Michigan State University’s College of Law has established an interdisciplinary program to address one of society’s biggest questions: How should law and ethics regulate the impact of technology on health care and the life sciences?
The Health and Life Sciences Law program will examine the legal, ethical and policy issues that are emerging at the intersection of health care, government and artificial intelligence.
The new program, led by MSU Research Foundation Distinguished Professor of Law Mason Marks, will specifically advance research, dialogueand policy changes by bringing together MSU law students, both MSU and affiliated researchers, and industry experts.
“Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming healthcare and government,” said Michael Sant’Ambrogio, dean of the College of Law. “The legal, ethical and policy questions surrounding that transformation are becoming increasingly important. Through the Health and Life Sciences Law program, MSU will be at the forefront of AI and health law, hosting national leaders in this area and providing opportunities for campuswide collaboration among faculty and students.”
Building a foundation
The program is starting with a research-driven agenda. Specifically, it will center on the following key areas:
- AI use in Food and Drug Administration review of drugs and medical devices
- AI-driven disease surveillance and public health monitoring
- AI use in health-related administrative decision-making
- Ethical and legal frameworks governing AI deployment across health agencies
Students will work alongside faculty and practitioners on policy papers and research projects, while interacting with leaders in healthcare, government and industry.
One of the program’s first projects, “AI in Public Health Governance,” will study how government agencies can responsibly use AI in a range of contexts from FDA drug approvals and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention disease surveillance to healthcare administration and resource allocation.
A key question the program will tackle is increased government use of artificial intelligence. Health agencies are increasingly deploying AI tools to analyze data, support regulatory review, monitor disease outbreaks and improve administrative decision-making.
“These developments present opportunities to improve efficiency and public health outcomes,” Marks said. “But they also raise important questions about transparency, accountability, bias, privacy and due process. HLS Law will analyze these issues.”
Expanding key partnerships
A major objective of the program will be to bring in expertise from across disciplines, including external partnerships and other units across campus.
For example, the project will continue the innovative work on emerging mental health treatments that Marks started with Harvard Law School’s Petrie-Flom Center.
On MSU’s campus later this fall, the MSU Law Review’s annual symposium will focus on health law to further amplify the program and to bring leading legal scholars to campus.
After the program is further underway, the goal is to incorporate expertise from disciplines such as veterinary medicine, human medicine, engineering and business. There is also a pathway for many campus partnerships, such as the MSU Ethics Institute, the Frank J. Kelley Institute of Ethics and the Center for Bioethics and Social Justice.
“The initiative is designed not only to advance scholarship but also to engage students and faculty in state and federal health and life sciences policy as it unfolds,” Marks said. “MSU is uniquely positioned to provide expert input and help develop policies that promote innovation while protecting the public interest.”
For students and researchers who want to get involved, they can contact Marks.
