Profiles
Lisa Eckstein
Lisa Eckstein
Adjunct Senior Lecturer
Room 2.20 , Faculty of Law Building
+61 3 6226 2064 (phone)
Dr Lisa Eckstein is a Senior Lecturer in Law and Medicine/Health Law in the Faculty of Law in the College of Arts, Law and Education. Her area of specialisation is ethical and legal issues associated with medical research, with a focus on clinical trials and innovative technology. With national and international colleagues, she is researching how clinical trials and other forms of research should be governed, including the role of Human research Ethics Committees and Data and Safety Monitoring Boards.
Biography
Before joining the University of Tasmania Lisa completed a her Masters of Health Law at the University of Sydney, a Doctor of Juridical Science at Georgetown University Law Centre and a post-doctoral fellowship in the Department of Bioethics at the National Institutes of Health. She has extensive public service experience, including employment as a Legal Officer for the Australian Law Reform Commission (2007 – 2010), and policy roles for state and federal health departments (2004 – 2007).
Career summary
Qualifications
- SJD, Georgetown University Law Center, USA, 2012. Thesis: Researching Race Responsibly: Engaging Minority Racial and Ethnic Groups and Their Members in United States Biomedical Research Regulation
- MHL, University of Sydney, Australia, 2010.
- LlB, University of New South Wales, Australia, 2003.
- Bsc, University of New South Wales, Australia, 2003.
Memberships
Professional practice
Member, Australasian Association of Health Law and Bioethics
Other
Member, Georgetown University Centre of Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation Interest Group in Health and Science Literacy - 2013 – present
Administrative expertise
Chair, Human Research Ethics Committee (2019 – 2021)
Teaching
Law and health, Law and medical research, Medical ethics
Teaching expertise
Foundations of Law, Torts, Health Law and Ethics
Teaching responsibility
Torts (LAW106)
View more on Dr Lisa Eckstein in WARP
Expertise
Lisa uses doctrinal legal research and normative bioethics to assess strategies for governing medical research that are effective and equitable. Specific problems that she seeks to solve are the optimal role and functioning of Human Research Ethics Committees and Data and Safety Monitoring Boards, as well as the relationship between these boards and committees and other regulatory bodies such as the Therapeutic Goods Administration. She partners with researchers in Australia and overseas, including lawyers, philosophers and clinicians.
Research Themes
Lisa's research aligns with the UTAS strategic themes of Better Health. Her research interests include strategies for gaining and assessing participant consent, the disclosure of genetic research findings, clinical trial monitoring, and racially targeted biomedical research.
Current projects
- Ethics in the Interim: Learning from the COVID-19 pandemic to develop ethical guidance for data and safety monitoring committees overseeing clinical trials (https://greenwall.org/making-a-difference-grants/ethics-in-the-interim-learning-from-the-covid-19-pandemic-to-develop-ethical-guidance-for-data-and-safety-monitoring-committees-overseeing-clinical-trials)
- Genomic Data Sharing: Shaping an Optimal Regulatory Framework
- Reforming the Regulatory Environment for Innovative Health Technologies: Identifying Congestion and Filling Gaps
Fields of Research
- Public law (480799)
- Medical and health law (480412)
- Bioethics (500101)
- Legal ethics (500105)
- Causes and prevention of crime (440201)
- Medical ethics (500106)
- Privacy and data rights (480706)
- Law, science and technology (480408)
- Health services and systems (420399)
- Ethical use of new technology (500103)
- Law and society and socio-legal research (480405)
- Law in context (480499)
- Anaesthesiology (320201)
- Genomics (310509)
- Other law and legal studies (489999)
- Intellectual property law (480603)
- Social psychology (520505)
- Basic pharmacology (321401)
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander public health and wellbeing (450417)
- Natural language processing (460208)
- Health informatics and information systems (420308)
- Sociology of health (441011)
Research Objectives
- Justice and the law (230499)
- Law reform (230405)
- Allied health therapies (excl. mental health services) (200301)
- Technological ethics (130305)
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health system performance (210303)
- Bioethics (130301)
- Criminal justice (230403)
- Legislation, civil and criminal codes (230407)
- Expanding knowledge in human society (280123)
- Crime prevention (230402)
- Prevention of human diseases and conditions (200104)
- Other health (209999)
- Evaluation of health and support services (200299)
- Treatment of human diseases and conditions (200105)
- Clinical health (200199)
- Expanding knowledge in law and legal studies (280117)
- Disability and functional capacity (200403)
- Technological and organisational innovation (150306)
- Expanding knowledge in psychology (280121)
- Health inequalities (200204)
- Expanding knowledge in the environmental sciences (280111)
Publications
Lisa has published widely on ethical and legal issues associated with genomics, including with other members of the Centre for Law and Genetics at the University of Tasmania. She has also published some of the first research on the role of Data and Safety Monitoring Boards, and the relationship between these Boards and other bodies involved in the regulation of clinical trials.
