About this talk
Alta Charo is a Bioethicist and Professor of Law and Bioethics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and she is committed to helping society to strike the right ethical balance when it comes to scientific advances in health and medicine. Through her work, Alta shines a spotlight on the intersection between the life-saving benefits of new technologies and the unsettling sense of the unknown that they often bring.
Today, much of Alta’s work focuses on the considerable public concern that surrounds the topic of gene editing. Will we abuse the choices facilitated by new genetic technologies? Will we become obsessed with creating genetic perfection and forget what it means to be human? Tune in to Alta’s 2017 TEDMED Talk to gain insight into the history of genetic advancements and her nuanced views on the topic of genetic modification.
About Alta Charo
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Alta Charo is an internationally renowned leader in the fields of bioethics and law. She is a Professor Emerita of Law and Bioethics at the University of Wisconsin and is a highly respected voice in the public debate on science policy and new technologies. Her work focuses on the legal and ethical issues that arise from new scientific discoveries, especially in areas like gene editing and reproductive medicine. In 2016, she co-chaired a major committee for the National Academies, which released an important report on the ethical use of human gene editing. Her findings continue to shape policy and public discussion around this powerful technology. A dedicated public servant, Alta served as a senior policy advisor in the Obama administration at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from 2009 to 2011. She has also advised numerous other government agencies and expert committees on issues ranging from stem cell research to the ethics of artificial intelligence in medicine. An elected member of the National Academy of Medicine, she has published over 100 articles and reports, making her a trusted authority in her field.
