Ethical Challenges for Organoid Research and Use: Focusing on Targets of Organoid Research, Donation Procedure, and Future Use*

Abstract

Worldwide, organoids are being used in an increasing range and variety of research contexts, including certain forms of drug testing and transplantation research. In Korea, however, the ethical issues raised by organoid research have received little attention and there are currently no laws or regulations governing this form of research. Accordingly, this study was conducted to identify and examine the ethical challenges for organoid research. The article is structured as follows: Section 2 identifies the organs that can be used in organoid research; Section 3 discusses the precautions for cell donation procedures for organoid research, including the “contents and scope of informed consent,” “cell donor autonomy,” and the “protection of cell donor’s genetic information.” Section 4 examines the ethical challenges of drug testing, patents and commercial uses of organoid research, and the development of organoids for transplantation.