New Genetics and Society

Developments in stem cell research are reshaping our fundamental understanding of biology and the boundaries of medical practice. Technology innovation in this field has enabled the in-vitro derivation of gametes and embryos, in-utero foetal interventions, the modelling of diseases in a dish, the development of organoid systems, and a growing number of new clinical treatments and approaches, among others. The ethical and regulatory landscape is also changing rapidly in the world. Examples are the 2021 International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) guidelines on relaxing the “14-day” rule; the 2022 revoking of the constitutional right to abort by the US Supreme Court; and in China the 2019 amended patent examination guideline that allows the patenting of stem cells, including human embryonic stem cells.

From a societal perspective, these developments pose new challenges and require interdisciplinary reflection and inclusive and open communication between researchers, members of the public, industry, and government bodies. This article collection in New Genetics and Society provides a forum for critical, interdisciplinary analysis and reflection on the social, ethical, legal and policy aspects of recent developments in stem cell research and technology. It invites empirical and theoretical contributions from all parts of the world, related to all areas of stem cell biology and medicine in both academia and industry.

Possible topics encompass but are not restricted to questions around:

• the translation of stem cell research, including commodification and patenting,
• access to, affordability, and health care prioritization of emerging therapies
• regulatory oversight of autologous cell therapy products
• the proposed extension of the 14-day limit to use and cultivate human embryos
• The collection and banking of stem cells, genetic materials and medical data
• Ethical and legal issues related to cross-species chimeras, human stem cell genome editing, Organoid Technology
• The effects of global differences in wealth, cultural values and regulation on the ways in which stem cell technologies are developed and commercialized

All manuscripts submitted to this Article Collection will undergo a full peer-review; the Guest Advisor for this collection will not be handling the manuscripts (unless they are an Editorial Board member). Please review the journal scope and author submission instructions prior to submitting a manuscript.

The deadline for submitting manuscripts is 30 June 2024.

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Dr. Li Jiang is an Associate Professor of Intellectual Property law at Shanghai International College of Intellectual Property, Tongji University, where she teaches patent law, new frontiers of intellectual property law and biotechnological invention intellectual property protection. Prior to joining sicip, she was a lecturer at Kenneth Wang School of Law, Soochow University. She holds a Ph.D. from Bangor University Law School, UK, a LL.M from Shandong University, China and a B.S. in Biotechnology from University of Science and Technology Beijing, China. Her scholarship focuses on the scope of patentability in respect of the application of the moral exclusion to patent application as well as regulation of emerging biotechnology such as stem cell technology and genome editing technology.

Li has written one book published in Springer and many articles in scholarly journals such as New Genetic and Society, Science and Engineering Ethic, Biosocieties, Biotechnology Law Report etc. Li also has been awarded fund by National Social Science Foundation in China, Ministry of Justice, China Law Society etc., which is related to the ethical, social, and regulatory issues that arise from the uptake of genome editing research and human embryonic stem cell. Li is the reviewer for many journals including journal of Law and the Biosciences, Asia Pacific Law Review, Biosocieties, Stem Cell Translational Medicine, Pharmaceutical Patent Analyst etc. Li is also a lawyer and patent attorney in China.

Dr. Achim Rosemann has an interdisciplinary background in medical anthropology, science and technology studies (STS) as well as China and East Asian studies, with fieldwork experience in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the UK. My research examines the socio-cultural, economic, political and regulatory dimensions of developments in biomedicine and biotechnology. He has published widely in social science journals, biomedical and life science journals, edited book volumes, and online platforms. I serve as an associate editor for the journal Science as Culture. For a full overview of publications and present as well as past research projects see: https://socialsciences.exeter.ac.uk/sociology/staff/rosemann/

Dr. Yaojin Peng, Zhiyi Professor, Institute of Zoology (Chinese Academy of Sciences), Beijing Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine (BISCRM); Director of the Centre for Ethics of Science and Technology (CEST). He holds a Bachelor’s degree in life science and a Master’s degree in Law. He finished his PhD at the Faculty of Law, Maastricht University, the Netherlands. Dr. Peng’s research focuses on biotechnology law and bioethics, intellectual property rights (patents) and standards, science and technology policy and management. He currently is a member of the expert committee of China Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Collaborative Innovation Platform; Deputy Secretary General of the Academic committee of the Center for Science & Technology Development and Governance, Tsinghua University; a member of the Standard Working Group of Chinese Society for Stem Cell Research (CSSCR); He used to be a fellow member of the Ius Commune Research School, researcher of the Institute for Globalization and International Regulation (IGIR), Maastricht University, team advisor of the 17th Congress of the European Intellectual Property Institutes Network (EIPIN). He visited the School of Law, Singapore Management University (SMU) for six months. He has chaired or participated in many projects. He is the reviewer of several journals and funding projects, such as Cell Stem Cell, Journal of Medical Ethics, Health Care Analysis, etc., and Research Foundation–Flanders (FWO), European Science Foundation (ESF). In 2021, he was selected into the “Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences”, and had the honour to win the Awards of “Advanced Individual for Stem Cell Social Welfare” of the CSSCR.

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