Dr Michael Morrison contributes to new report on neural organoid governance

The Faculty of Law's Dr Michael Morrison has contributed to a new report from the Nuffield Council on Bioethics (NCoB) on the ethical and governance considerations around neural organoids.

Organoids are small, lab-grown, three-dimensional structures made from stem cells to model different aspects of an organ or tissue as part of scientific research and innovation. Neural organoids are used to model different aspects of the developing brain. As a rapidly emerging biotechnology that is not covered by the Human Tissue Act 2004, neural organoids present challenges for decision-makers over how to effectively and proportionately regulate their use – including questions relating to sentience and the transplantation of human neural organoids into animals.

Dr Morrison, Senior Researcher at HeLEX (the Centre for Health, Law and Emerging Technologies), took part in several in-person and virtual discussions with NCoB over a period of 18 months in his capacity as an academic expert on the governance of human tissue in research and product development.

The report's key recommendations include the creation of an interdisciplinary alliance of stakeholders to develop best practice guidance for the field, and prioritising the funding of public engagement activities in this area.