Register by April 24 for bioethics colloquium's dangerous-pathogens discussion May 2

Brief

Dr. Victor Sidel, co-founder of Physicians for Social Responsibility, is the keynote speaker at the seventh annual Hutchinson Center Bioethics Colloquium, "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Health! The Ethics of Dangerous Pathogen Research: Basic Science, Clinical Trials and Public Health," on May 2, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., in Pelton Auditorium.

Sidel, also a professor of social medicine at Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine and a professor of public health at Weill Medical College of Cornell University, will speak on "Bioterrorism and Bioterrorism Preparedness: Cooptation of Public Health?"

Sidel will discuss methods to prevent development and use of bioweapons. He will also speak about the negative consequences of preparedness for a bioweapon attack, including diversion of resources needed for disease research, constraints on civil rights and liberties, and dysfunctional self-interest.

Following Sidel's speech, Dr. Anna Mastroianni, a health-law and bioethics professor at the University of Washington Law School, will moderate a panel discussion with the goal of approaching numerous bioethics questions related to dangerous pathogens from several viewpoints. The discussion and break-out sessions will be led by Sidel; Dr. Sam Miller, a microbiologist who has advocated for a Biosafety Level 3 facility at UW; Dr. Bud Nicola, senior consultant for Turning Point, an initiative to strengthen and transform the U.S. public-health system; and Dr. John Donnelly, senior director of vaccine development, Chiron Corporation.

Participants receive research-ethics education credit, which counts toward the two-credits-per-year requirement for all Center-based trainees.

A volunteer committee of Center graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, including Megan Fesinmeyer, Dara Lehman, Shannon Murray, and Drs. Michael Davis, Helen Gharwan, Alyson Littman, Yu Chen and Shannon Payne, planned the seminar.

Registration is limited to Center faculty, staff and affiliates and is only necessary for those registrants planning to attend the entire colloquium (box lunch provided). To register online, visit www.fhcrc.org/science/education/courses/research_ethics/training/schedule/ or contact Lora Lindsey at (206) 667-6109 or llindsey@fhcrc.org. The registration deadline is April 24. Contact Lee Strucker with questions at (206) 667-1247.

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