health care. Explore the reasons for this crisis, with authors of a just-released Hastings Center special report on trust, who show a path forward to heal our fractured society. Transcript Trust Event With panelists Arthur Caplan, PhD, NYU Grossman School of...