Themes

Human organoids in research as scientific potential and ethical challenges

What is this about?

Organoids are innovative three-dimensional and self-organizing cell cultures of various lineages that can be used to study diverse tissues and organs. Human organoids have dramatically increased our understanding of developmental and disease biology (1). While organoids offer major scientific opportunities, they also raise important ethical questions related to consent, ownership of biological materials and the limits of experimentation.

Why is this important?

Advances in stem cell biology have heralded a revolution in biology and medicine. As these technologies expanded into human cells, they paved the way for discoveries in fundamental human biology and advancement in medical care (2).

The clear opinions of scientists over the issue of consciousness and moral status, however, does not mean that they undervalue the ethical discussion in general. In fact, some interviewees were aware of the possible issues related to other ethical aspects, such as informed consent in the case of HBOs grown starting from induced-pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), or the problem of communicating the findings and the research to the lay public (3).

For whom is this important?

Research Ethics Committee Member

What are the best practices?

One important practice is obtaining clear informed consent when collecting biological samples. Donors should understand that their tissues may be used to create organoids and could be applied in future research projects. Another key practice is research ethics committees, which evaluate whether research protocols respect donor rights, privacy and safety. Biobanks also play an important role by storing biological samples and organoid lines under controlled conditions and regulating access to these materials.

Finally, transparent reporting and open science practices are encouraged. Researchers should clearly report experimental methods, cell sources, and ethical approvals to improve reproducibility and maintain public trust in biomedical research.

Mate Bubic contributed to this theme. Latest contribution was Mar 06, 2026

Other information