INNOVATIVE MEDICINE AND RESEARCH: ETHICAL, LEGAL AND REGULATORY ISSUES
27 September, 2019
Hotel Dieu St. Jacques – Toulouse (France)
The XII Foresight Training Course took place within the 7th European Association on Health Law (EAHL) Conference titled “Innovation & Healthcare – New challenges for Europe.” It was organized in collaboration with the Council of Europe and Espace Ethique PACA-Corse/AP-HM.
The course focused on the legal, ethical, and regulatory dimensions of medical and healthcare innovation, particularly regarding emerging fields such as genetics, pharmacogenetics, advanced therapies, and applications of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in research and clinical practice. It also addressed improvements in clinical outcomes and healthcare economics, always considering patients’ and fundamental rights.
Divided into three sessions, the course attracted over 50 participants, including international academics and representatives from European institutions. Professors Adriana Ceci and Annagrazia Altavilla introduced and guided the event.
Speakers contributed meaningfully to the topics central to the Fondazione Gianni Benzi’s interests, providing a comprehensive overview of the regulatory and ethical implications of innovation in health. Special attention was given to pediatric care, with an emphasis on ethical and legal concerns throughout the development of innovative medicines for children.
Sessions also examined the increasing role of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in healthcare, highlighting both potential benefits and regulatory challenges. Advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs)—including gene therapies, tissue-engineered products, and somatic cell therapies—were discussed as a key area, noting that only ten such therapies had been authorized in Europe since the enforcement of Regulation 1397/2007.
The course was well-received, and all presentations were made available through a dedicated section on the Gianni Benzi Foundation’s website. The event served as a valuable platform to reinforce the link between medical innovation and its legal-ethical frameworks.
Discover more about the agenda.
