- Ethical theories and principles in global bioethics
- Globalization and its impact on health
- Global Governance for Health and the role of international organizations
- Climate change and global health
- Pandemics, disease prevention, and international public health responses
- International research ethics and cross-border collaborations
- Health disparities, justice, and access to care
Second Duquesne–PennWest Conference on Global Bioethics
November 12–14, 2026
Baron-Forness Library, PennWest Edinboro Campus
Edinboro, Pennsylvania
Venue Maps
The James F. Drane Bioethics Institute at PennWest University, in collaboration with Duquesne University’s Center for Global Health Ethics, will host the Second Duquesne–PennWest Conference on Global Bioethics from November 12–14, 2026, in Edinboro, Pennsylvania.
In today’s deeply interconnected world, many of the most pressing challenges—ranging from global pandemics and climate change to health inequities and misinformation—transcend disciplinary, national, and cultural boundaries. Addressing these complex issues requires ethical frameworks and global collaboration. As an interdisciplinary field rooted in medicine, philosophy, public health, law, and the social sciences, bioethics is uniquely positioned to help clarify these challenges and guide just, evidence-based, and humane responses.
The Duquesne–PennWest Conference on Global Bioethics provides an international forum for scholars, clinicians, policymakers, activists, institutional leaders, and students to exchange ideas, present research, build networks, and engage in meaningful dialogue about the ethical dimensions of global health and medicine.
We welcome submissions and participation on a wide range of topics, including but not limited to:
Building on the success of the inaugural conference, the 2026 meeting will focus especially on the growing problem of health misinformation and the critical role of bioethics in confronting it.
We invite participants from around the world to join us for three days of rich interdisciplinary exchange, critical reflection, and collaborative problem-solving.
Message from the President and Honorary Chair
On behalf of Pennsylvania Western University, I am honored to welcome scholars, students,
and professionals to the Second Duquesne–PennWest Conference on Global Bioethics,
to be held November 12–14, 2026, at our PennWest Edinboro campus.
PennWest University is proud to host one of the oldest organizations dedicated to bioethics in the United States. The Bioethics Institute, founded in 1969 by Dr. James F. Drane, one of the pioneers and leaders of the field, is nearly as old as the discipline itself. For decades, the Institute has brought together scholars from PennWest (then Edinboro University), across the United States and around the world to explore the ethical dimensions of medicine, science, and public policy.
Bioethics addresses some of the most urgent questions of our time. With rapid advances in biomedical science and emerging technologies, the ethical dimensions of healthcare and research are increasingly significant.
The James F. Drane Bioethics Institute of PennWest University, in collaboration with Duquesne University’s Center for Global Health Ethics, launched this conference series to address global bioethical challenges. The inaugural conference in November 2024 at Duquesne University was a great success, featuring leading international scholars and outstanding student participation. We were especially proud of PennWest students whose work earned the Dr. Russell B. Roth Prize.
We are pleased to host this year’s conference at the Baron-Forness Library on our Edinboro campus. The 2026 theme, bioethical aspects of health pseudoscience, comes at an important moment, given contemporary challenges in knowledge, technology, and the growing influence of generative AI.
I invite scholars to contribute their work and encourage PennWest University faculty and students in particular to participate, share their research, and engage with colleagues from around the world.
I look forward to welcoming you to PennWest during the beautiful Pennsylvania fall season.
Jon Anderson, Ph.D.
President, Pennsylvania Western University
Honorary Chair, Second Duquesne–PennWest Conference on Global Bioethics
Call for Abstracts
Theme: The Problem of Health Misinformation and the Role of Bioethics
Dates: November 12–14, 2026
Location: Baron-Forness Library, PennWest Edinboro Campus, Edinboro, Pennsylvania, USA
The James F. Drane Bioethics Institute at PennWest University and the Center for Global Health Ethics at Duquesne University invite submissions for the Second Duquesne–PennWest Conference on Global Bioethics, to be held from November 12 to 14, 2026, at the Baron-Forness Library on the Edinboro Campus of PennWest University in Edinboro, Pennsylvania.
Conference Theme
The theme of this year’s conference is “The Problem of Health Misinformation and the Role of Bioethics.” We welcome abstracts that critically explore the bioethical dimensions of health misinformation and related topics, including but not limited to:
- Health pseudoscience and anti-science movements,
- The demarcation problem and the boundaries separating science from pseudoscience,
- The role of social media and AI in creating, amplifying, and combating health misinformation,
- Biopolitics and its relation to health misinformation and disinformation,
- Social, psychological, cultural, and political reasons behind the popularity of pseudoscience,
- The “infodemic” and its consequences for global and public health,
- The role and responsibilities of bioethics in addressing these challenges.
Scope Beyond the Theme
While the central theme focuses on health misinformation, we also welcome abstracts on any topic related to global bioethics. This includes work in clinical ethics, public health ethics, research ethics, environmental bioethics, human rights, global health justice, and related areas, looked at from the perspective of global bioethics.
We invite scholars, students, healthcare professionals, and all those interested in global bioethics to submit their work.
Abstract Submission Guidelines
Abstracts should:
- Be submitted in Microsoft Word format (.doc or .docx)
- Include a title
- Include the full name, institutional affiliation, and contact information (email address) of the author(s)
- Clearly indicate the presenting author if there are multiple authors
Please keep abstracts concise and clearly focused, with a maximum length of 300 words.
Important Dates
- Abstract submission deadline: September 30, 2026
- Rolling review: Abstracts will be reviewed on a rolling basis upon submission.
- If you submit your abstract before the deadline, we will notify you of the decision as soon as possible so that you can plan your travel and accommodation accordingly.
Submission and Contact
Please submit your abstract as a Microsoft Word attachment via email to:
Dr. Kiarash Aramesh
Email: karamesh@pennwest.edu
All questions regarding the conference or the abstract submission process may also be directed to karamesh@pennwest.edu
We look forward to receiving your submissions and to welcoming you to Edinboro for a stimulating and timely discussion on global bioethics and the problem of health misinformation.