Heidi Mertes

Responsible implementation of expanded carrier screening at Session 6 on Friday 12th April

Heidi Mertes is an associate professor in medical ethics at Ghent University, where she is one of the founding members of both the METAMEDICA consortium and the Bioethics Institute Ghent. Her academic research focusses on the ethical implications of innovations in healthcare, with a particular focus on reproductive medicine, genetics, embryonic stem cell research and more specifically ethical challenges at the intersection of these different domains. She has, for example, published articles on the ethical issues related to oocyte cryopreservation, embryo research, stem cell derived gametes, genetic parenthood, genome editing, genetic screening of embryos, etc. She is a member of the Belgian Federal Commission for Medical and Scientific Research on Embryos in vitro, the past coordinator of the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE)’s special interest group on Ethics and Law and the current chair of ESHRE’s Ethics Committee.