Out of respect for your ever-filling inboxes, we now publish the WBP news update bimonthly. Attached you will find the October/November report, briefly highlighting the last 60 days' activities and describing how you can help. Please email us with your questions, comments, and suggestions, and of course feel free to forward this to your interested friends and colleagues.

On the national radar screen
Founder Kathryn Hinsch has been asked to participate in an invitation-only conference on human germline genetic modification (a.k.a. "designer babies") sponsored by the Genetics and Public Policy Center at Johns Hopkins University. The conference, which will be held in mid-December in Washington, DC, will bring together experts in science, ethics, law, and theology to provide feedback and input on policy options around germline engineering. Participants include such luminaries as Kathy Hudson, Francis Fukuyama, and Eric Juengst. Just six months after its inception, WBP is playing at a national policy level.

Bioethics and public policy
Our strategic plan (see the "Advisory Board" item below) must rest on a thorough understanding of how bioethical public policy is currently being developed. To this end, we have analyzed three groups: broad-based bioethics organizations, policy research institutes that focus on specific issues, and the media. To date we have studied two of the most important groups in bioethics, The Hastings Center and the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities (ASBH).

 

The Hastings Center is the world's first bioethics research institute. Located in upstate New York, the Center was founded in 1969 to explore fundamental and emerging questions in health care, biotechnology, and the environment. Kathryn and University of Washington bioethicist Kelly Fryer-Edwards spent a day at the Hastings Center, where they were welcomed by the Center's President, Tom Murray, PhD. Tom and the Center's scholars and staff shared their ideas and history and offered insights on organizational approaches and their approach to influencing public policy. We also discussed ways in which WBP and the Center, having complementary missions and constituencies, may be able to work together in the future.

 

The American Society for Bioethics and Humanities (ASBH) is a professional society of more than 1,500 individuals, organizations, and institutions interested in bioethics and humanities. WBP attended this year's annual ASBH meeting in Philadelphia in October, where it was the only think tank represented in the ASBH exhibit hall. Leon Kass, MD, PhD, Chair of the President's Commission on Bioethics, gave a keynote speech on bioethics and public policy, providing valuable insights into the current administration's philosophical approach. While at ASBH we announced the newly developed "WBP Scholar Promotion Program", which will provide media training, editorial support, and other services to help selected scholars - who support the WBP mission - reach a larger audience with their work.

 

In addition, we have recently been in discussions with the Center for Genetics and Society (CGS), an organization which encourages responsible uses of the new human genetic and reproductive technologies.

Advocacy groups/Research Institutes
The next phase of our review will examine research institutes and advocacy groups that focus issues affecting the lives of women. During her trip to Washington, DC, Kathryn will meet with the leaders of the Center for Women Policy Studies, the Institute for Women's Policy Research, the Society for Women's Health Research, and the Alliance for Aging Research.

Media analysis
In parallel with our group studies, WBP volunteer Cheryl Stumbo is analyzing national and local media coverage of bioethical issues. Cheryl's public relations and marketing expertise will help us determine the positioning of these issues (e.g., as human-interest stories, as biotech business news, or as science stories), identify the media outlets and reporters currently covering them. This information will allow us to develop the media outreach portion of the strategic plan.

Community building - public education
Public education vitally complements policy development. To that end, we are addressing as many groups as possible. Kathryn's recent speaking engagements include a talk for the local Wellesley alumnae chapter, a keynote speech at Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart's career day, and a presentation to graduate students in the public health program at the University of Washington.

In addition, we have hosted a number of in-home meetings with various groups of WBP supporters, discussing the role of different spiritual traditions and communities within WBP; the exclusion and under-representation of women in medical research; finding appropriate communications vehicles to reach different audiences, such as women living in rural areas; surrogate mothers for hire; and the potential implications for women of public policy regarding physician-assisted suicide.

Advisory Board named
At the end of November, we announced the formation of our Advisory Board. Comprising prominent scientists, scholars, attorneys, and business leaders, the Advisory Board will provide guidance and advice on fundraising, organizational development, and strategy. The board will meet on December 5 for an all day strategic planning meeting, yielding our final three-year plan.

For more information about the Advisory Board and biographies of its members, click here.

Website overhaul planned - online donation enabled
Recognizing the potential of the WBP website as a tool for outreach, community building, education, and collaboration, we have begun a comprehensive redesign of the entire site. Scheduled for release in early February, the new site will feature a new look and feel, online advocacy tools, and educational resources. Until then, we have enhanced the existing web site by adding an online donation tool for secure, tax-deductible donations.

How you can help