BSMS > Research > Clinical and experimental medicine > Theoretical and Empirical Bioethics

Theoretical and Empirical Bioethics

Theoretical and Empirical Bioethics research within BSMS focuses on a number of key areas that complement and enhance the research activity within the school, enrich the undergraduate curriculum and provide the basis for a range of outward-looking activities.

Our researchers are influential in their chosen fields and BSMS has become a hub for ethics-related activities locally and nationally. The medical ethics and humanities team are key contributors to the school's widening participation activities and community engagement.

Researchers

Ethics of practice

The Theoretical and Empirical Bioethics team at BSMS brings together researchers with expertise across a range of ethically complex areas of healthcare, medicine and biomedical science. The team conducts interdisciplinary research, collaborates with clinical and academic partners, and contributes to policy, education and public engagement.

Research interests include stem cell research, foetal medicine, embryo research, antenatal screening and testing, transplantation and organ donation, end-of-life care, genomics, and emerging biomedical technologies.

Translational research and neurodegenerative disease

The group's work has included leading contributions to research exploring the ethical and social dimensions of translational medicine and innovation in healthcare. This includes studies examining the development and implementation of treatments for neurodegenerative conditions and other complex diseases, with a focus on the experiences of patients, families, researchers and healthcare professionals.

Working collaboratively across disciplines, the team continues to investigate how ethical considerations can inform the responsible development and application of new medical technologies and therapies.

Ethical issues in research in developing countries

The Bioethics team has a longstanding interest in ethical issues arising in global health research and practice.

They have worked closely with Prof Melanie Newport to develop the school's involvement in this area through the incorporation of Rapid Ethical Appraisal techniques in BSMS research, contributions to the Global Health MSc and the supervision of PhD students.

Care of dying

Research and teaching in end-of-life ethics remains a key strength within the group. Team members explore ethical questions surrounding palliative care, serious illness, decision-making, communication, and the experiences of patients, families and healthcare professionals.

BSMS continues to host the Sussex Palliative Care Ethics Forum, bringing together practitioners and researchers to discuss contemporary ethical challenges in palliative and end-of-life care.

Body parts, donation and transplantation

The team has extensive expertise in the ethical dimensions of organ donation, transplantation, tissue use and the governance of human biological materials.

Research in this area explores both practical and theoretical issues relating to consent, donation systems, public trust, and equity in access to transplantation, while maintaining strong links with clinicians, policymakers and patient groups.

Medical Humanities

BSMS offers a number of student-selected components (SSCs) in medical humanities.

They include:

Bleeding Hearts and Fevered Minds in the Heart, Lungs and Blood modules
Bedlam and Beyond in the Neuroscience and Behaviour module
Maternity Longing and Loss in the Reproduction and Endocrinology module.

These SSCs offer students an understanding of some of ways that engaging in the humanities may enable them to gain better insight into their own motivation and practice, allow them to become familiar with some of the literature (poetry, drama, prose and film) on the topics covered, and give them an opportunity to write a short story or piece of drama, poem or critical essay.

BACKGROUND IMAGE FOR PANEL

EPPiGen

EPPiGen – The Ethical Preparedness in Genomic Medicine project – is a Wellcome Trust Collaborative Award in Humanities and Social Science (2017-2022) grant number G2330 £1.2M.

more about the EPPIGEN project >

Ethics in Performance

Brighton has a reputation as one of the most cultural cities in Europe. It is a centre for the arts, offering an extraordinary range of galleries, museums, film, comedy and theatre and a world-class annual festival.

Ethics in Performance at BSMS provides a regular calendar of free public events in collaboration with a variety of artists throughout the year shows, demonstrating our commitment to engaging with the wider community. These bring medicine together with art through a range of literary, film, art, phography and performance events.

Read about our work in Ethics and Performance >