Professor Megan Munsie is the Deputy Director of the University of Melbourne’s Centre for Stem Cell Systems in the School of Biomedical Sciences where she heads a research program in the ethical, legal and social implications of stem cell research at the University of Melbourne. As a trained developmental biologist, Megan combines her scientific expertise with a deep understanding of the ethical and regulatory considerations required to facilitate responsible research in stem cell science and its clinical translation.
For more than two decades Megan has been a leading member of the international stem cell research community. She has been instrumental in the development of ethical frameworks for the responsible use of human embryos in research, and more recently led efforts to reform Australian regulations in an effort to protect patients and curb the exploitative commercial provision of unproven stem cell interventions. Her research demonstrates the importance of interdisciplinary scholarship to gain greater insights into community attitudes and how such findings can be used to inform effective engagement and education strategies, as well as influence policy reform at a national and international level. Through this work she has established an extensive network that links leading Australian patient support groups and charities with scientists, clinicians, regulators, legal scholars and ethicists. She has authored numerous educational resources for Australian patients and healthcare professionals and regularly holds forums across the country designed to enhance community understanding of stem cell science. In 2018 she was awarded the Public Service Award from the International Society for Stem Cell Research in recognition of her public outreach and policy advocacy in stem cell science. Megan serves on advisory committees to organisations including International Society for Stem Cell Research, International Society for Cellular and Gene Therapy, Australasian Society for Stem Cell Research, AusBiotech and the Australian Academy of Science. Megan received her undergraduate degree in applied science from Queensland University of Technology before completing a Masters in Reproductive Sciences and Doctorate in Philosophy in stem cell biology and therapeutic cloning from Monash University. She has extensive experience in biotechnology and prior to working in the field of regenerative medicine, Megan worked for over ten years as a clinical embryologist in Australian IVF clinics.
Find out more about Megan Munsie's experience
Megan Munsie's highlights
FEATURED Journal article
UNCONVENTIONAL PRACTICE, "INNOVATIVE" INTERVENTIONS AND THE NATIONAL LAW
Read moreMegan Munsie's selected work
ARC TRAINING CENTRE FOR PERSONALISED THERAPEUTICS TECHNOLOGIES - ARC FUNDING
Research Grant
Gaining clarity on the ethical issues of a possible COVID-19 vaccine
NEWS ARTICLE
Toward Guidelines for Research on Human Embryo Models Formed from Stem Cells
Journal article
STEM CELLS AUSTRALIA (ARC FUNDING) SCA LEGACY WEBSITE CI MUNSIE
Research Grant
A remedy for false COVID-19 cures?
NEWS ARTICLE
Australian regulation of autologous human cell and tissue products: implications for comme..
Journal article
Megan Munsie's selected work
Projects
Displaying the 5 most recent projects by Megan Munsie.
Project Types
5
Research Grant
Additional Information
2012-2014 ARC Discovery Project - High hopes, high risk? A sociological study of stem cell tourism; Chief Investigators: Alan Petersen (Monash) & Steven Wainwright (Brunel University); Other investigators: Megan Munsie (Stem Cells Australia, University of Melbourne)($238,698; DP120100921)
a2011-2019 ARC Special Research Initiative in Stem Cell Science – Stem Cells Australia; Chief Investigators: Martin Pera, Tiziano Barberi, Perry Bartlett, Justin Copper-White, Andrew Elefanty, David Gardner, Robert Graham, Peter Gray, Sean Grimmond, Richard Harvey, Doug Hilton, Trevor Kilpatrick, Melissa Little, Lars Nielsen, Nadia Rosenthal, Ed Stanley, Christine Wells, Ernst Wolvetang; Associate Investigators: 12 researchers including Megan Munsie [named head of Education, Ethics, Law and Community Awareness Unit] ($24million; fourteen partnering universities or research institutes - administrated by University of Melbourne)
2011 Royal Australasian College of Physicians CPD Grant program – Stem Cells Learning Module and Stem Cell Roadshow; Co-Investigators Bernie Tuch (NSW Stem Cell Network), Ian Kerridge (NSW Stem Cell Network), Rebecca Skinner (ASCC) and Megan Munsie (Stem Cells Australia) ($7,500 in total)
2010 National Enabling Technology Strategy (NETS) small grants - Co-Investigator in Stem cell tourism: factors influencing Australian patients’ treatment decisions and implications for public communication and Stem Cell Teachers Kit for Australian Secondary School Teachers and participant in a further NETS grant – BioEYES Australia ($30,000 total)
2008-2010 NSW/VIC Government Stem Cell Research Grant Program - Reproducible production of patient-specific human embryonic like stem cell lines from somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT-hESC) and their characterisation and comparison to induced pluripotent cells (iPS) and conventional embryo-derived
human embryonic stem cells (hESC) Chief Investigators: Andrew L Laslett (ASCC) & Tomas Stojanov (SIVF); Other Investigators: Teija Peura, Naoki Nakayama, Jacqueline Rosains, Megan Munsie (ASCC), Julia Schaft, Omar Chami, David Lu, Michael Henman, Tammi Roy ($550,000 total, $300,000 to ASCC)
Scholarly Works
Displaying the 10 most recent scholarly works by Megan Munsie.
News
Displaying the 10 most recent news articles by Megan Munsie.
Honours, Awards and Fellowships
Credentials
Positions
Positions
Professor -Ethics, Edu & Policy In Stem Cell Sci
Anatomy And Neuroscience
Member Of Presidential Taskforce On Unproven Cellular Therapies
International Society for Cellular Therapy
Chair, Policy, Ethics And Translation Sub-Committee
Australasian Society for Stem Cell Research
Chair, Isscr Ethics Committee; Chair, Isscr ‘Closer Look’ Task Force; Member Isscr Education Taskforce
International Society for Stem Cell Research
Education
Education
Doctorate of Philosophy
Monash University
Masters of Reproductive Science
Monash University
Bachelor of Applied Science
Queensland University of Technology