Michael M. Burgess, Ph.D. Chair in Biomedical Ethics mburgess@ethics.ubc.ca

Michael Burgess is Professor and Chair in Biomedical Ethics at the CAE and in the Department of Medical Genetics, and Principal of the College for Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of British Columbia.

Burgess received a BA in philosophy and religion from Spring Arbor College in Michigan, and an MA and Ph.D. in philosophy, with a specialization in medical ethics, from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He was formerly an Associate Professor of Medical Bioethics in the Faculty of Medicine and Humanities Institute at the University of Calgary.

Specialization and Professional Interests

I collaborate on the use of social sciences to understand ethical and social issues to better inform and direct policy. I am interested in identifying neglected or novel perspectives on issues of culture, genetics and genomics to assure that the theoretical approaches and policy recommendations engage with poorly understood or disenfranchised perspectives. The focus of my interdisciplinary collaboration is to engage various “publics” in dialogue about the role of genomics and biotechnology in society, to inform policy and to sustain continued discussion on important ethical issues. The primary topics have been biobanking,  salmon genomics and aquaculture. I am currently working on practical and theoretical integration of science and technology studies, deliberative democracy, and ethics. More information can be found at the website for the Genome Canada and Genome BC funded project “Building a GE3LS Architecture.”

Current Research Grants

Teaching

Burgess’ primary teaching strategy is to develop interdisciplinary research capacity in bioethics and social science, particularly related to policy in genomics and biotechnology. He seeks to enhance the interdisciplinary research strengths of graduate and post-doctoral trainees from all disciplines through participation on supervisory committees, supporting a research group, and interdisciplinary courses. In 2000, Burgess was awarded a Killam Award for Excellence in Teaching in the Faculty of Graduate Studies, UBC in recognition of teaching through the creation and leadership of a research team including graduate and post-graduate students. He is currently hosting Heather Walmsley, an ESRC funded student from the CESAGen. Graduate students interested in being supervised by Burgess usually apply through the UBC Individual Interdisciplinary Studies Graduate Program to conduct research related to his funded research or in the CIHR Training Program on the Ethics of Health Research and Policy. Burgess also participates on supervisory committees for graduate students in other schools and faculties.

Courses Offered

See Centre Teaching and Training

Recent Publications

Holly Longstaff and Michael Burgess "Recruiting for representation in public deliberation on the ethics of biobanks "Public Understanding of Science (submitted).

Avard, D, Bucci, LM Burgess, MM, Kaye, J, Heeney, C, Cambon-Thomsen, A (Submitted). Public Health Genomics and Public Participation: Points to Consider. Public Health Policy Journal (submitted).

H. Walmsley, MM Burgess, J Brinkman, R Hegele, J Wilson-McManus, B McManus. Where Are We Heading/What Do We Really Need?Ethics of biomarkers: where are the borders of investigative research, informed consent and patient protection. In Biomarkers in Drug Development: A Handbook of Practice, Application and Strategy], Edited by Michael Bleavins, Ramin Rahbari, Mallé Jurima-Romet, Claudio Carini (submitted).

D M. Secko, MM. Burgess. Assessing Moral Perspectives on the Technical Application of a Fish’s DNA: An Interview Study with Salmon Genomic Researchers. Science, Technology and Human Values (submitted).

J Tansey, MM Burgess. The meaning of genomics: Conflation of transgenics and genomics by publics and experts. Public Understanding of Science (forthcoming).

J Tansey, MM Burgess. Complexity of public interest in ethical analysis of Genomics. In D. Castle and K Culver (Eds), Genomics and Public Policy: Issues and Perspectives for Canada and the World. UBC Press. (forthcoming).

MM Burgess, J Tansey. Democratic deficit and the politics of “informed and inclusive” consultation. In Hindsight and Foresight on Emerging Technologies, E. Einseidel & R. Parker (Eds), Vancouver, BC. UBC Press (forthcoming).

Burgess, MM and J. Tansey. 'Cultural Authority of Informed Consent: Indigenous Participation in Biobanking and Salmon Genomics Focus Groups'. After Consent: A Socio-ethical Approach to Human Subject Research in Medicine. Corrigan, O.P, Liddell, K., McMillan, J., Richards, M., & Weijer, C. (eds.) After Consent: A Socio-ethical Approach to Human Subject Research in Medicine Oxford University Press (in press).

Burgess, M.M. 'Proposing Modesty for Informed Consent'. Social Science and Medicine.  65 (11), 2007: 2284-2295. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2007.08.006

H. Longstaff, MM Burgess, and P. Lewis. Comparing Methods of Ethical Consultation for Biotechnology Related Issues. Health Law Review 15(1), 2007: 37-38.

J Tansey, MM Burgess. Democracy, Ethics and Genomics: Introduction to a special issue. The Integrated Assessment Journal 6 (2), 2006: 1–8.

MM Burgess, J Tansey. Complexity of public interest in ethical analysis of genomics: Ethical reflections on salmon genomics/aquaculture. Journal of Integrative Assessment. 6 (2), 2006: 37–57.

MM Burgess. Ethical Analysis of Representation in the Governance of Biotechnology. In Einsiedel, Edna F. & Timmermans, Frank (eds), Crossing Over. Genomics in the Public Arena. Calgary, Canada: University of Calgary Press, 2005, 157-172.

