The emerging possibility of therapies based on stem cell research has been accompanied by questions from Christians about the moral and ethical implications of the research. Aquinas Institute of Theology, a graduate school on the campus of Saint Louis University, will host a presentation on stem cell research Wednesday, June 29, to answer some of those questions.

“Stem Cell Research: The Tip of the Ethical Iceberg,” will begin with lunch at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Cardinal Rigali Center, 20 Archbishop May Drive in Shrewsbury. Sr. Jean deBlois, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and a nationally recognized health care ethicist, will speak at about 11:45 a.m. She’ll begin taking questions about 12:30 p.m.

The event has generated such interest that the room is at capacity and the school has closed registrations. Standing room remains open to the media.

DeBlois worked as a nurse while she studied theology. She was a supervisor in a cardiac intensive care unit before she became a student and ultimately teacher in medical ethics. She earned a Ph.D. in moral theology and medical ethics from Catholic University of America. Today, she directs a master’s degree program at Aquinas Institute for executives in Catholic health care from around the country. She also serves as a sponsor liaison for Ascension Health, the nation’s largest Catholic and largest non-profit health care system in the United States. DeBlois is author of A Primer for Health Care Ethics: Essays for a Pluralistic Society.

The event is the final in the 2004-2005 Roundtable series sponsored by Aquinas Institute. The series offers Catholics opportunities to delve deeper into matters of Church and theology as a means of using the tradition to resolve contemporary questions.