Dr. Insoo Hyun serves as Director of Research Ethics and a faculty member at the Harvard Medical School Center for Bioethics where he holds the position of Senior Lecturer on Global Health and Social Medicine. He concurrently leads as the Inaugural Director of the Center for Life Sciences and Public Learning at Boston's Museum of Science. Dr. Hyun received his BA and MA in Philosophy with Honors in Ethics in Society from Stanford University followed by a PhD in Philosophy from Brown University. Prior to his appointment at Harvard he spent 18 years as Professor of Bioethics and Philosophy at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine where he established himself as a leading voice in biomedical ethics.
Dr. Hyun has been instrumental in shaping international ethical standards for stem cell research having served as chair of the International Society for Stem Cell Research's Ethics and Public Policy Committee for multiple terms. He has played a pivotal role in drafting all of the ISSCR's international research guidelines including serving as co-chair for the organization's Task Force on Guidelines for the Clinical Translation of stem cells. Currently he leads a BRAIN Initiative-funded project examining ethical issues in human brain organoid research collaborating with leading scientists at Harvard and Stanford. Additionally he co-leads an NIH grant focused on improving oversight of stem cell-based human-animal chimera research demonstrating his ongoing influence in emerging biotechnologies.
Dr. Hyun's thought leadership extends beyond stem cells to emerging technologies in the life sciences and innovative approaches to community engagement in bioengineering. He serves on NExTRAC a federal advisory committee providing recommendations to the NIH Director on scientific safety and ethical issues related to emerging biotechnologies. His recent work includes contributing to the 2021 ISSCR research guidelines on chimeras embryo models and genome editing developed through collaboration with global experts in science and ethics. Dr. Hyun continues to address evolving ethical challenges in biotechnology working to develop standards that balance scientific progress with responsible research practices as the field advances.
