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Kataoka M, Lee TL, Sawai T. Human Brain Organoid Research and Applications: Where and How to Meet Legal Challenges? JOURNAL OF BIOETHICAL INQUIRY 2024:10.1007/s11673-024-10349-9. [PMID: 38969917 DOI: 10.1007/s11673-024-10349-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024]
Abstract
An ethical and legal framework is needed to regulate the rapidly developing human brain organoid research field properly. However, considering the legal issues involved in human brain organoid research remains underdeveloped and scattered. This article reviews the legal issues of human brain organoid research, grouping them into the following five broad themes: (1) consciousness, (2) legal status, (3) consent, (4) ownership, and (5) transplantation. The issues in each topic include both the urgent (e.g., appropriate forms of consent) and the speculative (e.g., protection of conscious human brain organoids). Therefore, we have attempted to be as explicit as possible about the timescale within which each issue will be realized and to prioritize each. Examining these issues has revealed legal issues specific to human brain organoid research and issues common to research in other fields. Further discussion of human brain organoid research from a legal perspective is needed in the future, considering discussions in related fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Kataoka
- Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan
| | - T-L Lee
- Graduate Institute of Health and Biotechnology Law, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - T Sawai
- Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan.
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
- Centre for Biomedical Ethics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
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Hartung T, Morales Pantoja IE, Smirnova L. Brain organoids and organoid intelligence from ethical, legal, and social points of view. Front Artif Intell 2024; 6:1307613. [PMID: 38249793 PMCID: PMC10796793 DOI: 10.3389/frai.2023.1307613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Human brain organoids, aka cerebral organoids or earlier "mini-brains", are 3D cellular models that recapitulate aspects of the developing human brain. They show tremendous promise for advancing our understanding of neurodevelopment and neurological disorders. However, the unprecedented ability to model human brain development and function in vitro also raises complex ethical, legal, and social challenges. Organoid Intelligence (OI) describes the ongoing movement to combine such organoids with Artificial Intelligence to establish basic forms of memory and learning. This article discusses key issues regarding the scientific status and prospects of brain organoids and OI, conceptualizations of consciousness and the mind-brain relationship, ethical and legal dimensions, including moral status, human-animal chimeras, informed consent, and governance matters, such as oversight and regulation. A balanced framework is needed to allow vital research while addressing public perceptions and ethical concerns. Interdisciplinary perspectives and proactive engagement among scientists, ethicists, policymakers, and the public can enable responsible translational pathways for organoid technology. A thoughtful, proactive governance framework might be needed to ensure ethically responsible progress in this promising field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Hartung
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Health and Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- CAAT-Europe, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Itzy E. Morales Pantoja
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Health and Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Lena Smirnova
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Health and Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Faltus T, Freise J, Fluck C, Zillmann H. Ethics and regulation of neuronal optogenetics in the European Union. Pflugers Arch 2023; 475:1505-1517. [PMID: 37996706 PMCID: PMC10730653 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-023-02888-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Neuronal optogenetics is a technique to control the activity of neurons with light. This is achieved by artificial expression of light-sensitive ion channels in the target cells. By optogenetic methods, cells that are naturally light-insensitive can be made photosensitive and addressable by illumination and precisely controllable in time and space. So far, optogenetics has primarily been a basic research tool to better understand the brain. However, initial studies are already investigating the possibility of using optogenetics in humans for future therapeutic approaches for neuronal based diseases such as Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, or to promote stroke recovery. In addition, optogenetic methods have already been successfully applied to a human in an experimental setting. Neuronal optogenetics also raises ethical and legal issues, e.g., in relation to, animal experiments, and its application in humans. Additional ethical and legal questions may arise when optogenetic methods are investigated on cerebral organoids. Thus, for the successful translation of optogenetics from basic research to medical practice, the ethical and legal questions of this technology must also be answered, because open ethical and legal questions can hamper the translation. The paper provides an overview of the ethical and legal issues raised by neuronal optogenetics. In addition, considering the technical prerequisites for translation, the paper shows consistent approaches to address these open questions. The paper also aims to support the interdisciplinary dialogue between scientists and physicians on the one hand, and ethicists and lawyers on the other, to enable an interdisciplinary coordinated realization of neuronal optogenetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timo Faltus
- Law School, Faculty of Law, Economics and Business, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Johannes Freise
- Law School, Faculty of Law, Economics and Business, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Carsten Fluck
- Law School, Faculty of Law, Economics and Business, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Hans Zillmann
- Law School, Faculty of Law, Economics and Business, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany.
