Monday, March 27th, 2024
Event Description:
Cutting-edge advancements in neuroscience may help us with understanding the complex nature of the human brain and thus assist us in reducing the high global burden of brain and mental health disorders, as well as neurological conditions. With emerging neurotechnologies becoming more globally available, it is becoming more important that we consider the ethical implications of these technologies on a global scale. Neuroethics as a field aims to ensure that neuroscience takes into account the ethical, legal, social, cultural and philosophical implications of emerging neuroscientific advancements – for individuals, communities and broader society. Despite ongoing efforts and some promising attempts, perspectives from the Global South continue to be underrepresented in global neuroethics discourses.
This virtual panel discussion includes scholars from Colombia, Argentina, South Africa, Kenya, India, the Philippines, United States and Australia. The speakers will foster a discussion on neuroethics from their vantage points, with the intention of generating an interest for more scholars from diverse regions around the world, engaging in important global neuroethics discourses. They will begin by describing their work in neuroscience and society, their career trajectories and why they decided to get involved in the field. They will then delve into a discussion addressing a series of neuroethics questions followed by a Q&A.
Panelists
Olivia Matshabane, PhD, MA (South Africa) – Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University
Olivia Matshabane is a Faculty Member and Neuroethics Researcher in the SAMRC Genomics of Brain Disorders Unit, in the Department of Psychiatry at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. She recently completed a 2-year visiting postdoctoral fellowship at the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Her research explores the ethical, social, psychological, and cultural implications of neuropsychiatric genomics and neuroscience research in Africa and the United States. She is Principal Investigator on a Delphi study investigating contextually and culturally relevant neuroethical challenges and priorities in Africa. In 2021 and 2022 she participated as one of 15 international experts to serve on roundtable discussions held by the United Nations (UN) to inform short-term and long-term priorities and preferred outcomes for the UN around neurotechnologies. She is also the immediate past Chair of the INS Student/Postdoc Committee, a current member of the Leadership Committee of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium – Africa Working Group, the South Africa Coordinator of the African Brain Data Network and is a member of the International Brain Initiative Cross-Cultural Neuroscience Working Group.
Jayashree Dasgupta, PhD, MPhil (India) – Global Atlantic Fellow in Brain Health , Chitkara University, Samvedna Care
Jayashree Dasgupta is a Clinical Psychologist specializing in neuropsychology. She is a Global Atlantic Fellow in Brain Health, and Adjunct Professorat Chitkara University as well as Co-Founder of Samvedna Care. Her current research focuses on understanding how detection of neurocognitive disorders across the lifespan and access to treatment can be improved by the use oftechnology. As a clinician, she has worked extensively with children and adults in hospital and clinical settings, providing cognitive rehabilitation and stimulation therapies. It is this experience which has sparked her interest to explore the ethical issues around cognitive enhancement techniques and access to such interventions in low resource settings. She is a member of the INS and was the Co-Chair of the 2022 INS Annual meeting.
Diego Borbón, PhD, M.Sc. (Colombia) – Centre for Studies on Genetics and Law
Diego Borbón is a Researcher/Professor at the Centre for Studies on Genetics and Law. He is also the Co-Founder of the Observatory of Neurolaw and Criminology. He is a member of the Student/Postdoc Committee at the INS. He was a researcher of the Latin American Observatory of Human Rights and Enterprises (2021-2022) and Research Assistant of the Criminal Policy Research Centre (2020-2021). Specialist and M.Sc. in Legal Psychology, advancing a Master’s and a Ph.D. in Philosophy. He has been awarded with multiple scholarships for academic excellence. Certified in the Medical Neuroscience course at Duke University and the Diplomas in Neurocriminology, Crime Theory; Evidence Law; and Criminal Law Litigation. He is a member of the Mexican Association of Neuroethics; the Scientific Committee on NeuroLaw – Universidad Católica Ecuador; and the International Society for Therapeutic Jurisprudence. He is an Honorary member of the Colombian Association of Criminology.
Arleen Salles, PhD, MA (Argentina/United States) – Institute of Neuroethics, Neuroética Buenos Aires
Arleen Salles is a Senior Researcher and Executive Board Member at the Institute of Neuroethics (IoNx) and Director of Neuroética Buenos Aires (NEBA) in Argentina. She is professor of philosophy at Universidad Argentina de la Empresa (Buenos Aires, Argentina) and affiliated to Weill Cornell Medical College. She was a senior researcher at Uppsala University and Deputy Leader of the Responsible Research and Innovation Work Package of the EU-flagship Human Brain Project where she was a researcher and led the Neuroethics and Engagement Task. Her work focuses on philosophical issues confronting brain research and emerging neurotechnologies. This includes not only ethical issues related to responsible research, capacity building, and ethics training but also questions about the impact of language and conceptualizations in science and technology as well as the ways in which ethical and cultural considerations can be productively integrated into brain research and innovation. She is a member of the International NeuroethicsSociety (INS) Board of Directors and Co-Chair of the INS Nominating Committee.
Eunice Kamaara, PhD, MSc (Kenya / United States) – Moi University, International Affiliate of Indiana University Purdue University
Eunice Kamaara is Professor of African Christian Ethics at Moi University, Kenya and International Affiliate of Indiana University Purdue University, Indianapolis (US). She holds a PhD in African Christian Ethics and MSc. in International Health Research Ethics. Her research expertise is in interpretive methods with trans-disciplinary perspectives to religion, gender and health in contemporary Africa. She is particularly interested in translating research findings into practical development through policy influence and community research uptake. She is a member of the Global Initiative in Neuropsychiatric Ethics – Africa Ethics Working Group (AEWG), and she is PI on a project titled “Identity and personhood of African young people: Ethical considerations for digital innovation for mental health”. She is widely published with over 100 publications, and has consulted in research for national and international organizations including but not limited to the World Bank, Church World Service (CWS), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the Templeton World Charity Foundation Inc. (TWCF). She currently serves as member on the Advisory Board of Social Science Research Council (SSRC) and is a member of the Ethics Review Board of Medecines San Frontieres.
John Noel Viana, PhD, MSc (Philippines / Australia) – Justice and Technoscience Laboratory, College of Asia and the Pacific, The Australian National University
John Noel Viana is a research fellow at the Justice and Technoscience Laboratory at The Australian National University and a visiting scientist at the Responsible Innovation Future Science Platform of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). He is one of the co-founders of the Society for Pinoy (Filipino) Neuroscience Enthusiasts (SPiNE), a member of the Philippines Institute at the Australian National University, and also a member of the INS Engagement and Outreach Committee. His research examines equity, diversity, and social justice in brain and mental health research, particularly the inclusion of racial/ethnic minorities as participants and investigators. He has also previously worked on ethical issues in clinical trials of invasive neurotechnologies for dementia, impacts of brain stimulation on selfhood, and on media portrayals of meditation mobile apps.
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