Clarifying the Ethics and Oversight of Chimeric Research

For decades, researchers have inserted different types of human cells into nonhuman animals at various stages of development to advance our understanding of human biological processes and identify new investigational therapies. For almost as long as scientists have conducted this kind of research, there has been debate about whether it should take place and, if it does, how best to respond to the ethical and policy issues it raises. Particular public, academic, and policy attention has focused on those studies—often terms “chimera” research—that involve the transfer of human stem cells (or their direct derivatives) into nonhuman embryos or animals. These studies have raised questions about whether the moral status of the nonhuman animals is altered by the insertion of human stem cells, whether it is morally appropriate to cross species boundaries in this way, and whether chimeric studies should be subject to additional prohibitions or oversight. In the United States and several other countries, national bioethics advisory committees or other advisory bodies have published reports that address some of these ethical and policy questions, with most reports including guidance and/or recommendations about whether and under what conditions human-nonhuman chimeric research (hereafter chimeric research) should be conducted. The guidelines differ in important ways; however, their ethical bases are sometimes unclear. In addition, oversight approaches are fragmented, and specific rules or guidelines can be difficult for researchers and oversight committees to operationalize. In this session, speakers will provide an overview of the conceptual, ethical, and regulatory issues raised by chimeric research. This session will take place in Zoom meeting. The use of attendee video is encouraged for participation and interaction with your peers.