Dr Rebekah (Bek) McWhirter is an interdisciplinary researcher, whose work integrates law, bioethics, genomics and history. Her research uses empirical and theoretical methods to address legal and ethical aspects of health, and aims to identify how law can support health. Her work focuses on the regulation of genomic research, particularly in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, and research ethics governance. Her work is supported by funding from the NHMRC, MRFF and ARC.
Bek worked as a cancer genetics researcher for a number of years before joining the Centre for Law and Genetics. She holds honorary appointments at the Centre for Law and Genetics and the National Centre for Indigenous Genomics. Bek is a director of Women’s Health Tasmania and has eight years’ experience on human research ethics committees, including two as deputy chair. She is co-chair of the Education, Ethics and Social Issues Committee for the Human Genetics Society of Australasia, and a member of the executive of the Australasian Association for Bioethics and Health Law, holding the role of treasurer.
View more publications on the ANU Researchers website
Link to ANU researchers profile
Related websites
View more publications on the ANU Researchers website
Link to ANU researchers profile
Bek is an investigator on the following projects:
- Pathways to Benefit for Indigenous Australians in Genomic Medicine (MRFF, 2022-26))
- Addressing emerging ethical, legal and social issues in governance of clinical and genomic datasets, to improve human health (MRFF, 2022-26)
- Respecting the gift: empowering Indigenous communities in genomic medicine NHMRC, 2021-24)
- Returning raw genomic data: patient autonomy or legal minefield? (2020-24)
- Genomic data sharing: issues in law, research ethics and society (ARC, 2018-24)
Bek supervises PhD and SRP/GRU students in areas relating to health law, including: ethical, legal and social issues in genomics; regulation of research and research ethics governance; regulation of emerging health technologies; risk and public trust in health; and history of health law.
Bek teaches LAWS4219 Health Law, Bioethics and Human Rights, LAWS8237 Health Law and Bioethics; and LAWS1203/6103 Torts.