Total publications
35
Journal Article
(26 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Eckstein L, Rid A, Kamuya D, Shah SK, 'The essential role of DSMBs in ensuring the ethics of global vaccine trials to address COVID-19', Clinical Infectious Diseases, 73, (11) Article 2130. ISSN 1537-6591 (2021) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciab239 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Web of Science - 2 | |
| 2021 | Nielsen J, Eckstein L, Nicol D, Stewart C, 'Integrating public participation, transparency and accountability into governance of marketing authorisation for genome editing products', Frontiers in Political Science, 3 Article 747838. ISSN 2673-3145 (2021) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.3389/fpos.2021.747838 [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Nielsen J; Nicol D | |
| 2021 | O'Doherty KC, Shabani M, Dove ES, Bentzen HB, Borry P, et al., 'Toward better governance of human genomic data', Nature Genetics, 53, (1) pp. 2-8. ISSN 1061-4036 (2021) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1038/s41588-020-00742-6 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 21Web of Science - 19 Co-authors: Chalmers D; Nicol D | |
| 2021 | Pysar R, Wallingford CK, Boyle J, Campbell SB, Eckstein L, et al., 'Australian human research ethics committee members' confidence in reviewing genomic research applications', European Journal of Human Genetics, 29, (12) pp. 1811-1818. ISSN 1018-4813 (2021) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1038/s41431-021-00951-5 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 1Web of Science - 1 | |
| 2020 | Kaldor J, Eckstein L, Nicol D, Stewart C, 'Regulating innovative health technologies: dialectics, dialogics, and the case of faecal microbiota transplants', Law, Innovation and Technology, 12, (2) pp. 284-296. ISSN 1757-9961 (2020) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1080/17579961.2020.1815403 [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Kaldor J; Nicol D | |
| 2020 | McWhirter R, Eckstein L, Chalmers D, Critchley C, Nielsen J, et al., 'A scenario-based methodology for analyzing the ethical, legal, and social issues in genomic data sharing', Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics, 15, (4) pp. 355-364. ISSN 1556-2654 (2020) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1177/1556264620920460 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 1 Co-authors: McWhirter R; Chalmers D; Critchley C; Nielsen J; Otlowski M; Nicol D | |
| 2020 | Nicol D, Chalmers D, Critchley C, Eckstein L, Nielsen J, et al., 'Australian perspectives on the ethical and regulatory considerations for responsible data sharing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic', Journal of Law and Medicine, 27, (4) pp. 829-838. ISSN 1320-159X (2020) [Refereed Article] PMID: 32880401 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Web of Science - 1 Co-authors: Nicol D; Chalmers D; Critchley C; Nielsen J; Otlowski M | |
| 2020 | Stewart C, Kerridge I, Waldby C, Lipworth W, Munsie M, et al., 'Unconventional practice, 'innovative' interventions and the national law', Journal of Law and Medicine, 27, (3) pp. 574-589. ISSN 1320-159X (2020) [Refereed Article] PMID: 32406622 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 1Web of Science - 1 Co-authors: Nielsen J; Kaldor J; Nicol D | |
| 2019 | Eckstein L, 'Assessing the legal duty to use or disclose interim data for ongoing clinical trials', Journal of Law and the Biosciences, 6, (1) pp. 51-84. ISSN 2053-9711 (2019) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1093/jlb/lsz012 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 3Web of Science - 4 | |
| 2019 | Eckstein L, Nicol D, 'Gene editing clinical trials could slip through Australian regulatory cracks', Journal of Law and Medicine, 27 Article 274. ISSN 1320-159X (2019) [Refereed Article] Co-authors: Nicol D | |
| 2019 | Jeanneret R, Spiranovic C, Eckstein L, McWhirter R, Arstein-Kerslake A, et al., 'Enhancing early detection of cognitive impairment in the criminal justice system: feasibility of a proposed method', Current Issues in Criminal Justice, 31, (1) pp. 60-74. ISSN 1034-5329 (2019) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1080/10345329.2018.1556283 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 3Web of Science - 4 Co-authors: Jeanneret R; Spiranovic C; McWhirter R; Arstein-Kerslake A; Scanlan J; Kirkby K; Vickers J | |
