UMN Consortium on Law and Values in Health, Environment & the Life Sciences

09/10/2026

Three top experts on synthetic biology, biosecurity, and bioethics will explore how to realize the promise of synthetic biology while controlling potential risks in our free, public webinar on "Frontiers in Synthetic Biology: SpudCells, Mirror Life & Societal Implications." Join us live on Zoom on Thursday, October 29 from 2-3:30pm Central.

Speakers include:

🗣 Kate Adamala, PhD, Associate Professor of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development, College of Biological Sciences, University of Minnesota

🗣 R. Alta Charo, JD, Warren P. Knowles Professor Emerita of Law and Bioethics, University of Wisconsin at Madison

🗣 Michael J. Imperiale, PhD, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor Emeritus of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan

Register: https://umn.zoom.us/webinar/register/9817878478175/WN_LQbfmaeaQ3KG-zA7PxuRRg #/

University of Minnesota College of Biological Sciences University of Wisconsin Law School University of Michigan Medical School

09/03/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Michael Osterholm and the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP)'s Vaccine Integrity Project on 4 new papers in JAMA reviewing evidence on COVID-19, influenza & RSV vaccines to generate much-needed advice for the 2026–27 respiratory season. Their findings show meaningful protection from severe illness, hospitalization, and death. CIDRAP is a Consortium member center.

Read the evidence reviews: https://vaxintegrity.cidrap.umn.edu/2026-27-respiratory-season

Vaccine Integrity Project completed an independent evidence review of respiratory virus immunizations against influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

“This year’s review confirms that the newest evidence remains consistent with research showing these immunizations reduce the risk of hospitalization and death among the people most likely to experience serious disease.

Our objective is straightforward: Provide clinicians and medical societies with a transparent, rigorous assessment of the latest evidence so immunization recommendations remain grounded in the best available science,” said Vaccine Integrity Project Executive Director Michael T. Osterholm, PhD, MPH.

More on VIP and the evidence reviews: https://bit.ly/4x0nIhW

09/03/2026

Revolutionary advances in cell engineering and synthetic biology offer enormous potential benefits, while raising vexing ethical and policy issues. Join three experts on synthetic biology, biosecurity, and bioethics to explore how to realize the promise of synthetic biology while controlling potential risks. This free, public webinar on "Frontiers in Synthetic Biology: SpudCells, Mirror Life & Societal Implications" will feature Kate Adamala, PhD, R. Alta Charo, JD, and Michael Imperiale, PhD.

📅Thursday, October 29
⏰2-3:30pm Central
📍Live Webinar on Zoom

Register: https://umn.zoom.us/webinar/register/9817878478175/WN_LQbfmaeaQ3KG-zA7PxuRRg

09/01/2026

How do you encourage scientific collaborators to discuss research ethics? A new paper published by the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) shares tools for research networks. “Advancing Engineering Ethics in Multi-Institutional Research Networks: Developing & Piloting Educational Case Studies” grows out of the NSF-funded NetEthics project, led by Consortium chair Susan M. Wolf, JD. The authors are NetEthics P*s Gillan Roehrig, PhD, Wolf, Timothy Pruett, MD, and Korkut Uygun, PhD. They developed educational case studies on data sharing, authorship and credit, attention to ethics, and collaboration. They piloted them with volunteers from a large, NSF-funded Engineering Research Center (ERC). The case studies were a valuable tool to advance dialogue on research ethics.

Read the paper to learn more: https://peer.asee.org/59284

American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE)

08/28/2026

How do we protect the future of public health? Join the University of Minnesota Alumni Association NEXT WEEK for its highly acclaimed Future in Focus series with a major kickoff event! UMN President Rebecca Cunningham will introduce a timely fireside chat with legendary epidemiologist and 2026 TIME100 Health honoree, Dr. Michael Osterholm. Hosted by Interim Dean of the Medical School Carol Bradford, this candid conversation dives into vaccine integrity, the next era of medical leadership, and global pandemic readiness. Dr. Osterholm is the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), a Consortium member center.

