Global Network of WHO Collaborating Centres for Bioethics
WHO Collaborating Centers for Bioethics (CCs) are key institutions with relevant expertise distributed throughout the world. They represent a valuable resource as an extended and integral arm of WHO's capacity to implement its ethics mandate. The scientific validity of WHO's work on ethics is enhanced by ongoing collaboration and dialogue with academic centers. In this respect, WHO encourages connections and synergies between its CCs to achieve enhanced results, to facilitate resource mobilization and to strengthen (institutional) capacity, in particular at regional level. WHO is committed to the development of CCs for Bioethics in low and middle income countries and encourages active partnership between CCs in high- and low resource settings. The Global Network of WHO Collaborating Centres for Bioethics has been created to advance these aims.
Chair of the Network (as of 18 August 2011)
Professor Nikola Biller-Andorno directs the Institute of Biomedical Ethics of the University of Zurich, Switzerland (www.ethik.uzh.ch/ibme). With a background in medicine as well as philosophy and social sciences, Prof. Biller-Andorno spent two years as an ethicist at the World Health Organization (2002-2004) before returning to academia. While she is very involved in bioethics teaching and consultancy in Switzerland, the international dimension of bioethics is of particular importance to her. She has acted as deputy editor of the Journal of Medical Ethics for a number of years, and currently serves as President of the International Association of Bioethics. She also directs the newly established PhD program “Biomedical Ethics and Law” (medical track) at the University of Zurich, which is open to international students (www.bmel.uzh.ch/med). Nikola Biller-Andorno has published widely in the field of bioethics. Her work so far includes more than 120 contributions to journals and book chapters, some of which have been translated into Spanish, Turkish and Russian. She has co-authored or co-edited seven books, among them “Ethical Issues in Governing Biobanks – Global Perspectives” (Ashgate 2008). She has given more than 100 presentations and lectures in many different countries.
Global Network Terms of Reference
Brochure of the Global Network
Member Institutions
- Joint Center for Bioethics, University of Toronto
- University of Miami Ethics Programs
- Espace éthique AP-HP in Paris
- University of Zurich: Institute of Biomedical Ethics
- Australian National University: Centre for Applied Philosopy and Public Ethics (CAPPE)
- Center for the History and Ethics of Public Health, Columbia University, New York
- For other WHO Collaborating Centres: Global database
Network Meetings
3rd meeting of the network: Zurich, Switzerland, 18-19 August 2011
2nd meeting of the network: Toronto, Canada, 26 May 2010
1st meeting of the network: Santiago de Chile, 26 April 2009
News
4th Meeting of the Network: New York City, USA, June 2012