Brews and Views

About the Series

Brews and Views events are moderated discussions addressing fascinating and provocative areas of bioscience and engineering. The series is a collaboration between the Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering (IQ) and the Center for Bioethics and Social Justice that began in the fall of 2017. These casual discussions engage researchers and scholars in considering the implications of innovative biomedical research for patients, people, animals, and populations.

Brews and Views Archive

Early cancer screening for all: What would you pay to save a life?

September 15, 2023
Discussants: Leonard M. Fleck, PhD, University Distinguished Professor, Center for Bioethics and Social Justice, College of Human Medicine.
Lorenzo F. Sempere, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Radiology, Precision Health Program, College of Osteopathic Medicine and College of Human Medicine.
Moderated by Morteza Mahmoudi, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Radiology, Precision Health Program, College of Osteopathic Medicine and College of Human Medicine.

There were 610K cancer deaths and 1.9 million new cancer diagnoses in the U.S. in 2022. Roughly 150K cancers were diagnosed with five current screening techniques, mostly in advanced stages when treatment is less effective. That leaves 1.7 million cancers that are diagnosed after a patient is symptomatic. Screening for multiple types of cancer at earlier, treatable stages saves lives. Companies are marketing liquid biopsy tests and claim to have met the lofty objective of early screening for many cancer types. However, if you look at the data, how valid are these tests for early detection? Are they ultimately going to be clinically useful? And, who will pay for the 110 million Americans over age 50 who should be tested annually?

Human Reproduction in a Dish: The Science and Ethics of IVF & Artificial Wombs

September 23, 2022
Blog post: Brews and Views returns, addresses “the science and ethics of IVF and artificial wombs”
Discussants: Jennifer Carter-Johnson, PhD, JD, Associate Professor of Law, College of Law.
Leonard Fleck, PhD, Professor, Center for Bioethics and Social Justice, College of Human Medicine.
Richard Leach, MD, Professor and Chair, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, College of Human Medicine; C. Paul Hodgkinson Chair, Department of Women’s Health Services, Henry Ford Health.
Margaret Petroff, PhD, Professor, Department of Pathobiology & Diagnostic Investigation, College of Veterinary Medicine.
Moderated by Chris Contag, PhD, Director, Institute for Quantitative Health Science & Engineering.

The science of human reproduction is leading to innovations that could dramatically impact reproductive health. Can society and the judicial system keep pace with the technologies of in vitro fertilization (IVF), stem cell biology, artificial wombs, and in vitro gestation? Our expert panelists will dive into the scientific, ethical, societal, and legal aspects regarding the creation, storage, and disposition of embryos and fetuses, and technologies that could change how human gestation occurs.

From Gold to Weevil: Exploring the science and ethics of GMOs

April 9, 2021, Brews and Views: At Home Edition
Series theme: Is This Food Good?
Watch the recorded session on YouTube
Discussants: Kevin Elliott, PhD, Professor, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Department of Philosophy, and Lyman Briggs College.
Felicia Wu, PhD, John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor in Food Safety, Toxicology, and Risk Assessment, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics, College of Agriculture & Natural Resources.
Moderated by Bjoern Hamberger, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Natural Science.

GMOs (genetically modified organisms) have been the subject of intense controversy for decades. They hold the potential to improve yields, make foods more nutritious, and enhance the resistance of crops to droughts, pests, and diseases. At the same time, critics worry that GMOs are typically associated with centralized, intensive approaches to agriculture that are socially and environmentally problematic. Focusing especially on herbicide-resistant crops, insecticidal crops, and golden rice, we will shed light on the strengths and weaknesses of GMOs from both a scientific and an ethical perspective. What are the most promising applications for GMOs? What are the most serious worries that need to be addressed? How can they be developed in ways that are most beneficial to society?

