Donor perspectives on informed consent and use of biospecimens for brain organoid research

Abstract

Debates about the ethics of human brain organoids have proceeded without the input of individuals whose brains are being modeled. Interviews with donors of biospecimens for brain organoid research revealed overall enthusiasm for brain organoids as a tool for biomedical discovery, alongside a desire for ongoing engagement with research teams to learn the results of the research, to allow transfer of decision-making authority over time, and to ensure ethical boundaries are not crossed. Future work is needed to determine the most feasible and resource-efficient way to longitudinally engage donors participating in brain organoid research.

Keywords: bioethics; brain organoids; donor attitudes; ethics; human subjects; iPSCs; informed consent; neural organoids; research policy.