It is hoped the Centre will engage in global ethical debates in the field of Life Ethics and Organ Donation that will inform legislation, policies, procedures and directives across the globe.

The launch included a lecture: “The importance of ethics: from global to local” by Professor Ames Dhai, a world leading ethicist who founded the Steve Biko Bioethics Centre in South Africa, as well as a panel consisting of Professor Ceri Phillips, Head of the College of Human and Health Sciences, Professor Roy Thomas, CEO of Kidney Wales and Mark Drakeford AM, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, who was responsible for the introduction of the Human Transplantation Wales Act in 2013.

The evening saw a dinner hosted by Kidney Wales before the winner of the Rhodri Morgan Life Ethics Fellowship and the John Salaman Travelling and Excellence Scholarship, Dr Richard Hain, was announced.

Professor Ceri Phillips, Head of the College of Human and Health Sciences said:

“The College is delighted to engage with Kidney Wales in the establishment of the Centre for Life Ethics and Organ Donation.

“It represents an ideal opportunity for Swansea to be at the forefront of thinking and developments in this exciting, embryonic area of research, as more countries became aware and consider how to increase the supply of organs for human transplantation.

“We look forward to welcoming more international scholars to the College to work with our colleagues in formulating a research agenda that will have international reach and significance.”

L-R Professor Roy Thomas, CEO Kidney Wales; Raj Aggarwal OBE, Chair of Trustees for Kidney Wales; Professor Ames Dhai, Director of the Steve Biko Centre for Bioethics, Professor Ceri Phillips Head of the College of Human and Health Sciences.