ThoughtGallery.org > Five Points Lecture: Timo Minssen, Jur.Dr., LL.M., M.I.C.L.

Five Points Lecture: Timo Minssen, Jur.Dr., LL.M., M.I.C.L.

4-5PM: Lecture & Audience Q&A
5-6PM: Networking & Cocktail Reception

Timo Minssen
Professor, Jur.Dr., LL.M., M.I.C.L.
Director, Centre for Advanced Studies in Biomedical Innovation Law (CeBIL)
University of Copenhagen

”Regulating the Promises and Perils of Gene Editing Technologies – What Are Our Options?”

Besides their enormous potential in the plant sciences, gene-editing technologies hold great promises for the prevention and treatment of human maladies, including sickle cell disease, hemophilia, and cystic fibrosis. Gene editing is also being explored for the treatment and prevention of more complex diseases, such as mental illness, HIV infections, cancer and cardio-vascular disorders.

Yet, the recent public outcry regarding gene-edited twins and other controversies have demonstrated that severe concerns arise when the technology is used to alter human genomes. Germline cell and embryo genome editing bring up a number of ethical and regulatory challenges, including whether it should be permissible to use this technology to enhance normal human traits. This illustrates how the rapid development and exploitation of gene editing technologies may involve significant ethical, legal and social responsibilities for all actors involved.

Since the actual risks and benefits should be considered on a case-by-case basis and will depend on the actual application and the specific techniques used, it is important to consider the different tools that are available to ensure that research and development in the field proceeds in a responsible way. In absence of sufficiently concrete and internationally enforceable laws, this may include new regulations, self-regulation and critical oversight by national and international bodies. This presentation provides an overview on the European regulatory environment, as well as the most recent international developments in these areas and reviews the challenges and opportunities for different approaches.

(With Prof. Dr. Esther Van Zimmeren, University of Antwerp)

Timo Minssen is Professor of Law at the University of Copenhagen (UCPH) and the Founding Director of UCPH’s Center for Advanced Studies in Biomedical Innovation Law (CeBIL). He specializes in the interface of Intellectual Property, Competition and Regulatory Law with a special focus on new technologies in the health & life sciences, such as AI and big data-driven precision medicine. His studies involve a plethora of legal issues emerging in the lifecycle of biotechnological and medical products and processes – from the regulation of research and incentives for innovation to technology transfer and commercialization.

At UCPH he had led several large interdisciplinary research projects in synthetic biology, precision medicine and research infrastructures. At present, he is the principal investigator and grant holder of a large research program in biomedical innovation law, funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Anchored in Copenhagen, it involves close collaboration with international core partners, such as Harvard Law School, Harvard Medical School, as well as the Universities of Cambridge and Michigan. Timo has also been the legal expert advisory board member of EU Commission studies of the pharmaceutical sector. He is the steering committee member of the Danish Association for the Protection of Industrial Property and scientific advisory board member of the Copenhagen Centre for Regulatory Sciences (CORS), where he works inter alia with the protection and regulation of biologics and biosimilars.

Timo holds a German law degree from the University of Göttingen, as well as biotech & IP -related LL.M. M.I.C.L., LL.Lic. and LL.D. degrees from Lund & Uppsala University. He has been Visiting Research Fellow at the Universities of Cambridge & Oxford, Harvard Law School, Chicago-Kent College of Law, and at the Max Planck Institute for Innovation & Competition. Moreover, he was trained in the German Court system and at the European Patent Office.











When: Tue., Jun. 18, 2019 at 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Where: New York Genome Center
101 Sixth Ave.
646-977-7000
Price: Free
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4-5PM: Lecture & Audience Q&A
5-6PM: Networking & Cocktail Reception

Timo Minssen
Professor, Jur.Dr., LL.M., M.I.C.L.
Director, Centre for Advanced Studies in Biomedical Innovation Law (CeBIL)
University of Copenhagen

”Regulating the Promises and Perils of Gene Editing Technologies – What Are Our Options?”

Besides their enormous potential in the plant sciences, gene-editing technologies hold great promises for the prevention and treatment of human maladies, including sickle cell disease, hemophilia, and cystic fibrosis. Gene editing is also being explored for the treatment and prevention of more complex diseases, such as mental illness, HIV infections, cancer and cardio-vascular disorders.

Yet, the recent public outcry regarding gene-edited twins and other controversies have demonstrated that severe concerns arise when the technology is used to alter human genomes. Germline cell and embryo genome editing bring up a number of ethical and regulatory challenges, including whether it should be permissible to use this technology to enhance normal human traits. This illustrates how the rapid development and exploitation of gene editing technologies may involve significant ethical, legal and social responsibilities for all actors involved.

Since the actual risks and benefits should be considered on a case-by-case basis and will depend on the actual application and the specific techniques used, it is important to consider the different tools that are available to ensure that research and development in the field proceeds in a responsible way. In absence of sufficiently concrete and internationally enforceable laws, this may include new regulations, self-regulation and critical oversight by national and international bodies. This presentation provides an overview on the European regulatory environment, as well as the most recent international developments in these areas and reviews the challenges and opportunities for different approaches.

(With Prof. Dr. Esther Van Zimmeren, University of Antwerp)

Timo Minssen is Professor of Law at the University of Copenhagen (UCPH) and the Founding Director of UCPH’s Center for Advanced Studies in Biomedical Innovation Law (CeBIL). He specializes in the interface of Intellectual Property, Competition and Regulatory Law with a special focus on new technologies in the health & life sciences, such as AI and big data-driven precision medicine. His studies involve a plethora of legal issues emerging in the lifecycle of biotechnological and medical products and processes – from the regulation of research and incentives for innovation to technology transfer and commercialization.

At UCPH he had led several large interdisciplinary research projects in synthetic biology, precision medicine and research infrastructures. At present, he is the principal investigator and grant holder of a large research program in biomedical innovation law, funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Anchored in Copenhagen, it involves close collaboration with international core partners, such as Harvard Law School, Harvard Medical School, as well as the Universities of Cambridge and Michigan. Timo has also been the legal expert advisory board member of EU Commission studies of the pharmaceutical sector. He is the steering committee member of the Danish Association for the Protection of Industrial Property and scientific advisory board member of the Copenhagen Centre for Regulatory Sciences (CORS), where he works inter alia with the protection and regulation of biologics and biosimilars.

Timo holds a German law degree from the University of Göttingen, as well as biotech & IP -related LL.M. M.I.C.L., LL.Lic. and LL.D. degrees from Lund & Uppsala University. He has been Visiting Research Fellow at the Universities of Cambridge & Oxford, Harvard Law School, Chicago-Kent College of Law, and at the Max Planck Institute for Innovation & Competition. Moreover, he was trained in the German Court system and at the European Patent Office.

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