Organoid research is enhancing understanding of human development and diseases as well as aiding in medication development and selection, raising hopes for even more future therapeutic options. Nevertheless, this work raises important ethical issues and there is a paucity of data regarding patients' perspectives on them. We report on 60 interviews with adult patients or parents of pediatric patients from diverse disease populations who receive medical care at a major academic research institution in the United States. Interviewees expressed broad support for organoid development and use. However, patients viewed brain organoids, and sometimes gonadal organoids, as morally distinct; and some organoid research poses moral concerns. Nonetheless, patients generally understood the potential value of such research and approved of it, provided it was aimed at good intent and conducted with ethical oversight and a robust consent process. These data should help inform conceptual and policy deliberations about appropriate organoid use.

类器官研究正在增强对人类发育和疾病的了解，并有助于药物开发和选择，为未来更多治疗选择带来希望。然而，这项工作提出了重要的伦理问题，并且缺乏有关患者对其观点的数据。我们报道了对来自不同疾病人群的 60 名成年患者或儿科患者家长的采访，他们在美国一家主要学术研究机构接受医疗护理。受访者对类器官的开发和使用表示广泛支持。然而，患者认为大脑类器官，有时甚至是性腺类器官，在道德上是截然不同的。一些类器官研究引起了道德问题。尽管如此，患者普遍理解此类研究的潜在价值并予以批准，前提是其目的良好，并在道德监督和强有力的同意程序下进行。这些数据应有助于为有关适当使用类器官的概念和政策审议提供信息。