Nienke de Graeff
Assistant Professor, Leiden University Medical Center
Introducing EMERGE:
EMERGE was born in Geneva during a workshop at the Brocher Foundation, entitled Research with Human Stem Cell-Based Embryo Models: Defining Ethical Boundaries, where a group of scholars from diverse disciplines—including bioethics, law, and developmental biology—came together to explore the questions emerging from this rapidly evolving area of research.
SCBEMs offer unprecedented opportunities to deepen our understanding of early human development. At the same time, they challenge existing ethical frameworks, regulatory boundaries, and public expectations about what it means to study and model human life. EMERGE aims to serve as a space where these tensions can be examined constructively and collaboratively.
Through joint initiatives, the network seeks to foster responsible, reflective, and inclusive approaches to SCBEM research that respect both scientific innovation and societal values. Further information about EMERGE, its members, and upcoming activities will be available soon. Stay tuned for updates as we build this vibrant community at the intersection of science, ethics, and society.
Our members
Megan Munsie
Professor, University of Melbourne
David Lawrence
Assistant Professor in Biolaw, Durham University
David is a bioethicist by background researching ethical, legal, and policy implications of emerging biotechnologies, including neurotechnologies, implantable devices, and human enhancement. He has other research interests in bioethics and the medical law more generally, with a current project focussing on the creation of new lifeforms through synthetic biology. He is an editor for the journals Clinical Neuroethics and Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics.
Garðar Árnason
Professor of Philosophy, University of Akureyri
Garðar's research focuses on ethics and philosophy of science and technology, and the philosophy of education.
Richard Gibson
Lecturer, Aston University
Alessandro Blassime
Lecturer, ETH Zurich
Susanne C. van den Brink
Senior Researcher
Emma Cave
Professor of Healthcare Law, Durham University
Sarah Chan
Chancellor's Fellow in Ethics and Science Communicator, University of Edinburgh
Sarah Chan is an interdisciplinary bioethicist whose research explores the ethics of emerging modes of biomedicine. She works actively to engage scientists, policymakers, and wider publics in discussions around these issues.
Lien De Proost
Postdoctoral researcher, KU Leuven
Niels Geijsen
Professor, Leiden University Medical Center
Andy Greenfield
Honorary Research Fellow, University of Oxford
Søren Holm
Professor of Bioethics, University of Manchester
Rosario Isasi
Associate Professor of Human Genetics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Kazuto Kato
Professor of Biomedical Ethics and Public Policy, Osaka University
Fredrik Lanner
Professor of Embryonic Stem Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute
Kirstin Matthews
Fellow in Science and Technology Policy, Baker Institute Science & Technology Policy
Kirstin's research focuses on ethical and policy issues related to biomedicine. Specifically, in emerging technologies including vaccines, stem cells, human embryo research, as well as how the federal government funds and gets advice on science research.
Heidi Mertes
Associate Professor in Medical Ethics, Ghent University
Naomi Moris
Group leader, The Francis Crick Institute
Naomi's research focuses on how cells make fate decisions, and in particular, how these decisions are coordinated between cells to give rise the patterns that arise through development.
Sarah Norcross
Director, Progress Educational Trust
Yoajin Peng
Zhiyi Professor, Beijing Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine
Ana Pereira Daoud
Senior Researcher, Leiden University Medical Center
Ana's research focusses on exploring the ethical ramifications of stem cell-derived gametes (SCDGs) and contributing to the development of tangible guidelines, capable of harnessing the potential of SCDGs as valuable research tools, whilst remaining conscientious of morally and legally acceptable practices.
Jose Polo
Professor, University of Adelaide
Nicolas Rivron
Principal investigator, Austrian Academy of Science
Sandy Starr
Deputy Director, Progress Educational Trust
Roger Sturmey
Professor of Reproductive Medicine, Hull York Medical School
Jeremy Sugarman
Professor of Bioethics and Medicine, Johns Hopkins University
Ilke Turkmentag
Reader in Biomedicine and Society, Newcastle University
Hannes Wolff
Dr.iur. Assessor University of Passay
Jun Wu
Associate Professor, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center