My main research interest is examining the issues raised by genetic testing and reproductive technologies. Preimplantation genetic diagnosis is the use of genetic testing to determine which embryos from in vitro fertilisation will be implanted; this enables selection of embryos to avoid genetic diseases but may also allow, in the future, selection of non-medical traits. There are many ethical, legal and regulatory issues that must be considered before a new technology like this is accepted. We are investigating the regulation of preimplantation genetic diagnosis in Australia; the current regulation is not uniform across the country and little is known about public knowledge or opinion of this technology.
Another of my research interests is related to teaching and learning. One project is investigating the teaching of ethics to undergraduate science students, examining how we introduce students to ethical thinking in the various scientific disciplines and how we can improve this approach.
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1. Contextual issues in new biotechnologies
New biotechnologies have far-reaching effects on both human survival and health. Examples of these technologies are genetically modified food, genetic testing for disease and reproductive technologies that allow selection of embryos without genetic disease or with some desired trait. There are many ethical, legal and regulatory issues that must be considered before a new technology is accepted and there is often conflict between the possible benefits for society and the benefits for the individual. The huge amounts of resources that go into developing these new technologies may be wasted if these issues are not understood and addressed.
A careful analysis of issues raised by a biotechnology may suggest an approach that enables the use of the biotechnology with appropriate safeguards.
I supervise many projects addressing these issues in many new biotechnologies. Examples of past projects are:
• An evaluation of the regulation of preimplantation genetic diagnosis in Australia (Honours project)
• Rapid advances in scientific technology and the legal system’s struggle to keep up: Two case studies of the major factors influencing Australian legal regulatory responses to scientific advance (BIOL3174 project)
2. Teaching of ethics to undergraduate science students
The goal of this study was to examine how ethical judgement and decision-making is learnt, taught, and understood across undergraduate science courses at The Australian National University (ANU). 'Behaving ethically' as a generic graduate attribute usually is interpreted as professional ethics relating to behaviour in a professional setting. The idea that science can and should have guiding principles which are understood (or understandable) and acceptable to the majority in society is not a new one. This project is collaborative with Drs Paula Newitt and Sharyn Errington (Office of the Dean of Science) and Rod Lamberts (Centre for Public Awareness of Science). |
van Leeuwen, B.H, Lamberts, R. and C.L. Jones, Public awareness and regulation of preimplantation genetic diagnosis in Australia. RBMonline 16, suppl. 3, April 2008 (Proceedings of 8th International Symposium Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis).
Barbara van Leeuwen, Rod Lamberts, Paula Newitt and Sharyn Errington. Ethics, issues and consequences: conceptual challenges in science education. Uniserve Science Teaching and Learning Proceedings 112-119 (2007).
My previous research interest was the molecular and cellular mechanism of the coevolution of host and virus and was collaborative with Dr Peter Kerr of CSIRO, Entomology. These publications describe this research.
Adams MM, van Leeuwen BH, McFadden G, Kerr PJ. Construction and testing of a novel host-range defective myxoma virus vaccine with the M063 gene deleted that is non-permissive for replication in rabbit cells. Veterinary Research 39, 60-72 (2008).
B. H. van Leeuwen and P. J. Kerr. Prospects for fertility control in the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) using myxoma virus-vectored immunocontraception. Wildlife Research 34(7) 511–522 (2007).
Kerr, P.J., Perkins, H.D., Inglis, B., Stagg, R., McLaughlin, E., Collins, S.V. and van Leeuwen, B.H. Expression of rabbit IL-4 by recombinant myxoma viruses enhances virulence and overcomes genetic resistance to myxomatosis. Virology, 324, 117-128 (2004).
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