Ethical Boundaries in Embryo Model Research

Stem cell-based embryo models (SCBEMs) are transforming research in developmental biology and reproductive science, raising novel scientific, ethical and governance challenges. Rapid scientific advances underscore the need for governance frameworks and public and ethical deliberation that continue to evolve alongside the science. National policies vary, and legal principles are applied inconsistently, highlighting the need for coordinated international approaches.

This five-day invitation-only workshop will bring together leading scientists and ethicists, as well as regulators and policymakers, to address these challenges. It will foster shared understanding of SCBEM research advances, moral questions, and legal contexts. Through plenary discussions, interactive exercises and collaborative working groups, participants will identify cross-cutting priorities and develop a roadmap of next steps and position paper, a regulator-researcher liaison group, and scientific articles on the most pressing of issues in the field. The workshop will strengthen and sustain international collaboration, promote anticipatory governance, and provide actionable guidance for ethical and policy frameworks, facilitating responsible and coherent advancement of international SCBEM research.