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Pichl A, Ranisch R, Altinok OA, Antonakaki M, Barnhart AJ, Bassil K, Boyd JL, Chinaia AA, Diner S, Gaillard M, Greely HT, Jowitt J, Kreitmair K, Lawrence D, Lee TN, McKeown A, Sachdev V, Schicktanz S, Sugarman J, Trettenbach K, Wiese L, Wolff H, Árnason G. Ethical, legal and social aspects of human cerebral organoids and their governance in Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1194706. [PMID: 38020890 PMCID: PMC10679683 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1194706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Human cerebral organoids (HCOs) are model systems that enable researchers to investigate the human brain in ways that had previously been impossible. The emergence of HCOs was accompanied by both expert and layperson discussions concerning the possibility of these novel entities developing sentience or consciousness. Such concerns are reflected in deliberations about how to handle and regulate their use. This perspective article resulted from an international and interdisciplinary research retreat "Ethical, Legal and Social Aspects of Human Cerebral Organoids and their Governance in Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States", which took place in Tübingen, Germany, in August 2022. The retreat focused on whether HCO research requires new ethical and regulatory approaches. It addressed epistemic issues around the detection and theorisation of consciousness, ethical concerns around moral status and research conduct, difficulties for legislation and guidelines managing these entities, and public engagement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Pichl
- Faculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, University of Potsdam, Germany
- Research Unit “Ethics of Genome Editing”, Institute of Ethics and History of Medicine, The University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Robert Ranisch
- Faculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, University of Potsdam, Germany
- Research Unit “Ethics of Genome Editing”, Institute of Ethics and History of Medicine, The University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ozan Altan Altinok
- Center for Ethics and Law in the Life Sciences, University of Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Melpomeni Antonakaki
- Department of Science, Technology and Society, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Katherine Bassil
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - J. Lomax Boyd
- Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | | | - Sarah Diner
- Institute for Medical Humanities, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Maxence Gaillard
- HYBRIDA Project, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway and UCLouvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Henry T. Greely
- Stanford Law School, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Joshua Jowitt
- Newcastle Law School, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
| | - Karola Kreitmair
- Department of Medical History and Bioethics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - David Lawrence
- Durham Law School, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom
| | - Tim Nicholas Lee
- Edinburgh Infectious Diseases, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Alex McKeown
- Department of Psychiatry, Wellcome Centre for Ethics and Humanities, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Vorathep Sachdev
- Edinburgh Infectious Diseases, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Silke Schicktanz
- Institute of Medical Ethics and History of Medicine, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jeremy Sugarman
- Berman Institute of Bioethics and Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Katharina Trettenbach
- Faculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, University of Potsdam, Germany
- Research Unit “Ethics of Genome Editing”, Institute of Ethics and History of Medicine, The University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Lara Wiese
- Institute for Social and Health Law, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Hannes Wolff
- Chair of Constitutional and Administrative Law, Public International Law, European and International Economic Law, Faculty of Law, University of Passau, Passau, Germany
| | - Garðar Árnason
- Research Unit “Ethics of Genome Editing”, Institute of Ethics and History of Medicine, The University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Akureyri, Akureyri, Iceland
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Kataoka M, Gyngell C, Savulescu J, Sawai T. The Ethics of Human Brain Organoid Transplantation in Animals. NEUROETHICS-NETH 2023; 16:27. [PMID: 37809032 PMCID: PMC10550858 DOI: 10.1007/s12152-023-09532-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, we outline how one might conduct a comprehensive ethical evaluation of human brain organoid transplantation in animals. Thus far, ethical concerns regarding this type of research have been assumed to be similar to those associated with other transplants of human cells in animals, and have therefore not received significant attention. The focus has been only on the welfare, moral status, or mental capacities of the host animal. However, the transplantation of human brain organoids introduces several new ethical issues. Many of these are related to uncertainty regarding whether or not brain organoids might be conscious. While these concerns might not be immediately relevant, they warrant closer scrutiny. We discuss how various ethical issues are relevant to different stages of human brain organoid transplantation and can guide the ethical evaluation of research. Our examination would broaden the horizons of the debate on the transplantation of brain organoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masanori Kataoka
- Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Christopher Gyngell
- Biomedical Ethics Research Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Melbourne Law School, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Julian Savulescu
- Biomedical Ethics Research Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Faculty of Philosophy, The University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Centre for Biomedical Ethics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Tsutomu Sawai
- Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan
- Centre for Biomedical Ethics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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