Learn More2026-09-08 12:00:002026-09-08 13:00:00America/New_YorkResearch Ethics & Policy Series (REPS): "Intentionally Infecting Humans: is it Ethical?" - Seema Shah, JD, HEC-C
Intentionally Infecting Humans: Is it Ethical?
Seema Shah, JD, HEC-C
Founder’s Board Professor of Medical Ethics
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Lurie Children’s Hospital
In controlled human infection (CHI) research, researchers intentionally expose people to pathogens to gain powerful scientific insights. CHI research has led to key breakthroughs but remains controversial. In this talk, Prof. Shah will first provide a brief historical overview of this research, demonstrating how ethically problematic research from the past still casts a shadow on research today. She will then explain modern CHI research, demonstrating how a fundamental lack of understanding of this research contributed to ethical controversy during the COVID-19 pandemic that has persisted. Finally, Prof. Shah will provide an ethical framework to govern the appropriate use of this research going forward, with implications for research ethics oversight more generally.
Registration required; Lunch provided
Streaming available via Zoom.
3600 Civic Center Blvd, 11-102AB (Hybrid)Penn Medical Ethics
Learn More2026-10-06 12:00:002026-10-06 13:00:00America/New_YorkBronstein/Research Ethics & Policy Series (REPS): "Ethical Issues in Sociobehavioral Genomics Research" - Eric Turkheimer, PhD
Eric Turkheimer, PhD
Hugh Scott Hamilton Professor of Psychology
University of Virginia
The Turkheimer lab studies how interactions between genes and environments shape the development of human behavior. We study many different aspects of behavior, but we are especially interested in issues involved in family life, including marriage, divorce and parenting. Other lines of research focus on the development of human intelligence and personality, particularly in the processes that lead siblings to become different from each other over time. We also study human personality in ways that don't explicitly include genetics. We are developing methods that allow richer and more individualized assessments of personality, and that control for the role played by self-esteem when people describe their own personality.
More detail to follow.
Registration required; Lunch provided
Streaming available via Zoom.
3600 Civic Center Blvd, 11-102AB (Hybrid)Penn Medical Ethics
Learn More2026-11-10 12:00:002026-11-10 13:00:00America/New_YorkResearch Ethics & Policy Series (REPS): Rebecca Ahrens-Nicklas / Kiran Musunuru
Individualized Genetic Interventions
Rebecca Ahrens-Nicklas, MD, PhD
Associate Professor, Pediatrics (Human Genetics)
Director, Gene Therapy for Inherited Metabolic Disorders Frontier Program
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Kiran Musunuru, MD, PhD
Barry J. Gertz Professor for Translational Research
Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
More detail to follow.
Registration required; Lunch provided.
Streaming available via Zoom.
3600 Civic Center Blvd., 11-102AB (Hybrid)Penn Medical Ethics
Learn More2026-12-08 12:00:002026-12-08 13:00:00America/New_YorkResearch Ethics & Policy Series (REPS): Anne Cappola, MD, ScM
Anne Cappola, MD, ScM
Professor of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism
Executive Director, Penn Medical Communication Research Institute (PMCRI)
Director of Clinical Research, Department of Medicine
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Cappola heads PMCRI, which advances medical and health communication research by hosting seminars and symposia on various topics in medical communication and facilitating and funding research in medical information delivery by interdisciplinary teams within Penn.
More detail to follow.
Registration required; Lunch provided.
Streaming available via Zoom.
3600 Civic Center Blvd., 8-031 (Hybrid)Penn Medical Ethics