- Advanced Materials by Design: Theory and Computation
- African Diaspora and the Atlantic World Research Circle
- Agroecology
- American Indian Studies
- Bioethics
- Biomedical Engineering
- Biophotonics
- Chemical Biology
- Chemistry
- Cognitive Sciences
- Communication Technologies Research
- Comparative Political Economy
- Comparative U.S. Studies
- Computational Sciences
- Computational Systems Biology
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Sciences
- Cultural Studies in a Global Context
- Disability Studies
- Energy Sources and Policy
- Expressive Culture and Diversity in the Upper Midwest
- Food Pathogens and Toxins
- Functional Brain Imaging
- Functional Organic Materials
- Genomics
- Global Governance and International Finance
- Initiative for Studies in Technology Entrepreneurship
- Interdisciplinary Arts Residency Program
- International Environmental Affairs and Global Security
- International Public Affairs
- Land Use
- Law, Society and Justice
- Mathematical Physics - String Theory
- Middle Eastern Studies
- Molecular Biometry
- Nanophase Inorganic Materials and Devices
- Political Economy
- Poverty Studies
- Religious Studies
- Science and Technology Studies
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine
- Structural Biology
- Symbiosis
- Translational Research - Neurodegenerative Diseases
- Very High Energy Astrophysics and Cosmology
- Visual Culture
- Vitamin D
- Women's Health Research/Biology of Sex and Gender Differences
- Zebrafish Biology
Cluster focus
The Bioethics Cluster was designed to add one new faculty member to engage in research, teaching, public education and policy development on the ethical issues arising from modern biotechnology and to strengthen UW-Madison’s long-standing Department of Medical History Bioethics Program. The department’s program in medical ethics, which was established in 1973, was one of the first interdisciplinary medical school programs of its kind and today is one of the strongest bioethics programs in the country. Through the program, graduate students specialize in bioethics while earning a degree in philosophy, law, population health sciences or biotechnology studies (which also offers an M.S. degree). Bioethics Program faculty have a national reputation for work on ethical issues focusing on the applications of biotechnology in medicine, and the scholars have helped frame the bioethics debate and policy at both the state and national levels. The cluster faculty position helped foster two new areas of ethical and policy research focusing on the creation of genetically engineered human-animal hybrids called chimeras (individuals with parts from different species), which promise significant medical and scientific benefits; and the application of biotechnology in agriculture via genetically engineered food and animals.
Cluster accomplishments
- The cluster faculty have published a book on ethical theory, and several articles have been published on the ethical issues arising from the creation of chimeras and on ethical and political issues arising from genetically engineered foods. Work has also begun on a new book synthesizing that research and containing recommendations for governmental and university policy concerning research and applications of chimeras.
- The History of Science Department hosts a regular Colloquia and Brown Bag to foster discussion and interdisciplinary sharing among faculty and staff interested in medical bioethics. Additionally, the cluster faculty have established a twice-a-month Bioethics Reading Group that attracts faculty and students from bioethics and philosophy.
- Bioethics faculty participated on the UW-Madison Biotechnology Advisory Committee that developed consensus guidelines for human embryonic stem cell research policy, including the use of chimeras, at UW-Madison. The cluster faculty also serve on the UW-Madison Embryonic Stem Cell Research Oversight Committee that reviews stem cell research on campus, and work with WiCell, a private, not-for-profit research institute affiliated with UW-Madison, on its stem cell oversight policies.
- Bioethics faculty also helped shape national policy by being instrumental in the development of the National Academy of Sciences 2005 report, “Guidelines for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research.”
- The cluster faculty have developed a new undergraduate course, “Ethics of Modern Biotechnology,” and teach sections of courses incorporating ethical issues in the School of Medicine and Public Health, the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, and the School of Veterinary Medicine.
- The cluster faculty developed the 2002 Bioethics Institute, a weeklong workshop in which faculty in the life sciences developed curricular materials to incorporate bioethics into the classroom. In addition, numerous outreach presentations have been made on bioethics to governmental, educational, medical, non-profit and other interested groups.
Cluster structure
The Medical History Division has seven faculty members; the Bioethics Division has five. Faculty members hold joint appointments in other schools or departments, including law, philosophy, pediatrics and Jewish studies. The faculty interact through departmental meetings and through colloquia and brown bag luncheon series. The cluster is also closely affiliated with the Science and Technology Cluster.
Cluster coordinator, faculty and lead dean
Cluster Coordinator
- Robert Streiffer, Associate Professor, Department of History of Medicine and Philosophy Department
Cluster Faculty
- Robert Streiffer, Associate Professor, Department of History of Medicine and Philosophy Department
Lead Dean
-
Robert N. Golden, Dean, School of Medicine and Public Health