Harvard University
Ca, MA
Melissa J. Lopes, JD
Melissa J. Lopes is a Senior Research Compliance Officer within the Office of the Vice Provost for Research at Harvard University. In this capacity, Ms. Lopes manages several University-wide committees, examines research policies and advises on research ethics and compliance issues across the University with a specific focus on stem cell research, export controls, lab safety, and the responsible conduct of research. Ms. Lopes serves as the Director and Co-Chair of the stem cell ethics and oversight committee for the University. She has also served as a working group member of the NIH-Funded “Actionable Ethics Oversight for Human-Animal Chimera Research” project and “The Brainstorm Project: A Collaborative Approach to Developing the Neuroethics of Bioengineered Brain Modeling Research” (part of the NIH Brain Initiative) and published on related topics.
Prior to joining Harvard, Ms. Lopes served as Deputy General Counsel to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health where she drafted regulations in the areas of biotechnology and pharmaceutical marketing, the conduct of stem cell research, and clinical need. She also served on the UMASS Stem Cell Advisory Committee, advised the Biomedical Research Advisory Council, and served as the co-chair of the National Academies of Science Interstate Alliance on Stem Cell Research. Additionally, Ms. Lopes provided legal advice and guidance to the Clinical Laboratories Program and on matters including tissue banking and genetic testing in the Commonwealth. Prior to her work with the Department of Public Health, Ms. Lopes was a Kellogg Fellow with Community Catalyst, a national healthcare advocacy program, and an associate attorney with the law firm of Choate, Hall & Stewart in the corporate and healthcare departments. Ms. Lopes is a graduate of Boston College and Boston University School of Law, where she was an editor of the American Journal of Law and Medicine. Ms. Lopes also completed a Fellowship in Bioethics at Harvard Medical School.
D23 - [IN-PERSON/RECORDED] Chimeras, Who's responsibility Is it? IRB, IACUC, IBC, All of the Above?
Tuesday, December 5, 2023
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET