FRS 002Y — Sec. 001 — (2 units) — CRN 53267 — F 3:10-5:00 PM — 25 Wellman
Embryonic Stem Cell Research Debate: Scientific and Ethical Aspects

Instructor: Scott Simon, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering

Description: The theme of this course will focus on the ethical debate surrounding the use of embryonic stem cells in research and potential therapeutics. We will debate the ethics and risk to benefit ratio in advancing stem cells towards clinical application. Arguments from Judeo and Christian points of view as presented in the text will be discussed. The issue of the use of embryonic stem cells provides a central theme in the broader discussion of how to proceed in the study of human tissue development and organ and tissue engineering. The goal of this course is to first gain some general knowledge as to the derivation and importance of embryonic stem cells in science and second to address the ethical issues surrounding the harvesting and use of such human material.

Format: Material to be handed out for class discussion will be excerpts from; The Human Embryonic Stem Cell Debate: Science, Ethics, and Public Policy (Basic Bioethics) by Suzanne Holland (Editor), Karen Lebacqz (Editor), Laurie Zoloth (Editor). The format of this course will be one weekly meeting for l hour 50 minutes in an informal setting around the BME conference table. The lecture will consist of a brief (15 minute) lecture introducing the topic and a set of questions to discuss. The remainder of the class time dedicated to a class discussion dealing with the ethical aspects of embryonic stem cell research and therapeutic potential.. The only assignments will be reading of the material to be discussed for the following class meeting. This will be handed out during the prior class. Grading: The class grade will be based on class participation in the discussions (75%) in which knowledge of the topic is demonstrated and arguments supporting a view are presented. The remaining 25% will constitute a three page thesis paper handed in on the last class meeting that deals with one of the topics and surrounding questions raised.

About the Instructor:
Dr. Simon has been a Professor in Biomedical Engineering for the past four years and is the vice chair for undergraduate studies in this department. His research activities are focused on defining the molecular and biophysical mechanisms regulating leukocyte recruitment in inflammation and the development of rational therapeutics to block their inappropriate adhesion during diseases including myocardial infarction and sepsis. He is an Established Investigator for the American Heart Association and is funded by the National Institute of Health to carry out his research on leukocytes in inflammation. He is an Associate Editor for the Annals of Biomedical Engineering and is a Chairman of the Regenerative Medicine Study Section for the NIH.