Research Areas

The Westchester Institute and its scholars have become a distinguished resource and point of reference for think-tanks, centers for applied research, and institutes of public policy analysis.  We are currently dedicated to the following issues: The genesis of human life & the moral status of the human embryo; the search for scientifically and morally feasible alternatives to embryo-based biomedical research; the use of emergency contraception in rape protocols; the determination of human death, and end-of-life issues; the relationship between religion, science, and reason as sources of moral insight for modern society.   

 

These are some of the research areas in which we are currently engaged:

Emergency Contraception: Emergency contraception has been a controversial topic for many years, stemming from the potential mode of action of preventing an embryo from properly implanting in the womb, thereby causing an early abortion.  Scientific studies examining emergency contraception cannot eliminate early abortion as one potential mode of action, though prevention of ovulation is the most common effect of emergency contraception. The Westchester Institute is currently investigating this area, and will release a White Paper on the topic in early 2009.

 

Alternatives to embryo-based biomedical research: The Westchester Institute is actively engaged in the moral evaluation of some of the most promising alternatives to embryo destructive research.  

Alternative Sources

 

Internet P*rn*graphy: The Westchester Institute is currently working on a project that aims to use social research to shed light on the debilitating effects of internet p*rn.   We believe that conducting an in-depth and well-designed study will provide valuable social research in an understudied area that has had profound effects on the family and society.