Beyond consciousness: Ethical, legal, and social issues in human brain organoid research and application

Masanori Kataoka; Takuya Niikawa; Naoya Nagaishi; Tsung Ling Lee; Alexandre Erler; Julian Savulescu; Tsutomu Sawai

doi:10.1016/j.ejcb.2024.151470

Beyond consciousness: Ethical, legal, and social issues in human brain organoid research and application

Masanori Kataoka, Takuya Niikawa, Naoya Nagaishi, Tsung Ling Lee, Alexandre Erler, Julian Savulescu, Tsutomu Sawai

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

This study aims to provide a comprehensive review of the ethical, legal and social issues in human brain organoid research, with a view to different types of research and applications: in vitro research, transplantation into non-human animals, and biocomputing. Despite the academic and societal attention on the possibility that human brain organoids may be conscious, we have identified diverse issues in human brain organoid research and applications. To guide the complex terrain of human brain organoid research and applications, a multidisciplinary approach that integrates ethical, legal, and social perspectives is essential.

Original language	English
Article number	151470
Journal	European Journal of Cell Biology
Volume	104
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejcb.2024.151470
Publication status	Published - Mar 2025

Keywords

Biocomputing
Brain organoid
Chimera
ELSI
Ethics
Public engagement

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Histology
Cell Biology

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10.1016/j.ejcb.2024.151470

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abstract = "This study aims to provide a comprehensive review of the ethical, legal and social issues in human brain organoid research, with a view to different types of research and applications: in vitro research, transplantation into non-human animals, and biocomputing. Despite the academic and societal attention on the possibility that human brain organoids may be conscious, we have identified diverse issues in human brain organoid research and applications. To guide the complex terrain of human brain organoid research and applications, a multidisciplinary approach that integrates ethical, legal, and social perspectives is essential.",

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AU - Kataoka, Masanori

AU - Niikawa, Takuya

AU - Nagaishi, Naoya

AU - Lee, Tsung Ling

AU - Erler, Alexandre

AU - Savulescu, Julian

AU - Sawai, Tsutomu

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AB - This study aims to provide a comprehensive review of the ethical, legal and social issues in human brain organoid research, with a view to different types of research and applications: in vitro research, transplantation into non-human animals, and biocomputing. Despite the academic and societal attention on the possibility that human brain organoids may be conscious, we have identified diverse issues in human brain organoid research and applications. To guide the complex terrain of human brain organoid research and applications, a multidisciplinary approach that integrates ethical, legal, and social perspectives is essential.

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Beyond consciousness: Ethical, legal, and social issues in human brain organoid research and application

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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