William B. Hurlbut
Encyclopedia
William B. Hurlbut is a physician
and Consulting Professor in the Neuroscience Institute at Stanford, Stanford University Medical Center
. Born in St. Helena
, California
, he grew up in Bronxville
, New York
. After receiving his undergraduate and medical training at Stanford, he completed postdoctoral studies in theology
and medical ethics
, studying with Robert Hamerton-Kelly
, the Dean of the Chapel at Stanford, and subsequently with the Rev. Louis Bouyer
of the Institut Catholique de Paris
. In addition to teaching at Stanford, he served for eight years on the President's Council on Bioethics
.
His primary areas of interest involve the ethical issues associated with advancing biomedical technology, the biological basis of moral awareness, and studies in the integration of theology and philosophy
of biology. His courses in biomedical ethics in the Program in Human Biology have included: Biology, Technology and Human Life, and Ethical Issues in the Neurosciences. He has worked with NASA on projects in astrobiology
and since 1998 has been a member of the Chemical and Biological Warfare working group
at the Stanford University Center for International Security and Cooperation
.
Dr. Hurlbut has come to national prominence for his advocacy of Altered Nuclear Transfer
(ANT), a scientific method of obtaining pluripotent stem cells without the creation and destruction of human embryos. He has spoken all over the world on the intrinsic dignity of human life, including the moral value of the human embryo.
He attended the Beyond Belief
symposium on November 2006.
In mid-2007, Dr. Hurlbut was the guest of the BBC World Service Radio programme, The Interview.
In 2009, commentary from Dr. Hurlbut was featured in the futurist documentary Transcendent Man. In 2010, Hurlbut was featured in the award winning film The Human Experience
.
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and Consulting Professor in the Neuroscience Institute at Stanford, Stanford University Medical Center
Stanford University Medical Center
Stanford University Medical Center represents the Stanford Hospital and the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital and is located at 300 Pasteur Drive in Stanford, California. Stanford Hospital provides both general acute care services and tertiary medical care for patients locally, nationally and...
. Born in St. Helena
St. Helena, California
St. Helena is a city in Napa County, California, United States. It is part of the northern San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 5,814 at the 2010 census....
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, he grew up in Bronxville
Bronxville, New York
Bronxville is an affluent village within the town of Eastchester, New York, in the United States. It is a suburb of New York City, located approximately north of midtown Manhattan in southern Westchester County. At the 2010 census, Bronxville had a population of 6,323...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. After receiving his undergraduate and medical training at Stanford, he completed postdoctoral studies in theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
and medical ethics
Medical ethics
Medical ethics is a system of moral principles that apply values and judgments to the practice of medicine. As a scholarly discipline, medical ethics encompasses its practical application in clinical settings as well as work on its history, philosophy, theology, and sociology.-History:Historically,...
, studying with Robert Hamerton-Kelly
Robert Hamerton-Kelly
Robert G. Hamerton-Kelly is a Christian theologian, ordained United Methodist pastor, and author and editor of several books on religion and violence.-Life and career:...
, the Dean of the Chapel at Stanford, and subsequently with the Rev. Louis Bouyer
Louis Bouyer
Louis Bouyer was a French Lutheran minister who converted to Catholicism in 1939. During his religious career he was a scholar who was relied upon during the Second Vatican Council....
of the Institut Catholique de Paris
Institut Catholique de Paris
The Institut Catholique de Paris, or the Catholic University of Paris, is a private university located in Paris, France. The institute was founded in 1875, under the name Université Catholique de Paris, by Maurice Le Sage d'Hauteroche d'Hulst....
. In addition to teaching at Stanford, he served for eight years on the President's Council on Bioethics
The President's Council on Bioethics
The President's Council on Bioethics was a group of individuals appointed by United States President George W. Bush to advise his administration on bioethics. Established on November 28, 2001, by Executive Order 13237, the Council was directed to "advise the President on bioethical issues that may...
.
His primary areas of interest involve the ethical issues associated with advancing biomedical technology, the biological basis of moral awareness, and studies in the integration of theology and philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
of biology. His courses in biomedical ethics in the Program in Human Biology have included: Biology, Technology and Human Life, and Ethical Issues in the Neurosciences. He has worked with NASA on projects in astrobiology
Astrobiology
Astrobiology is the study of the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe. This interdisciplinary field encompasses the search for habitable environments in our Solar System and habitable planets outside our Solar System, the search for evidence of prebiotic chemistry,...
and since 1998 has been a member of the Chemical and Biological Warfare working group
Working group
A working group is an interdisciplinary collaboration of researchers working on new research activities that would be difficult to develop under traditional funding mechanisms . The lifespan of the WG can last anywhere between a few months and several years...
at the Stanford University Center for International Security and Cooperation
Stanford University Center for International Security and Cooperation
Formerly the Center for International Security and Arms Control, co-founded by physicist Sidney Drell and political scientist John Lewis, CISAC now stands for the Center for International Security and Cooperation...
.
Dr. Hurlbut has come to national prominence for his advocacy of Altered Nuclear Transfer
Altered nuclear transfer
Altered Nuclear Transfer is an alternative method of obtaining embryonic-like, pluripotent stem cells without the creation and destruction of human embryos. The process was originally proposed by Dr. William B. Hurlbut.-External links:*...
(ANT), a scientific method of obtaining pluripotent stem cells without the creation and destruction of human embryos. He has spoken all over the world on the intrinsic dignity of human life, including the moral value of the human embryo.
He attended the Beyond Belief
Beyond Belief: Science, Religion, Reason and Survival
Beyond Belief: Science, Religion, Reason and Survival, the first of The Science Network's annual Beyond Belief symposia, held from November 5 to November 7, 2006, was described by the New York Times, as "a free-for-all on science and religion," which seemed at times like "the founding convention...
symposium on November 2006.
In mid-2007, Dr. Hurlbut was the guest of the BBC World Service Radio programme, The Interview.
In 2009, commentary from Dr. Hurlbut was featured in the futurist documentary Transcendent Man. In 2010, Hurlbut was featured in the award winning film The Human Experience
The Human Experience
The Human Experience is a documentary film, produced by Grassroots Films, which tells the story of and his travels, as he searches for answers to the question: what does it mean to be human? The film is divided into the three experiences, which take Jeffrey and his friends to New York, to Peru,...
.
External links
- Stanford Bio
- U.S. President's Council on Bioethics
- Home page of the Center for International Security and Cooperation
- One Small Island of Unity in a Sea of Controversy Q&A on altered nuclear transferAltered nuclear transferAltered Nuclear Transfer is an alternative method of obtaining embryonic-like, pluripotent stem cells without the creation and destruction of human embryos. The process was originally proposed by Dr. William B. Hurlbut.-External links:*...
with The National Review - On the Dangers of Radical Lifespan Extension interview with USNews
- Explanation of the theory of Altered Nuclear Transfer