Japanese attitudes toward cell donation in human brain organoid research: many oppose broad consent
IntroductionUnder broad consent, donors are not informed about the specific research projects using their cells; this may lead to the use of cells in ways that conflict with donors' moral beliefs. In recent years, this issue has been raised in human brain organoid research. However, previous st...
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| Format: | Article |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Genetics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2025.1606923/full |
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| author | Masanori Kataoka Mayu Koike Tsutomu Sawai Tsutomu Sawai Tsutomu Sawai |
| author_facet | Masanori Kataoka Mayu Koike Tsutomu Sawai Tsutomu Sawai Tsutomu Sawai |
| author_sort | Masanori Kataoka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionUnder broad consent, donors are not informed about the specific research projects using their cells; this may lead to the use of cells in ways that conflict with donors' moral beliefs. In recent years, this issue has been raised in human brain organoid research. However, previous studies on the public’s attitude toward human brain organoid research have either overlooked cell donation or consisted of small-scale qualitative studies.MethodsWe conducted an online survey on Japanese citizens' attitudes toward cell donation for human brain organoid research, gathering 326 responses.ResultsWhen informed that donated cells could generate human brain organoids, 36% of participants disapproved of broad consent, while 37% said their stance depended on the case. Reasons for opposition included the need for study-specific explanations, autonomous decision-making, emotional discomfort, research purpose, researchers' and institutional trustworthiness, potential misuse, and risks and benefits to participants.DiscussionAlthough several limitations exist, these findings may suggest that project-specific consent would be more ethically appropriate at the current stage of human brain organoid research. Since some public concerns stem from limited knowledge or misinformation, science communication could help change this situation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6fb43927ba6e4a0bb0415480977d41da |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-8021 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Genetics |
| spelling | doaj-art-6fb43927ba6e4a0bb0415480977d41da2025-08-22T10:00:35ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Genetics1664-80212025-08-011610.3389/fgene.2025.16069231606923Japanese attitudes toward cell donation in human brain organoid research: many oppose broad consentMasanori Kataoka0Mayu Koike1Tsutomu Sawai2Tsutomu Sawai3Tsutomu Sawai4Uehiro Division for Applied Ethics, Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, JapanSchool of Engineering, Institute of Science Tokyo, Tokyo, JapanUehiro Division for Applied Ethics, Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, JapanGraduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, JapanCentre for Biomedical Ethics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, SingaporeIntroductionUnder broad consent, donors are not informed about the specific research projects using their cells; this may lead to the use of cells in ways that conflict with donors' moral beliefs. In recent years, this issue has been raised in human brain organoid research. However, previous studies on the public’s attitude toward human brain organoid research have either overlooked cell donation or consisted of small-scale qualitative studies.MethodsWe conducted an online survey on Japanese citizens' attitudes toward cell donation for human brain organoid research, gathering 326 responses.ResultsWhen informed that donated cells could generate human brain organoids, 36% of participants disapproved of broad consent, while 37% said their stance depended on the case. Reasons for opposition included the need for study-specific explanations, autonomous decision-making, emotional discomfort, research purpose, researchers' and institutional trustworthiness, potential misuse, and risks and benefits to participants.DiscussionAlthough several limitations exist, these findings may suggest that project-specific consent would be more ethically appropriate at the current stage of human brain organoid research. Since some public concerns stem from limited knowledge or misinformation, science communication could help change this situation.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2025.1606923/fullbioethicsorganoidsinformed consentpersonal autonomypublic opinion |
| spellingShingle | Masanori Kataoka Mayu Koike Tsutomu Sawai Tsutomu Sawai Tsutomu Sawai Japanese attitudes toward cell donation in human brain organoid research: many oppose broad consent Frontiers in Genetics bioethics organoids informed consent personal autonomy public opinion |
| title | Japanese attitudes toward cell donation in human brain organoid research: many oppose broad consent |
| title_full | Japanese attitudes toward cell donation in human brain organoid research: many oppose broad consent |
| title_fullStr | Japanese attitudes toward cell donation in human brain organoid research: many oppose broad consent |
| title_full_unstemmed | Japanese attitudes toward cell donation in human brain organoid research: many oppose broad consent |
| title_short | Japanese attitudes toward cell donation in human brain organoid research: many oppose broad consent |
| title_sort | japanese attitudes toward cell donation in human brain organoid research many oppose broad consent |
| topic | bioethics organoids informed consent personal autonomy public opinion |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2025.1606923/full |
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