Presently I am chairing the governor-appointed Nebraska Human Genetic Technologies Commission charged with making recommendations to the state legislature regarding ethical and social issues related to genetics research. The recommendations of that study are due to be released in December. Our teaching mission includes research ethics as well. Virtually every course offering addresses research ethics. Now in its second year, this graduate level course is required for all the Master's degree and Ph.D. students in the biomedical sciences.
Part is didactic, with sessions offered by leaders in the biomedical sciences, ethics and law.
Cases highlighting the issues provide students with an opportunity to discuss the moral duties, rights and character traits of investigators and institutions. A feature of the course that has drawn city-wide attention is a play at the end of the course which is also open to the public. Graduate Dean Barbara Braden coordinates this effort with local actors. We have presented two plays highlighting research ethics issues, both written by Robert G. Martin, an NIH scientist and playwright. Following each performance a CHPE ethicist joins a scientist to lead the discussion with audience and actor participation around the issues raised by the story.