ESTI Call for Input

The Committee on Creating a Framework for Emerging Science, Technology, and Innovation in Health and Medicine has been asked to provide recommendations on a governance framework for managing risks, benefits, and implications of emerging science, technology, and innovation in health and medicine. The framework is to be founded on ethical principles, with a focus on justice, equity and fairness. Additional information on the study, including its full statement of task, is available from the website, linked above. The study is also informed by ideas that have been incubated through the National Academy of Medicine and described in a recent viewpoint.

To inform its deliberations, the committee seeks input from stakeholders and members of the public on the questions below.

The National Academies will list all written submissions in a Public Access File (PAF) established for the study. These submissions may be made available to the public upon request. Comments may also be used in the committee’s final report, which is planned for release in 2023.

1. What are key gaps and needs in the current system of governance for emerging science, technology, and innovation in health and medicine? How do the gaps and needs lead to ethical or societal consequences such as inequities or unfairness?

2. In what ways does the current governance system succeed? What governance elements or strategies work well and should be preserved or built upon?

For questions 3-4, please look at the tables below, which give a few examples of potential actors involved in the governance landscape for emerging science and technologies in health and medicine and examples of types of levers or mechanisms that might affect development of emerging S&T. These are not intended to be comprehensive and we seek your input and creativity! Please do not feel limited to actors, sectors, or mechanisms identified in these preliminary, illustrative tables.

3. What is most critical stage to act, and who are the most impactful actors for enhancing governance of emerging S&T in health and medicine to promote societal benefits and align with ethical principles such as equity and justice?

4. What approaches or incentives are most useful for improving governance of emerging science, technology and innovation to mitigate potential risks, enhance societal benefits, and increase alignment of emerging technologies with ethical principles?

5. Are there practical ways to enhance coordination among potential actors and at various stages in the emerging S&T lifecycle?

6. Which governance pathways, emerging developments, or topics should be the focus of the study report to enable it to have the greatest impact?

7. We welcome any other comments relevant to the study’s task that you think the committee should consider, including relevant governance models, tools, practices, and resources of which the committee should be aware.

Demographic Information

The information you provide may be attributed to you. If you do not want your name included in any public document, please leave “name, affiliation, and email” fields blank and we will attribute your response to an “anonymous respondent.”

8. Please identify which stakeholder group you represent with your comments:

9. Name

10. Email Address

11. Title/Affiliation

12. The committee may invite selected commenters to share their input with the committee during future public information-gathering sessions for the study. Would you like to be considered as a speaker?

Yes (please ensure that you have provided your email address)
No