To discuss ethics in genetics, we are honored to host Dr. Arthur Caplan (he/him), a renowned bioethicist and a pivotal figure in the field of medical ethics. He is currently the Drs. William F and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor and founding head of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU School of Medicine in New York City.

Topics Covered:

Evolution of Bioethics in Genetics:
- Insights into how the landscape of bioethics within genetics has evolved over the years.
CRISPR Technology:
- Ethical concerns surrounding the use of CRISPR technology for editing the human germ line.
- Discussion of Dr. Caplan's influential 2015 paper on CRISPR, cited over 200 times.
- Examination of international treaties and policies governing CRISPR use, and their effectiveness, especially in the context of the controversial case of the Chinese scientist who edited embryos.
Ethical Concerns with CRISPR:
- Issues of accessibility, cost, and informed consent for CRISPR-based therapies.
- Risks associated with the misuse of CRISPR for bioterrorism or biowarfare, and mitigation strategies through regulation and oversight.
AI in Genetics:
- Potential impact of rapidly advancing AI technology in genetics.
- Concerns about privacy and confidentiality related to AI applications in genetic data.
IVF and Legal Rulings:
- Discussion of the February 2024 Alabama Supreme Court ruling that embryos created through IVF should be considered children.
- Implications for IVF clinics in Alabama and potential repercussions if other states follow suit.
- Impact on individuals using IVF with preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) to prevent genetic conditions.

Dr. Caplan was the Sidney D. Caplan Professor of Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine in Philadelphia, where he created the Center for Bioethics and the Department of Medical Ethics. Caplan has also taught at the University of Minnesota, where he founded the Center for Biomedical Ethics, the University of Pittsburgh, and Columbia University. He received his PhD from Columbia University.

Dr. Caplan is the author or editor of thirty-five books and over 860 papers in peer reviewed journals. His most recent books are Vaccination Ethics and Policy, with Jason Schwartz and, Getting to Good: Research Integrity in Biomedicine with Barbara Redman.

He has served on a number of national and international committees including as the chair of the National Cancer Institute Biobanking Ethics Working Group, chair of the Advisory Committee to the United Nations on Human Cloning; chair of the Advisory Committee to the Department of Health and Human Services on Blood Safety and Availability. He has also served on the Presidential Advisory Committee on Gulf War Illnesses, the special advisory committee to the International Olympic Committee on genetics and gene therapy, the Special Advisory Panel to the National Institutes of Mental Health on Human Experimentation on Vulnerable Subjects, the Wellcome Trust Advisory Panel on Research in Humanitarian Crises, and the co-director of the Joint Council of Europe/United Nations Study on Trafficking in Organs and Body Parts.

Caplan has served since 2015 as the chairperson of the Compassionate Use Advisory Committee (CompAC), an independent group of internationally recognized medical experts, bioethicists and patient representatives which advises Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen Pharmaceuticals about requests for compassionate use of some of its investigational medicines.

Dr. Caplan is a regular commentator on bioethics and health care issues for WebMD/Medscape, WGBH radio in Boston, WOR radio in New York City and KNX-CBS radio, Los Angeles. He appears frequently as a guest and commentator on various other national and international media outlets.

Dr. Caplan is the recipient of many awards and honors including the McGovern Medal of the American Medical Writers Association and the Franklin Award from the City of Philadelphia. He was a USA Today 2001 “Person of the Year and was described as one of the ten most influential people in science by Discover magazine in 2008.

He has also been honored as one of the fifty most influential people in American health care by Modern Health Care magazine, one of the ten most influential people in America in biotechnology by the National Journal, one of the ten most influential people in the ethics of biotechnology by the editors of Nature Biotechnology, and, one of the 100 most influential people in biotechnology by Scientific American magazine.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, he co-directed an advisory group on sports and recreation for the US Conference of Mayors, created a national working group on coronavirus vaccine challenge studies, developed an ethical framework for distributing drugs and vaccines for J&J, helped develop rationing policies for NYU LMC and many other health systems, was a member of the WHO advisory committee on Covid, ethics and experimental drugs/vaccines, and helped set policy for WIRB/WCG for research studies He was an advisor to Moderna and Accenture. And he continues to serve on the NCAA Sports and Covid committee.

He received the Patricia Price Browne Prize in Biomedical Ethics for 2011. In 2014 he was selected to receive the Public Service Award from the National Science Foundation/National Science Board, which honors individuals and groups that have made substantial contributions to increasing public understanding of science and engineering in the United States. In 2016 the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) honored him with their Rare Impact Award and hFood and Drug Law Institute’s Distinguished Service Leadership Award. In 2019 he was honored by the Food and Drug Administration’s, Reagan/Udall Foundation with its Innovation Award.NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing Humanitarian Award.He holds seven honorary degrees from colleges and medical schools.

Check out these articles related (or mentioned) during the episode.

DNA Today Episode #284 IVF Implications of Alabama's Frozen Embryo Ruling with Laura Hercher

DNA Today Episodes #288 and #289 CRISPR Cured Victoria Gray’s Sickle Cell

No time to waste—the ethical challenges created by CRISPR

Standing on the Shoulders of Giant Artificial Intelligence Bots: Artificial Intelligence Can and Therefore Must Now Elevate Equity in Health Professional Education

Dr. Athur Caplan's Faculty Listing at NYU

Genetic Counseling Ethical Challenges and Consequences Book Co-Authored by Dr. Caplin

Hospital At Center of Alabama Embryo Ruling Is Ending IVF Services (NY Times Article)

Dr. Caplan was also generous enough to provide his email address (Arthur.Caplan@nyulangone.org) so you can reach out to him directly for any questions or comments.

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