Eating Locally: The good, the bad and the smugly

February 26, 2021, Brews and Views: At Home Edition
Series theme: Is This Food Good?
Discussants: Bahar Aliakbarian, PhD, Research Associate Professor, Axia Institute, Department of Supply Chain Management, School of Packaging, College of Agriculture & Natural Resources.
Stephen Gasteyer, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology College of Social Science.
Moderated by Megan A. Dean, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy, College of Arts & Letters.

Since the start of the pandemic nearly a year ago, people in the U.S. have made a concerted effort to support local businesses by shopping and eating locally. The trend to eat local foods and even to become “locavores” has circulated in sustainability discussions for years. Buying local produce, meats, and dairy seems an obvious way to reduce one’s “carbon-footprint,” in addition to supporting local business. But is eating local really better for the environment? Is it an effective way to support the economy? Is it even realistic given the cost of food and limitations on local production? With the global population increase, is local food enough to keep the world fed sustainably? Could the value of supporting one’s community make these questions irrelevant?

Immune to COVID-19? Prove it!

August 28, 2020, Brews and Views: At Home Edition, presented in partnership with MSU Alumni University
Watch the recorded event via IQ
Discussants: Christina Boyles, PhD, Department of Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures.
Debra Furr-Holden, PhD, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.
Andrew Olive, PhD, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics.
Nigel Paneth, MD, MPH, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.
Introduction by Chris Contag, PhD, Director, Institute for Quantitative Health Science & Engineering.
Moderated by Mark Largent, PhD, Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education and Dean of Undergraduate Studies.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage people’s lives, societies and economies, we continue to struggle to determine if protective immunity can be acquired through infection or immunization, and whether protective immunity gives you a pass, or an obligation, to participate in “normal” social functions. If there is an effective vaccine on the horizon, how will we determine who will be immunized first, or at all? In this discussion we will describe what is known about immunity to the virus that causes COVID-19, review what vaccine strategies may lead to protective immunity, and discuss the rights and responsibilities for those individuals who have immunity.

The Dollars and Sense of Economic Convalescence from COVID-19

May 29, 2020, Brews and Views: At Home Edition
Watch the recorded event via IQ
Discussants: Linda Gobler, Former President and CEO, Michigan Grocers Association.
Sanjay Gupta, PhD, Dean, Eli Broad College of Business, Michigan State University.
Keith Lambert, Vice President of Business Attraction, Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP).
Nina Santucci, Co-Owner and Manager, Red Haven Farm to Table Restaurant.
Moderated by Christopher Contag, PhD, Director, Institute for Quantitative Health Science & Engineering; Chair, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hannah Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, College of Natural Science.

The impact of COVID-19 on the health of the world’s economies is as variable as the viral infection is on human health. Recovering from the economic collapse brought about by COVID-19 will take time, money and determination. Just as in healthcare, thoughtful guidance and comprehensive planning is needed to restore the economic health of local, national and global communities. What are the therapies for ailing economies? Is an “economic vaccine” also 12 to 24 months away, or can recovery happen more quickly? What are the sequelae of this pandemic on world economies? In these tumultuous, unprecedented times of global economic upheaval, our panel will address both immediate action and long-term planning strategies necessary to bring back jobs and restore economic growth in Michigan and beyond.

COVID-19 and Our Children: Worry Now or Worry Later?

April 17, 2020, Brews and Views: At Home Edition
Discussants: Carrie Shrier, MSU Extension Educator, Child & Family Development, Detroit Public Television Liaison.
Kendal Holtrop, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, College of Social Science.
Dawn Misra, MHS, PhD, Professor and Chair, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Human Medicine.
Amy Nuttall, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, College of Social Science; Fellow, C-RAIND.
Moderated by Christopher Contag, PhD, Director, Institute for Quantitative Health Science & Engineering; Chair, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hannah Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, College of Natural Science; and Keith English, MD, Professor and Chair, Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, College of Human Medicine.

