Developing a South East Asian Bioethics Network (360G-Wellcome-222870_Z_21_Z)

This programme aims to build a bioethics community in South East Asia (SEA) to establish a research agenda that brings to the forefront voices that are not well captured in current bioethics discourses, and shape policies and practices to enhance the wellbeing of individuals and communities. A distinctive feature of SEA is its diversity of language, ethnicities, cultural and religious traditions, and political and economic development. However, SEA voices are underrepresented in contemporary bioethics discourses and in the development of bioethics guidelines that have international relevance and impact. Led by the University of Malaya with initial partners in Singapore and Thailand, this initiative will initially focus on two thematic research areas: 1) emerging issues relating to healthcare for and research with mobile and marginalised populations; and 2) challenges and opportunities presented by emergent health and biomedical technologies. The guiding principles of this initiative are threefold. First, to discover and bring into the bioethical discourse, the voices of the many cultural and religious traditions in the region. Second, to advocate for change and challenge orthodoxy; and third, to build a vibrant, inclusive and collaborative bioethics community in South East Asia.