The Bayer Bioethics Council
An independent, external Council advises Bayer on bioethical questions relating to emerging Life Science technologies. In the following video, Anne Muigai, Carolina Aguerre and Andreas Kurtz from Bayer´s independent Bioethics Council discuss the significance of bioethics.
Anne Muigai is a Professor of Genetics from Kenya and chair of the African BioGenome Project. Carolina Aguerre is a Professor of Humanities from Uruguay; she brings expertise in AI, ethics and governance from Latin America. Andreas Kurtz is a Professor of Stem Cell Research from Germany; he has a high interest in regenerative therapies.
Science and technology are advancing rapidly, and Bayer is proud to contribute to this development to achieve its mission “Health for all, Hunger for none”. The pace at which science is evolving, and the possibilities that these innovations create, raise challenging ethical questions. We have therefore established the Bayer Bioethics Council, an external advisory body consisting of independent experts. By bringing in a societal perspective, it helps Bayer identify relevant bioethical questions and provides advice on how to answer them. The Council’s purpose is to support Bayer in further developing bioethical guidelines for its decision making.
The Bioethics Council provides ethical expertise and educational support to Bayer with regards to bioethics matters in the context of R&D-related innovation in life sciences, with a focus on medical topics, bioengineering and artificial intelligence, and which may concern the discovery, development, manufacturing, and use of human health directed treatments and therapies as well as agricultural products and practices for implementation.
The Bioethics Council
- advises Bayer on how to ensure bioethics is an integral part of the R&D contributions,
- examines Bayer’s policies with respect to bioethics and provides input on strategic shifts,
- evaluates Bayer’s progress towards the implementation of its bioethics strategies and guidelines,
- consults on the main drivers behind contemporary bioethics topics (i.e. technological advancement and social change) relevant to Bayer’s work.
The Bioethics Council is an independent advisory body without executive power on the operational business. It supports Bayer across all of its divisions and meets at least once a year in full and ad hoc.
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I am very pleased that we have been able to attract a diverse group of world-leading ethics experts – from the fields of biotechnology, health care and artificial intelligence, among others – to join Bayer's Bioethics Council. Their expertise provides us with guidance on complex bioethical issues.
Developing innovations in the life sciences, particularly in biotechnology, inevitably requires a thorough assessment of the ethical implications for people and the environment. Bayer wants to raise and uphold high bioethical standards throughout its operations – with the help of the Bioethics Council.
As we advance in consumer health, we must remain vigilant about the ethical implications of our work. Bayer’s Bioethics Council plays a crucial role in guiding us to make informed decisions that prioritize the health and safety of our consumers.
Former members of the Bioethics Council
(December 2021 – October 2023)