Children appear to be at reduced risk of developing severe COVID-19 disease after infection with SARS-CoV-2 virus, yet they will be dramatically impacted by this pandemic. From changes in education that require at-home learning and how we view human contact, to job loss and economic strain, there are many ways this virus could potentially harm our children. It is our obligation to think through these issues to ensure healthy lives for our children during and after the pandemic. We consider several questions: How will social distancing impact children? How can we use online learning to facilitate education? How can we prepare for the next epidemic? How do we deal with the direct and indirect effects and the social sequelae of this pandemic? How do we effectively communicate information to our children without increasing or generating fear?

Novel Coronavirus Pushes our Limits—We Need to Push Back, Thoughtfully and Fast

March 20, 2020, Brews and Views: At Home Edition
Watch the recorded event via IQ
Discussants: Brett Etchebarne, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Osteopathic Medical Specialties, College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Leonard Fleck, PhD, Professor and Acting Director, Center for Ethics and Humanities in the Life Sciences, College of Human Medicine.
Maria Lapinski, PhD, Director, Health & Risk Communication Center, Professor, Department of Communication, College of Communication Arts and Sciences, and Professor, AgBioResearch, College of Agriculture & Natural Resources.
Richard Lenski, PhD, Hannah Professor of Microbial Ecology, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, College of Natural Science.
Moderated by Christopher Contag, PhD, Director, Institute for Quantitative Health Science & Engineering; Chair, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hannah Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, College of Natural Science.

Humanity is at the next frontier—modern technologies have put us all on the same pandemic forefront at the same instant in time—and we are all in this together. The novel coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 disease presents scientific, communication, medical, societal and ethical challenges and controlling this pandemic will require that we think and act together, but live apart—at least for now. The Brews and Views Forum has taken on challenges across the full biomedical ethics spectrum, but we usually start with a hypothetical—this is no hypothetical, this is real and the instant in time is now. We will use this Brews and Views: At Home Edition to inform and help each other. From our next door neighbor to societies in six other continents, we need to align our goals to address this global crisis. Modern transportation has spread this virus globally and the internet now enables us to manage it globally—we must be up to this challenge. We have assembled a group of experts to address the full spectrum of challenges ahead as we face this new frontier in global society and global health.

Trust Me, I’m a Scientist! Responsibility and Accountability in Science

January 24, 2020
Read more on the MSU Bioethics blog
Discussants: Victor DiRita, PhD, Rudolph Hugh Professor & Chair, Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, College of Natural Science.
Heather Douglas, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy, College of Arts & Letters.
Moderated by Monique Mitchell Turner, PhD, Chair and Professor, Department of Communication, College of Communication Arts and Sciences.

Scientific discoveries have the stunning potential to change everything—from how living things survive or thrive on the planet to raising questions of what it means to be human. The impact of related discoveries therefore is profound, with the potential for transforming our lives for the better—or for the worse. Who should govern the practice and application of science? Should those with expert scientific knowledge have explicit or implicit authority over their respective discipline? Alternatively, should those without such expert knowledge have a say in regulating scientific inquiry? Good, or bad, who ultimately is responsible for the impact of what scientists create when their discoveries are put into broad use? Moreover, what is the role of institutional oversight in those decisions?

Promises Promises: Will Genomic Approaches to Health Redefine Illness and Disease?

September 13, 2019
Listen to the event podcast via IQ
Discussants: Christopher Contag, PhD, Director, Institute for Quantitative Health Science & Engineering; Chair, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hannah Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, College of Natural Science.
Nigel Paneth, MD, MPH, University Distinguished Professor, Departments of Epidemiology & Biostatistics and Pediatrics & Human Development, College of Human Medicine.
Moderated by Leonard Fleck, PhD, Acting Director and Professor, Center for Ethics and Humanities in the Life Sciences, College of Human Medicine.