| 2019 | Nicol D, Eckstein L, Bentzen HB, Borry P, Burgess M, et al., 'Consent insufficient for data release', Science, 364, (6439) pp. 446. ISSN 0036-8075 (2019) [Letter or Note in Journal] DOI: 10.1126/science.aax7509 [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Nicol D; Chalmers D | |
| 2019 | Nicol D, Eckstein L, Bentzen HB, Borry P, Burgess M, et al., 'Consent insufficient for data release', Science, 364, (6439) pp. 445-446. ISSN 0036-8075 (2019) [Letter or Note in Journal] DOI: 10.1126/science.aax0892 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 8Web of Science - 11 Co-authors: Nicol D; Chalmers D | |
| 2018 | Eckstein L, Chalmers D, Critchley C, Jeanneret R, McWhirter R, et al., 'Australia: regulating genomic data sharing to promote public trust', Human Genetics, 137, (8) pp. 583-591. ISSN 1432-1203 (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1007/s00439-018-1914-z [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 10Web of Science - 14 Co-authors: Chalmers D; Critchley C; Jeanneret R; McWhirter R; Nielsen J; Otlowski M; Nicol D | |
| 2018 | Eckstein L, Otlowski M, 'Strategies to guide the return of genomic research findings: an Australian perspective', Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 15, (3) pp. 403-415. ISSN 1176-7529 (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1007/s11673-018-9856-7 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 1Web of Science - 3 Co-authors: Otlowski M | |
| 2018 | McWhirter RE, Eckstein L, 'Moving forward on consent practices in Australia', Journal of Bioethical Inquiry: an interdisciplinary forum for ethical and legal debate, 15, (2) pp. 243-257. ISSN 1176-7529 (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1007/s11673-018-9843-z [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 7Web of Science - 7 Co-authors: McWhirter RE | |
| 2017 | Eckstein L, Kim SYH, 'Criteria for decision-making capacity: between understanding and evidencing a choice', JLM, 24, (3) pp. 678-694. ISSN 1320-159X (2017) [Refereed Article] PMID: 30137765 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 3Web of Science - 2 | |
| 2017 | Nicol D, Eckstein L, Morrison M, Sherkow JS, Otlowski M, et al., 'Key challenges in bringing CRISPR-mediated somatic cell therapy into the clinic', Genome Medicine, 9, (1) Article 85. ISSN 1756-994X (2017) [Contribution to Refereed Journal] DOI: 10.1186/s13073-017-0475-4 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 11Web of Science - 9 Co-authors: Nicol D; Otlowski M; Burdon KP; Chalmers D; Charlesworth J; Dickinson JL; Hewitt AW; Mackey DA; Nielsen J; McWhirter RE | |
| 2016 | Eckstein L, Chalmers D, 'Is Australia well equipped to deal with future clinical trials ?', Journal of Law and Medicine, 24 pp. 337-341. ISSN 1320-159X (2016) [Refereed Article] Co-authors: Chalmers D | |
| 2015 | Eckstein L, 'Regulatory Challenges of Synthetic Biology Trials and Other Highly Innovative Investigational Products', Macquarie Law Journal, 15 pp. 65-81. ISSN 1839-373X (2015) [Refereed Article] | |
| 2015 | Eckstein LG, 'Building a More Connected DSMB: Better Integrating Ethics Review and Safety Monitoring', Accountability in Research: policies and quality assurance, 22, (2) pp. 81-105. ISSN 0898-9621 (2015) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1080/08989621.2014.919230 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 11Web of Science - 9 | |
| 2015 | Grady C, Eckstein LG, Berkman B, Brock D, Cook-Deegan R, et al., 'Broad consent for research with biological samples: workshop conclusions', American Journal of Bioethics, 15, (9) pp. 34-42. ISSN 1526-5161 (2015) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1080/15265161.2015.1062162 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 189Web of Science - 190 | |
| 2014 | Berkman BE, Hull S, Eckstein LG, 'The Unintended Implications of Blurring the Line between Research and Clinical Care in a Genomic Age', Personalized Medicine, 11, (3) pp. 285-295. ISSN 1741-0541 (2014) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.2217/PME.14.3 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 32Web of Science - 26 | |
