of the Max - MDC

Bioethics and Science
Communication
Structure of the Group
Group Leader
Dr. Christof Tannert
Scientists
Prof. em. Dr. Erhard Geißler
Ali ben Salem, Mag.*
Dr. Burkhard Jandrig*
Dr. Horst-Dietrich Elvers*
Kathrin Grummich, Mag.*
Michaela Blankenburg*
Student Support
Lars Kaufmann
* part of the period reported
Christof Tannert
Relevant Topics: (1) ethical, legal and social aspects (ELSA)
of stem cell research and of gene therapy; (2) technology
assessment for biomedicine, esp. radiofrequent electromagnetic
fields, cancer, and toxicogenomics
International Workshop “Gene therapy –
Prospective Technology Assessment in its
Societal Context”
A two-week interdisciplinary workshop on the ELSA of gene
therapy was organized. Young post-doc scientists from the
natural sciences, the social sciences, and the humanities
with senior scientists as lecturers identified and discussed
specific problems in a rational and informed discourse. Its
aim was a consensus paper as well as an editorial book on
the state of the art (Project BMBF 01 GP 0482 ). This volume
aggregates contributions of 29 authors from 8 countries
(see below: Selected Publications: Niewöhner/Tannert).
IMBA – Implications of Biomedicine for the
Assessment of Human Health Risks
This project analyses how specific new developments in biomedicine
which are often summarized under the term “toxicogenomics”
will transform the present risk management
framework. The focus of the research is on the impacts –
both challenges and opportunities – for risk characterization,
risk perception, and risk communication. IMBA is an
international project of the “Strategy Group Systems
Analysis and Technology Assessment in the Helmholtz
Association” with focus on radiofrequent electromagnetic
radiation (RF EMF) and cancer (HGF SO-033 System
Analysis).
exposure, (2) mode of action, (3) susceptibility, (4) interspecies
extrapolation. The main results will be published.
Discourse on Ethical Questions of Biomedicine:
Stem Cell Research
The protocols from the citizen´s conference on ethical questions
of stem cell research (see MDC Research Report 2004)
has been further analysed sociometrically. This ongoing
task aims in improving the methods of public discourses on
biomedical ethics.
Internet presence
Website www.bioethik-diskurs.de with bi-weekly scientific
news on the IMBA project, interactive discourse-pages, and
the Online-Game GenEthix. Monthly site visitors of around
10,000 (Sep 2007).
Selected Publications
Tannert, C (2006) Thou shalt not clone. An ethical argument
against reproductive cloning of humans. EMBO Reports 7(3),
238-240.
Niewöhner, J & Tannert, C (Eds.) (2006) Gene therapy.
Prospective technology assessment in its societal context.
Elsevier, Amsterdam, New York, 274 pages.
Geißler, E (2006) The role of German biological weapons experts
after World War II. In: 25 th workshop of the Pugwash study group
on the implementation of the chemical and biological weapons
conventions, Geneva, Switzerland.
Tannert, C (2007) The autonomy axiom and the cloning of
humans. Human Reproduction and Genetic Ethics, 13(1), 4-7.
Tannert, C, Elvers, HD, Jandrig, B (2007) The ethics of
uncertainty. EMBO Reports 8(10), 892-896.
International IMBA Workshops
Two workshops took place in Oct 2006 and May 2007 resp.
at the MDC.C. They aimed in a progress report on recent animal,
epidemiologic and toxicogenomics studies with respect
to RF EMF cancer risk assessment. Discussion foci were: (1)
146 Cancer Research