Panel on Biotechnology
Thu, Nov 30
|Hopkins Bloomberg Center
The panel on biotechnology examined advancements like CRISPR and AI, highlighting ethical challenges and the need for equitable access, robust governance, and interdisciplinary collaboration to align innovation with societal needs.


Time & Location
Nov 30, 2023, 5:00 PM
Hopkins Bloomberg Center, 555 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001, USA
About the event
Summary:
The panel on biotechnology brought together experts from various fields to discuss the rapid advancements, ethical challenges, and governance issues in the industry.
Nitish Thakor highlighted ethical and economic dilemmas in resource allocation in relation to massive investments in advanced neurotechnology, such as Elon Musk's Neuralink, in contrast with affordable prosthetics that could impact millions globally. He also emphasized the importance of developing ecosystems similar to the successful deployment of defibrillators, combining public investment, private innovation, and societal awareness. Greg Newby focused on CRISPR technology and noted the approval of the first CRISPR-based therapy for sickle cell disease in the UK and the anticipated FDA approval in the U.S. Newby stressed the transformative potential of genome editing but raised concerns about equitable access, high costs, and the potentially different genetic responses across populations.
Jeremias Sulam emphasized the critical need for trustworthiness and fairness in AI applications,…