| 2014 | Eckstein L, Garret JR, Berkman BE, 'A framework for analyzing the ethics of disclosing genetic research findings', Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics, 42, (2) pp. 190-207. ISSN 1748-720X (2014) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1111/jlme.12135 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 36Web of Science - 31 | |
| 2012 | Eckstein LG, 'Engaging Racial and Ethnic Groups in the Regulation of Research: Lessons from Research in Emergency Settings', Houston Journal of Health Law and Policy, 12, (1) pp. 1-34. ISSN 1534-7907 (2012) [Refereed Article] | |
| 2011 | Eckstein LG, 'Beyond Racial and Ethnic Analyses in Clinical Research: A Proposed Model for Institutional Review Boards', Food and Drug Law Journal, 66, (2) pp. 243-265. ISSN 1064-590X (2011) [Refereed Article] Citations: Web of Science - 3 |
Book
(1 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | McWhirter R, Eckstein L, Chalmers D, Kaye Jane, Nielsen J, et al., 'Essentially Ours: Assessing the Regulation of the Collection and Use of Health-related Genomic Information', University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, pp. 1-198. (2021) [Authored Research Book] Co-authors: McWhirter R; Chalmers D; Kaye Jane; Nielsen J; Otlowski M; Nicol D |
Chapter in Book
(4 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Otlowski M, Eckstein L, McWhirter R, 'Regulation of Genetic Testing', Health Law in Australia, Thomson Reuters (Professional) Australia, B White, F McDonald, L Willmott (ed), Australia, pp. 839-874. ISBN 9780455238753 (2018) [Revised Book Chapter] Co-authors: Otlowski M; McWhirter R | |
| 2017 | Otlowski MFA, Eckstein LG, 'Genetic privacy', Tensions and Traumas in Health Law, The Federation Press, I Freckelton, K Petersen (ed), Australia, pp. 283-296. ISBN 9781760021498 (2017) [Research Book Chapter] Co-authors: Otlowski MFA | |
| 2016 | Berkman BE, Zachary ES, Eckstein L, Pike ER, 'The Ethics of Large-Scale Genomic Research', Ethical Reasoning in Big Data, Springer, J Collmann, and SA Matei (ed), Switzerland, pp. 53-69. ISBN 978-3-319-28422-4 (2016) [Research Book Chapter] | |
| 2013 | Eckstein LG, 'Searching for a role for genomics in the right to health', Advancing the Human Right to Health, Oxford University Press, Jose M. Zuniga, Stephen P. Marks, and Lawrence O. Gostin (ed), United Kingdom, pp. 1-10. ISBN 978-0-19-966161-9 (2013) [Research Book Chapter] DOI: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199661619.003.0027 [eCite] [Details] |
Review
(1 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Eckstein LG, McWhirter R, Stewart C, 'Better mechanisms are needed to oversee HREC reviews', Public Health Ethics, 15, (2) pp. 200-203. ISSN 1754-9973 (2022) [Review Single Work] Co-authors: McWhirter R; Stewart C |
Conference Publication
(3 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Eckstein LG, 'Multidisciplinary Dilemmas: The Relationship between Race and Genetics', American Health Law Professors Conference, June 8, United States (2014) [Non Refereed Conference Paper] | |
| 2013 | Eckstein LG, Berkman B, Garrett J, 'Working Towards a Consensus on the Return of Genomic Research Findings', Australian Association of Bioethics and Health Law Conference, July 14th, Sydney (2013) [Non Refereed Conference Paper] | |
| 2012 | Eckstein LG, 'Creating an Evidence-Base for the Regulation of Race-Based Biomedical Research: A Quantitative Approach', Eighth Cornell Law School Inter-University Graduate Conference, April 12, United States (2012) [Non Refereed Conference Paper] |
Grants & Funding
Lisa is a Chief Investigator on two Australian Research Council Discovery Projects, which she is conducting with collaborators in the Centre for Law and Genetics. She is a Principal Investigator on the Greenwall Foundation funded project Ethics in the Interim: Learning from the COVID-19 pandemic to develop ethical guidance for data and safety monitoring committees overseeing clinical trials, which is being led by the Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago, USA. The project includes collaborators from the USA, Canada, and Kenya.
