Maximizing biomedical research impacts through bioethical considerations

Abstract

Bioethics is the formal study of ethical judgments concerning the advances and applications of biology, medicine and related technologies. In a time of unprecedented biomedical advances, it is critical to integrate bioethical frameworks more fully into biomedical research to align these scientific advances with their intended societal needs. In this Perspective, we describe some motivations and frameworks for cross-disciplinary bioethical training for biomedical researchers, and discuss how actively considering bioethics in research and study design could maximize biomedical researchers' intended impacts in society.