Rebecca L. Walker, PhD and Jill A. Fisher, PhD from the Department of Social Medicine have published a new survey that identifies how researchers using vertebrate animals viewed issues of significance for translational science. Rebecca L. Walker, PhD, at left, and Jill A. Fisher, PhD. Rebecca L. Walker, PhD, is lead author and Jill A. … Read more

The UNC Provost’s Office has awarded Eric Juengst a Kenan Foundation-supported university sabbatical for the Spring Semester of 2022. Juengst will pursue research exploring the revival of scientific interest in “good” human genes, by examining different forms of beneficial genomic variant research and their ethical and social implications. Kenan Research Leave proposals are awarded annually … Read more

The Hastings Center recently announced the election of 24 new fellows, which include Jill A. Fisher, PhD and Rebecca L. Walker, PhD in the UNC Department of Social Medicine. The Hastings Center is pleased to announce the election of 24 new fellows. Hastings Center fellows are a group of more than 200 individuals of outstanding … Read more

In Paul Thacker’s article for BMJ Investigation “Covid-19: Researcher blows the whistle on data integrity issues in Pfizer’s vaccine trial,” he outlined poor practices uncovered by a whistleblower at a research company that was contracted to conduct Pfizer’s covid-19 vaccine trial. In the article, questions were raised about the data’s integrity and oversight, and Dr. Fisher commented … Read more

Reece Carter and Matt Washko have been selected as the new student leaders for the School of Medicine’s  Clinical Ethics Discussion Group This position also entails appointment to the UNC Hospital Ethics Committee. Outgoing leaders are Konan Beke and Celia Mizelle. Center for Bioethics faculty members Arlene Davis and Jean Cadigan are advisors to the student … Read more

Annie Lyerly and Kristen Sullivan have been awarded an R01 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) to develop empirically informed guidance for conducting ethically responsible HIV/co-infections research with pregnant adolescents.  Pregnant adolescents face synergistic challenges in the context of HIV – heightened risk of maternal infection, vertical transmission, and maternal and … Read more

Mara Buchbinder has launched the Study to Examine Physicians’ Pandemic Stress (STEPPS) with funding from the Greenwall Foundation and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified ongoing stress, overwork, and disillusionment among the healthcare workforce. Healthcare professionals responding to the pandemic are experiencing crises of moral integrity and personal … Read more

The Research for Ethical Data Science in Southern Africa (REDSSA) project has the overall aims of producing new knowledge regarding the ethical, legal and social implications (ELSI) of conducting data science research to develop evidence-based, context specific guidance for the conduct and governance of data science initiatives such as DS-I Africa, and to strengthen the … Read more

Jill Fisher has recently been awarded a 3-year grant from the National Science Foundation that is focused on university hiring practices for and job market experiences of dual-career academics. With long-time research collaborator Prof. Torin Monahan, this Co-PI project will provide a comprehensive analysis of universities’ dual-career policies and practices and will generate resources for … Read more

With funding from the National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Dr. Jill Fisher is conducting a research study on pediatric clinical trials for food allergies, focusing primarily on peanut allergy. Using ethnographic research methods, the project investigates the on-the-ground ethical challenges that emerge in these clinical trials. In particular, the project explores how … Read more