PhD project on embryo research and embryo proxies: ethical and policy questions (BAP-2024-590)

The IMPLANTEU consortium is an international network, funded under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network (MSCA-DN). IMPLANTEU is dedicated to advancing research in embryo implantation across both human health and agriculture. This international network seeks to develop a comprehensive molecular blueprint of implantation, with the dual goals of enhancing our understanding of human reproductive processes and improving implantation efficiency in livestock. By combining cross-disciplinary expertise in reproductive and stem cell biology, medicine, physiology, ethics, law, and advanced technologies such as stem cell-based embryo models, organoids, machine learning, and organs-on-chip, the project is set to make significant contributions to both fields. The goal of this specific PhD project is to analyse ethical aspects of embryo proxies. The objectives are to (1) To identify, discuss and analyse ethical and policy issues on the use of embryos for research; and (2) To identify, discuss and analyse ethical and policy issues regarding in vitro modelling and the use of various types of proxies for the human embryo and the endometrium. Ethical and policy aspects will be studied from both a theoretical and an empirical perspective. The use of this multi-disciplinary approach to investigate the ethical aspects of embryo proxies for research will assist in the development of a policy analysis and recommendations related to their use.