With millions of human genotypes now determined, our information about human genetic variation is increasing faster than many other areas of science. That pace stokes an appetite for expanded investment. But has this information led to measurably improved, actionable understanding of illness and disease? Genomic medicine is fundamentally a biological and public health topic. Is the genome the major repository of the information we need in health? If so, to what extent might genomic approaches reduce the burden of disease in the community? Will they meet the promise of preventing/eradicating disease and illness? If not, what alternative approaches carry greater promise? What data is most salient/compelling to sway funding sources?

How would you like that prepared? In a Petri dish, please!

March 29, 2019
Discussants: Gale Strasburg, PhD, Professor, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, College of Agriculture & Natural Resources.
Helen Veit, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of History, College of Social Science.
Moderated by Steve Pueppke, PhD, Professor, Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, College of Agriculture & Natural Resources.

Are we compelled to change consumption habits to ensure a sustainable world? Many are unwilling to give up burgers and steaks yet the resources to produce a pound of beef are 5x greater than a pound of chicken, and 10x greater than a pound of grain. Animal agriculture is a way of life for millions but there are concerns about the processes used to raise farm animals. An alternative is to grow meat in a dish; cultured lab meat will be a reality for consumers in 2019. Would you eat cultured steaks? Might such meat appeal to vegetarians? What are the relative costs of a pound of beef produced in a dish to that produced in the field? Join us as we debate how best to feed modern humans on a shrinking planet.

Should my phone diagnose my mental health?

January 18, 2019
Discussants: Arthur Ward, PhD, Academic Specialist, Lyman Briggs College.
Mi Zhang, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering.
Moderated by Laura Cabrera, PhD, Assistant Professor, Center for Ethics and Humanities in the Life Sciences and Department of Translational Science & Molecular Medicine, College of Human Medicine.

Our phones know a great deal about us. They collect an impressive amount of personal data, including voice and text correspondences, internet and social media, spending habits, stairs climbed, and geographic location. They already can make assessments about our health, but what additional information can they glean about our mental health? Soon, phones could predict if we’re unhappy, depressed, or even suicidal, and might urge us to seek mental health services. Should your phone then reveal that diagnosis to your doctor, family, boss, or advisor so they might take further action? While such capabilities could effectively address mental health needs, they simultaneously raise ethical questions about privacy, algorithm transparency, and the potential for corporate manipulation of our emotions. Join us in discussing these benefit/burden thresholds.

Precision Medicine: Precise or Just Pricey?

September 21, 2018
Discussants: Leonard Fleck, PhD, Acting Director, Center for Ethics and Humanities in the Life Sciences; Professor, Department of Philosophy.
Marty Pomper, MD, PhD, Director, Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging; Professor, Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University.
Moderated by Anna Moore, PhD, Professor, Departments of Radiology and Physiology; Director, Precision Health Program; Assistant Dean, College of Human Medicine.

The goal of precision medicine is to target the molecular drivers of a disease process, without the debilitating side effects characteristic of much medical treatment today. In a relatively small number of cases that goal has been achieved. In the vast majority of cases the therapeutic results have been marginal and costly. A just and caring society with limited resources (money) to meet unlimited health care needs must ask whether such costs are either ethically or economically reasonable. Who deserves precision health? Can we afford to be precise in healthcare, or should we all be treated the same? Can we afford personalized care? Are we driving toward improved health or an impoverished health care system? Can we deliver precision in health care to populations who don’t have access to current healthcare?

De-extinction: Who needs a pet dodo bird?

June 15, 2018
Discussants: Kevin Elliott, PhD, Associate Professor, Lyman Briggs College, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, and Department of Philosophy.
Michael Gottfried, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, College of Natural Science.
Moderated by David Favre, JD, Professor of Law & the Nancy Heathcote Professor of Property and Animal Law, College of Law.

More than 11 years after the Jurassic Park movie first piqued the public’s curiosity on the process of de-extinction, scientific advances are coming closer to making species revivalism a reality. Is de-extinction a worthy goal? How would we steer clear of negative consequences when re-introducing animals into current ecosystems? Moreover, given the number of living species that are critically endangered, might it not be preferable to focus on extant animals rather than wasting resources trying to resurrect the dead? Who should decide which species are worth resurrecting and which are not?