B Williams-Jones, MM Burgess. Democratising Access to Genetic Services. Familial Cancer - Oncogenetics: Achievements and Challenges. 5(2), 2006: 117-121.

MM Burgess. Starting on the Right Foot: Public Consultation to Inform Issue Definition in Genome Policy. Accepted for publication in volume edited by Abdul Turay. In press.

Fern Brunger and Michael Burgess. A Cultural Understanding of Research Ethics Governance. Health Law Review 13 (2&3); 2005: 69-74.

Burgess, M.M. & Williams-Jones, B. “Law in Tension with Evolving Ethical Perception: Prenatal Genetic Testing for Sex and Disability” Working Paper 71, Cardiff Institute of Society, Health and Ethics, School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University (ISBN 1 904815 37 5), 2005. [view]

MM Burgess. Public consultation in ethics: an experiment in representative ethics. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry. Volume 1/Number 1, 4 – 13, November 2004.

B Williams-Jones and Michael M. Burgess, Social Contract Theory and Just Decision Making: Lessons from Genetic Testing for the BRCA Mutations, Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal, Volume 14, Number 2, 115-142, June 2004 [view]

P Rodney, MM Burgess, Gladys McPherson, and Helen Brown; Our Theoretical Landscape: A Brief History of Health Care Ethics chapter in “Toward a Moral Horizon: Nursing Ethics for Leadership and Practice”, Prentice Hall Health 2004:56-76.

P Rodney, B Pauly; and MM Burgess, Our Theoretical Landscape: Complementary Approaches to Health Care Ethics chapter in “Toward a Moral Horizon: Nursing Ethics for Leadership and Practice”, Prentice Hall Health 2004:77-97.

G McPherson, P Rodney, M McDonald, J Storch, B. Pauly; MM Burgess, and Working within the Landscape: Applications in Health Care Ethics chapter in “Toward a Moral Horizon: Nursing Ethics for Leadership and Practice”, Prentice Hall Health 2004:98-125.

MM Burgess, P Lewis, P Bromley, B. Kneen, V McCaffrey. Above and Beyond: Industry Innovation Related to Genetic Privacy. In Bartha Maria Knoppers and Charles Scriver (Eds.) Genomics, Health and Society: Emerging Issues for Public Policy Genomics and Public Policy, 2003: 157-187.

L. d’Agincourt-Canning, MM Burgess, B. McGillivray; Ethics and hereditary cancer – issues for women and families with hereditary breast/ovarian cancer chapter. In “Breast Cancer Management” (2nd Edition), Nabholtz et al (Eds). Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins. 2003:437-445.

Thurston, W.E. Vollman, A. R., Burgess, M.M. Ethical review of health promotion program evaluation proposals. Health Promotion Practice. 2003; 4(1): 45-50.

MM Burgess and Lori d’Agincourt-Canning. Genetic Testing for Hereditary Disease: Attending to Relational Responsibility. Journal of Clinical Ethics. 2002; 12(4): 361-372.

MM Burgess. Wither morality in genetic tests? University of Alberta Health Law Review, 2001, 9 (3): 3 – 9.

MM Burgess. Beyond consent: ethical and social issues in genetic testing. Nature Reviews: Genetics, 2001; 2: 9-14.

T Caulfield, MM Burgess and B. Williams-Jones et al. Providing Genetic Testing Through the Private Sector: A View From Canada. ISUMA, 2001, 2 (3): 72-81. [view]

MM Burgess, and F. Brunger. Negotiating collective acceptability of health research. The Governance of Health Research Involving Human Subjects. Ottawa: Law Commission of Canada, 2000:117-151. [view]

WE Thurston, MM Burgess, CE Adair. Ethical issues in the use of computerized databases for epidemiologic and other health research. Chronic Diseases in Canada. 1999 20 (3) 127-131.

Working Papers

M.M. Burgess and J. Tansey. Complexity of public interest in ethical analysis of genomics: Ethical reflections on salmon genomics/aquaculture. Electronic Working Papers Series. W. Maurice Young Centre for Applied Ethics, University of British Columbia (2005) at www.ethics.ubc.ca. [Abstract]

Michael Burgess and Kieran O'Doherty (2007) "Deliberative Public Engagement Related to Governing Biobanks: Final Report".  Electronic Working Papers Series. W. Maurice Young Centre for Applied Ethics, University of British Columbia at www.gels.ethics.ubc.ca [Abstract]

Holly Longstaff and Michael Burgess (2007) "Recruiting for representation in public deliberation on the ethics of biobanks" Electronic Working Papers Series. W. Maurice Young Centre for Applied Ethics, University of British Columbia at www.gels.ethics.ubc.ca [Abstract]

Tansey, James; Burgess, Michael M. (2004). “The foundations, applications and ethical dimensions of biobanks.” Electronic Working Papers Series. W. Maurice Young Centre for Applied Ethics. University of British Columbia at www.ethics.ubc.ca.

Burgess, Michael M. (2003). “Starting on the right foot: public consultation to inform issue definition in genome policy.” Electronic Working Papers Series. W. Maurice Young Centre for Applied Ethics, University of British Columbia at www.ethics.ubc.ca.