The International Collaborative Research Program on Bioscience Innovation and Law: Actionable Insights
This post launches a Digital Symposium on legal and ethical pathways for key challenges in sustainable health and life science, including:
Advanced Medical Computing, AI & Quantum Technology
Pandemic Preparedness and Anti-Microbial Resistance
- Sustainable Innovation in the Health & Life Sciences: Ecosystems, Drug Regulations & Data Infrastructures. Green Technologies & “Biosolutions”
- The Inter-CeBIL initiative fosters knowledge networks
- This post launches a Digital Symposium on legal and ethical pathways for key challenges in sustainable health and life science, including:
Advanced Medical Computing, AI & Quantum Technology
Pandemic Preparedness and Anti-Microbial Resistance
Sustainable Innovation in the Health and Life Sciences: Ecosystems, Drug Regulation, Data Infrastructures, Green Technologies and “Biosolutions”
The Inter-CeBIL initiative fosters knowledge networks to address legal and ethical challenges in health and life science innovation. It offers tailored legal and regulatory assistance to patients, researchers and businesses. The potential of personalized medicine is being held back by legal challenges and fragmented regulation. This symposium will also build bridges from research to adoption. This symposium similarly will build bridges from research to adoption.
Addressing Grand Challenges
Inter-CeBIL’s mission targets three key areas with real-world use cases that translate academic insights into practice. This symposium will explore all three, and be featured on the Bill of Health until July 2025. Advanced Medical Computing
Advanced computing technologies, including algorithms, artificial intelligence (AI), and quantum computing, are revolutionizing drug discovery, medical devices, and digital health. These advancements hold immense potential to improve health outcomes and patient care, but they also raise many legal, ethical & regulatory issues.
This symposium’s commentaries provide a deep dive into the following topics:
Marcelo Corrales Compagnucci argues that European regulators, through the EDPB’s Opinion 28/2024, are reinforcing stricter GDPR compliance for AI systems, emphasizing anonymization challenges, limits of legitimate interest, and risks of unlawfully processed data.
Peter Davis examines the recent export controls implemented in Europe, the US and Japan on quantum technologies, and the effect that this may have on cross-border collaboration and research on health-related applications of quantum computing.
Sebastian Porsdam Mann, Timo Minssen and Marcelo Corrales Compagnucci outline some of the implications of new generative AI models such as DeepSeek-R1 for medical healthcare and research.
Hannah Smith explores the implications of neurotechnologies expanding beyond their traditional medical and clinical settings to direct consumer access to these advanced tools. Can current EU rules appropriately respond to potential privacy risks and efficacy concerns without unduly hindering innovation?
Emma Kondrup looks at how AI-driven medicine may change how we understand informed consent, and whether existing legislative frameworks provide a good enough safeguard against its risks.
2. Pandemic Preparedness and Antimicrobial Resistance
The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the importance of regulatory agility and innovation in pandemic preparedness. As Minssen and colleagues have shown, the pandemic also exacerbated global challenges of antimicrobial resistant (AMR). Weldon et. al. Drug-resistant infections have become a serious threat to global health in the wake the pandemic. Weldon et al. Sustainable Innovation: Ecosystems, Drug Regulation, and Data Infrastructure
Sustainability in life sciences demands addressing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) challenges while navigating increasingly complex regulatory ecosystems. Sustainable futures are based on issues such as data-sharing frameworks and greener R&D practices. In this important area, another major study is the study of biotechnologies. Recently, we published a study on these topics for the European Commission. The discussions in this symposium explore key insights on the following areas:
Gabriela Lenarczyk examines how recent rulings–such as in Salix Pharmaceuticals v. Norwich and Vanda Pharms. Inc. v. Teva Pharms. USA, Inc. in the U.S. and key EPO decisions (T 1437/21, T 0816/22)–expose tensions between clinical trial transparency requirements and pharmaceutical patent protection, arguing for calibrated reforms like a disclosure grace period and clearer ‘new matter’ guidelines.
Laura Valtere introduces the latest events in Europe regarding New Genomic Technologies in plant breeding. She explains proposed changes to both the intellectual property and Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) regulations. Our goal is bridge the gap between drug R&D, patient care and global health challenges. This work includes perspectives and lessons from Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs)
and the Global South, recognizing that true health security can only be achieved when no one is left behind.
Through this symposium, we will share key insights and developments in this rapidly evolving field, highlighting our latest research and policy contributions. To learn more about Inter-CeBIL’s vision, mission, and ongoing projects, stay tuned to this symposium, explore our website, and connect with our team.
About the authors Tim Minssen
is an Inter-CeBIL Research Affiliate, and Professor of Law at the University of Copenhagen, as well as founding director for the Center for Advanced Studies in Bioscience Innovation Law (CeBIL)
Marcelo Corrales Compagnucci
is an Inter-CeBIL Research Affiliate, and Associate Professor and Associate Director at the Center for Advanced Studies in Bioscience Innovation Law; Faculty of Law at the University of Copenhagen.
