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Medical humanities pioneer to oversee influential bioethics council

8 August 2024
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Professor Jane Macnaughton looking directly to camera with a light coloured background

Professor Jane Macnaughton from our Institute for Medical Humanities and Department of Anthropology has been chosen as the next Chair of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics Governing Board.

Understanding biomedical advances 

The Nuffield Council on Bioethics (NCOB) is the foremost bioethics body in the UK and respected globally.  As the new Governing Board Chair, Professor Macnaughton will liaise between the three funders of the NCOB and help oversee the delivery of the Council’s Strategic Plan.  This will include the NCOB’s horizon scanning and policy influencing work, as well as their inquiries into new biomedical advances.  

Clinical, research and leadership excellence 

Professor Macnaughton has been at the forefront of research at Durham for over twenty years.  

Having established the Institute of Medical Humanities in 2000, she served as its Director until 2021. 

She is currently Durham’s Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research leading specifically on research culture development.   

Professor Macnaughton also has decades of clinical experience practising as both a GP and an honorary consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.  

Professor Macnaughton believes her combination of clinical and research experience will be valuable in her role as Chair.  

She brings an understanding and insight into how individuals, clinicians and society understand medical advances, the caution that may be felt, and the balance of potential against risk. 

Professor Macnaughton also has a wealth of experience in chairing committees, enabling different views to be heard, and fostering consensus.   

Sound ethical assessment 

Speaking about her new role, Professor Macnaughton said: “I am excited to support the Council and its Chair and Chief Executive to deliver their new strategy and to work closely with the funders to oversee this exciting new phase in the NCOB’s development. 

“Exploring new advances in biomedicine is vital in order to understand where they may take us, but it requires courage as well as sound ethical assessment.  

“The Nuffield Council on Bioethics is at the forefront of this, and I am excited to help them to lead this work both nationally and internationally.”  

World-leading collaboration  

The Nuffield Council on Bioethics was founded in 1991. It works to identify and interrogate the ethical issues that biomedicine can present and ensure that decisions around biomedicine benefit both people and society. 

It is funded by the Nuffield Foundation, the Medical Research Council and Wellcome.  

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