Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41951755›Full record

ReviewNature cell biology2026

A guide to using embedded ethics in human stem-cell-based embryo model research.

Heidi Beate Bentzen, Maxence Gaillard, Iftach Nachman, Daniel Reumann, Nikolaj Gadegaard, Laurent David, Fredrik Lanner, Naomi Moris, Vincent Pasque, Nicolas Rivron and 4 more

Abstract readReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Nature cell biology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Heidi Beate BentzenCentre for Medical Ethics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. h.b.bentzen@medisin.uio.no.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8285-818X
Maxence GaillardCentre for Medical Ethics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4741-4564
Iftach NachmanSchool of Neurobiology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4667-0398
Daniel ReumannKavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Department of Physiology, Anatomy & Genetics (DPAG), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Nikolaj GadegaardJames Watt School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
Laurent DavidNantes Université, CHU Nantes, Inserm, CR2TI, Nantes, France.
Fredrik LannerDepartment of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2771-7445
Naomi MorisThe Francis Crick Institute, London, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1910-5454
Vincent PasqueDepartment of Development and Regeneration, Leuven Institute for Single-cell Omics (LISCO), KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5129-0146
Nicolas RivronInstitute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1590-5964
Berna SozenDepartment of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5834-5819
Rosario IsasiInstitute for Bioethics and Health Policy and Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics, Miami, FL, USA.
Stefan Krauss *Hybrid Technology Hub-Centre of Excellence, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. s.j.k.krauss@medisin.uio.no.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6992-8091
Jesse V Veenvliet *Stembryogenesis Lab, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany. veenvliet@mpi-cbg.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1191-2975

Funding

EC | EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation H2020 | H2020 Priority Excellent Science | H2020 European Research Council (H2020 Excellent Science - European Research Council) 101002317Max-Planck-Gesellschaft (Max Planck Society) n/aRCUK | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) BB/Y00311X/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Human stem-cell-based embryo models (hSCBEMs) offer unprecedented opportunities for basic and translational research. However, the rapid pace of scientific developments in the field challenges the slower, traditional modes of ethics evaluation. To facilitate responsible research and governance, and ensure public trust, we propose using 'embedded ethics' as a purpose-anchored, dynamic, iterative and integrative approach where ethicists and scientists engage in continuous dialogue to ethically assess ongoing research. We outline a nested benchmarking strategy to periodically evaluate the scientific and ethical status of hSCBEMs within a project, using the human embryo as a reference and weighting criteria along a hierarchy of features that chart embryo-likeness, completeness and the developmental stage modelled. Embedded ethics guides the definition of decision points and ethical boundaries through an iterative assessment of project purpose and ethical and regulatory frameworks, and enables early identification of emerging issues and the co-construction of responsible paths forward.

Indexed as

Embryo ResearchHuman Embryonic Stem CellsModels, BiologicalStem Cell ResearchHumans

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.