Doc-bots, Companion-bots, and Siri – Oh My! What’s next from the AI Wizard?

March 16, 2018
Discussants: Andrew Christlieb, PhD, Chair, Department of Computational Mathematics, Science and Engineering; MSU Foundation Professor, Department of Mathematics.
Aaron McCright, PhD, Professor and Associate Chair, Department of Sociology; Professor, Lyman Briggs College and Environmental Science and Policy Program.
Moderated by Arthur Ward, PhD, Academic Specialist, History, Philosophy, and Sociology of Science, Lyman Briggs College.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and robots may seem like science fiction, but in fact the explosion of AI algorithms already has profoundly altered the way we live. AI is deeply embedded in most aspects of modern living including robotics, medicine, cybersecurity, finance, automobiles, online services, and education. With AI’s unprecedented speed capabilities and predictive accuracy, there is room for concern regarding the role of humans in an AI-dominated world. How might society best encourage future development of potentially beneficial AI technologies in ways that preserve what we value about human relationships?

Should we genetically engineer our grandchildren?

January 26, 2018
Discussants: Leonard Fleck, PhD, Professor, Center for Ethics and Humanities in the Life Sciences and Department of Philosophy.
Stephen Hsu, PhD, Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies.
Moderated by Mark Reimers, PhD, Associate Professor, Neuroscience Program.

Most of us carry several dozen harmful genetic variants, which affect our health or may be masked by other variants we have, but which could result in more serious disease in some of our offspring. Until recently there was little any of us could do about this, other than becoming informed and perhaps modify our lifestyles. However the recent revolution in genetic engineering through CRISPR/Cas brings into view the prospect of changing these alleles permanently. Do we have an obligation to remove these alleles from the gene pool of humanity?

It's not my fault: my brain implant made me do it

November 3, 2017
Discussants: Jennifer Carter-Johnson, JD, PhD, Associate Professor of Law, College of Law.
Galit Pelled, PhD, Professor, Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering.
Moderated by Laura Cabrera, PhD, Assistant Professor, Center for Ethics and Humanities in the Life Sciences and Department of Translational Sciences & Molecular Medicine, College of Human Medicine.

Some brain implants, such as those for deep brain stimulation, are well-accepted treatments for movement disorders and their use as treatment options for various psychiatric disorders is being explored. However, there are cases where brain implants may influence mental states critical to personality and affect an individual’s behavior and identity. This raises a number of ethical and legal questions. For example, if a brain-implant-induced change in personality results in undesirable or deviant behaviors that cause harm, who is responsible? Is the person with the implant? The implant itself? Or its designer? Who controls the actions of people with these implants? Should we blame the healthcare system, the technology, or the designer? What if the engineer who designed your brain implant had deviant behavior from a faulty implant—are we improving human health or spiraling down a rat-hole?

The Porcisapien: Humanization of Livestock

October 6, 2017
Discussants: Erik M. Shapiro, PhD, Associate Chair of Research and Associate Professor, Department of Radiology.
Paul Thompson, PhD, Professor, Department of Philosophy, and W.K. Kellogg Chair in Agricultural, Food and Community Ethics.
Moderated by Christopher H. Contag, PhD, Hannah Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Microbiology & Molecular Genetics; Chair, Biomedical Engineering; Director, Institute for Quantitative Health Science & Engineering.

Imagine you can grow a new heart, or other organ, from your own cells in a pig. If your heart was failing, you could grow a new, perfectly matched heart and have it available when you need it. In order for this to happen we need to humanize livestock. How human should we make livestock? How close to a human is a humanized pig and when would it deserve human rights? While it might address the shortage of human organs, is it fair for the pig to be just a bioreactor for spare parts? What human organs should we produce in pigs: heart, liver, pancreas, skin and muscle? What about a human brain in a pig? Are we going too far, have we already gone too far?