Adhering to Ethical Benchmarks in Neurology Clinical Trials Using iPSCs

Abstract

We examine the ethics of using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in cell transplantation treatment of neurologic diseases and the essential types of ethical benchmarks required in clinical trials in neurology using iPSCs, including embryonic pluripotent stem cells. We focus on two issues: (1) comparison and (2) criticism of the two types of neuro-hype (neuro-purism and neuro-essentialism). In order to ensure that the dialog on ethical benchmarks continues to develop in a manner that promotes trust with society and research subjects, concerns about the clinical use of pluripotent stem cells (particularly iPSCs) in neurology must be at the forefront of any ethics discussion.