Funding Summary
Number of grants
7
Total funding
Projects
- Description
- This program of work will produce a comprehensive national genomic data governance framework for managing the generation and exchange of clinical and genomic datasets. The overarching aim of the project is to create a framework that takes into account the ethical, legal and social issues associated with the production and use of clinical and genomic datasets, in order to achieve more effective implementation and use of datasets.
- Funding
- Medical Research Future Fund ($4,999,986)
- Scheme
- Genomics Health Futures Mission 2021 Stream 3
- Administered By
- University of Sydney
- Research Team
- Newson A; Nielsen JL; Otlowski MFA; Eckstein LG; Nicol D
- Year
- 2023
- Description
- To provide principled and practical guidance for Data and Safety Monitoring Boards (DSMBs) making important, but often opaque, ethical decisions for ongoing clinical trials in the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
- Funding
- Greenwall Foundation ($321,402)
- Scheme
- Making a Difference Grants
- Administered By
- Lurie Children's Hospital
- Research Team
- Shah S; Eckstein LG; Rid A; Kimmelman J; Kamuya D
- Period
- 2022 - 2023
- Description
- The purpose of this Project is to undertake an assessment of the relevant Commonwealth, State and Territory legislation and regulations as it applies to the collection and use of health-related genomics information in the clinical and research settings, with a specific focus on current and emerging ethical, legal and social issues. This Project will deliver an evidence-based assessment of the relevant legislation and regulations and how these apply to the current and emerging ethical, legal and social issues identified, including any differences between jurisdictions. This project is intended to provide a high-level overview of the key issues and related legislative environment. It does not include development of recommendations or options to Government.
- Funding
- Department of Health (Cth) ($299,424)
- Scheme
- Contract Research
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Nicol D; Chalmers DRC; Otlowski MFA; Nielsen JL; Eckstein LG; McWhirter R; Kaldor JC; Taylor M
- Year
- 2020
- Funding
- Australian Research Council ($628,576)
- Scheme
- Grant-Discovery Projects
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Nicol D; Nielsen JL; Eckstein LG; Stewart C
- Period
- 2018 - 2021
- Grant Reference
- DP180101262
- Funding
- Australian Research Council ($614,454)
- Scheme
- Grant-Discovery Projects
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Nicol D; Otlowski MFA; Critchley C; Eckstein LG; Nielsen JL; Chalmers DRC
- Period
- 2018 - 2021
- Grant Reference
- DP180100269
- Description
- This project scopes a research design to develop a method to enhance early detection of cognitive impairment.
- Funding
- University of Tasmania ($5,299)
- Scheme
- Grant-CAL Hothouse Research Enhancement Program
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Spiranovic CA; Eckstein LG; McWhirter R; Kirkby KC; Watters P; Vickers JC; Bindoff AD
- Year
- 2017
- Funding
- University of Tasmania ($22,000)
- Scheme
- Grant-Research Enhancement (REGS)
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- McWhirter R; Eckstein LG
- Year
- 2014
Research Supervision
Lisa is available to supervise Masters by Research and PhD candidates. She is especially interested in supervising projects on the regulation of health and medical research.
Current
1
Current
| Degree | Title | Commenced |
|---|---|---|
| PhD | The Role of Data Access Committees and Research Ethics Committees in Setting the Boundaries of Genomic Data Sharing | 2019 |