Register now for this free event: https://umn.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__ouPhQuQRYOZ472Qsp9BoA #/registration

Join the Alumni Association for the kickoff of our highly acclaimed Future in Focus webinar series as we talk with legendary epidemiologist Dr. Michael Osterholm. This vital conversation will tackle vaccine integrity and the future of global pandemic readiness. Register now for this free event! September 1, Noon CDT, online www.umnalumni.org/Osterholm

08/26/2026

The Minnesota State Fair starts tomorrow! And the University of Minnesota will be there offering giveaways, educational events, and opportunities to participate in research. Several Consortium member centers will be hosting exhibits, so be sure to stop by and engage with AI Hub, NSF ATP-Bio, Institute for Health Informatics, and Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain.

Learn more: https://consortium.umn.edu/news/consortium-member-centers-minnesota-state-fair

08/21/2026

Francis X. Shen, Solly Robins Distinguished Research Fellow and professor of law, has been named Associate Dean for Research and Innovation at the University of Minnesota Law School.

An internationally recognized scholar at the intersection of law, neuroscience, and artificial intelligence, Shen brings a distinguished record of interdisciplinary research, teaching, and academic leadership to the role. As Associate Dean, he will help advance Minnesota Law’s research enterprise and foster a vibrant intellectual community that supports faculty scholarship, collaboration, and interdisciplinary engagement.

In his role as associate dean for research and innovation, Shen will work with faculty and colleagues across the Law School to support scholarly research, cultivate interdisciplinary collaboration, and expand opportunities for faculty and students to engage with the ideas shaping law and society.

Congratulations, Professor Shen!

z.umn.edu/bhsd

08/07/2026

One Field, Many Terms: Can Cryobiology Agree on Its Language? In this video, Lakshya Gangwar, PhD, explores why harmonizing terminology across cryobiology is essential for improving reproducibility, regulatory clarity, ethical governance, and translation across medicine, conservation, food, and agriculture.

https://youtu.be/Ej3SqTGyOAM?si=WV2HrS82WG8JXA_D

NSF ATP-Bio

NSF ATP-Bio Public Webinar Series (2026-06-16): One Field, Many Ter...

08/05/2026

The University of Minnesota has announced the retirement of Mary Jo Kreitzer, PhD, RN, FAAN, effective January 4, 2027. Prof. Kreitzer founded the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing in 1995 and has served as its Director for more than three decades. The Bakken Center is a Consortium member center, and Prof. Kreitzer has contributed enormously to Consortium work and leadership over many years, including by serving on the Consortium Executive Committee. We extend our congratulations to her on her retirement and express deep gratitude for her partnership and collaboration. Prof. Kreitzer will remain on the Consortium Executive Committee through the end of the calendar year.

https://csh.umn.edu/news/dr-mary-jo-kreitzer-retire-after-three-decades-visionary-leadership-university-minnesotas-earl

University of Minnesota Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing

Since founding the Center in 1995, Kreitzer has led the development of innovative academic programs, groundbreaking research initiatives, community partnerships, and clinical and educational programs that have advanced the integration of evidence-informed approaches to health and healing throughout....

08/03/2026

Safeguarding Earth’s biodiversity and resources is an essential and urgent mission. In a newly published article in New Space, researchers consider the potential benefits, challenges, and solutions of a lunar biorepository to hold cryopreserved samples of critical Earth species, and how astrobiology plays a central role in the effort to preserve Earth’s resources. This paper builds on earlier work published in Bioscience. Authors of “Expanding Astrobiology: The Case for a Lunar Biorepository” include lead author Mary Hagedorn, PhD, Senior Research Scientist at the Smithsonian Institution; Consortium chair Susan M. Wolf, JD; and John C. Bischof, PhD, Director of the NSF Engineering Research Center for Advanced Technologies for the Preservation of Biological Systems (ATP-Bio). ATP-Bio is a Consortium member center.

Read the paper to learn more: https://doi.org/10.1177/21680256261468245