EXPERIENCE
MATTERS
Pioneering Bioethics and Organizational Ethics in the Biopharmaceutical Industry
Luann E. Van Campen
PhD, MA-Bioethics
In the mid-1990s, Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly) faced a bioethics event that would make headlines in the Wall Street Journal. At that time, like many companies, Lilly only formally considered bioethics when an unanticipated issue arose.
This negative experience became the positive catalyst for the formation of a company bioethics advisory committee and later establishment of Lilly’s Bioethics Program. As Lilly’s first full-time bioethicist and head of the program, Dr. Van Campen led the charge in developing internal systems to guide global bioethical considerations across all phases of research and development.
What became strikingly clear is that addressing bioethics issues in an ad hoc manner is neither effective nor efficient. Proactivity is always best. This lesson transformed the company's approach to bioethics
A RECOGNIZED LEADER
A RECOGNIZED LEADER
Dr. Van Campen is a recognized leader in biopharmaceutical bioethics. As one of the first professionals in the industry to hold a full-time bioethicist role, her work was, by necessity, pioneering. Her innovative efforts earned her Lilly’s “They’re Making a Difference” recognition.
During her 10 years as Senior Advisor and Head of Bioethics, she and her team conducted nearly 400 case consultations, developed 16 company positions, and created and published a bioethics framework for human biomedical research.
FOUNDING ETHICS MATTERS LLC
After accepting early retirement from Lilly, Dr. Van Campen established EthicsMatters LLC (EthicsMatters) in 2019 to continue her work in bioethics.
EthicsMatters focuses on providing bioethics and organizational ethics advisory and training services to biopharmaceutical companies, helping them integrate bioethical practices into daily operations.
Extensive and Diverse Experience
Dr. Van Campen is adept at "speaking" biopharmaceutical R&D, clinical care, and ethics, making her truly "trilingual" in these critical areas.
Prior to bioethics, seven of Dr. Van Campen’s 17 years at Lilly were dedicated to developing and overseeing scientific communications for two neuroscience products, as well as serving as the company’s scientific communications technical lead across products and development stages.
Before joining Lilly, Dr. Van Campen was a visiting hearing scientist with the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and an assistant professor of audiology at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
Her research at NIOSH focused on both noise-induced cochlear oxidative stress and stock car racing noise exposures.
At the University of Oklahoma, she cared for pediatric to geriatric inpatients and outpatients, conducted neurophysiological intraoperative monitoring, and provided clinical instruction. She also led a multi-site, longitudinal study of the auditory and vestibular effects of the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building and served on local and national committees related to blast injuries.
In addition to her professional healthcare experience, Dr. Van Campen understands a patient and research participant perspective as an individual living with a laryngeal dystonia.
Dr. Van Campen’s career is marked by a commitment to ethical excellence and proactive bioethics engagement.
Her visionary approach and dedication to education have made her a trusted advisor and thought leader in the field. Connect with Dr. Van Campen to explore how her expertise can help your organization navigate the complexities of bioethics and achieve ethical leadership.