National Core for Neuroethics

The National Core for Neuroethics at the University of British Columbia was established in August 2007, with support from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund, the Canada Research Chairs program, the UBC Brain Research Centre and the UBC Institute of Mental Health.[1] Co-founded by Judy Illes and Peter Reiner, the Core studies neuroethics, with particular focus on ethics in neurodegenerative disease and regenerative medicine, international and cross-cultural challenges in brain research, neuroimaging and ethics, the neuroethics of enhancement, and personalized medicine.[2]

National Core for Neuroethics
Name National Core for Neuroethics
Logo
Region Vancouver
Province British Columbia
Country Canada
Coordinates 49°15′40″N 123°07′28″W / 49.26111°N 123.12444°W / 49.26111; -123.12444 (Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Centre)
Type Research
Speciality Neuroethics
Affiliation UBC Faculty of Medicine
Established 2007
Website http://www.neuroethicscanada.ca

The Core's major research projects are focused on the use of drugs and devices for neuroenhancement, ethics in neurodegenerative disease and regenerative medicine research, brain research, neuroimaging in the private sector, and the ethics of personalized medicine, among others. Members of the Core also lead initiatives aside from their research projects.

Considerable attention has been given to the Core by both the scholarly and non-academic media, with the Core featured in The New York Times,[3][dubiousdiscuss] the Vancouver Sun,[4] on the Canwest Global Newshour,[5] and in the journal Science,[6] amongst others. As an effort to engage the public in neuroethics discussion, the Core has recently started an online blog.[7]

Mission

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The National Core for Neuroethics strives to "tackle the ethical, legal, policy and social implications of frontier neuroscience through high impact research, education and outreach to ensure the close alignment of innovation and human values".[8]

 
National Core for Neuroethics

People

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The Core is led by Judy Illes, PhD, Canada Research Chair in Neuroethics and Professor of Neurology at the University of British Columbia.[9]

Peter Reiner, VMD, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of British Columbia, is a Senior Faculty Member with the Core.[9]

Funding

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National Core for Neuroethics Inauguration

The Core receives financial support from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, Canada Foundation for Innovation, the British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund, the Canada Research Chairs program, the UBC Brain Research Centre, the UBC Institute of Mental Health, the National Institutes of Health, the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, the British Columbia Rural and Remote Health Research Network, the Harvard NeuroDiscovery Center's Foundation for Ethics and Biotechnology, the North Growth Foundation, the Greenwall Foundation, the Stem Cell Network, the Dana Foundation, the Canadian Dementia Knowledge Translation Network, and Imperial Oil.[1]

Inauguration

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In September 2008, the Core celebrated its first anniversary with an inauguration celebration held at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at the University of British Columbia. In attendance were international dignitaries in the field of neuroethics, including Joseph Fins (Chief of the Division of Medical Ethics at Weill Cornell Medical College),[10] Dr. Barbara Sahakian (Professor of Clinical Neuropsychology at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine),[11] Eric Racine (Director, Neuroethics Research Unit, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal),[12] and Dr. Rémi Quirion (Scientific Director, Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA)).[13]

References

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  1. ^ a b "National Core for Neuroethics". www.neuroethics.ubc.ca. Archived from the original on 2008-12-30.
  2. ^ "National Core for Neuroethics". www.neuroethics.ubc.ca. Archived from the original on 2009-02-06.
  3. ^ "India's novel use of brain scans in courts is debated. New York Times, September 2008.
  4. ^ Illes, J. "The perilous pursuit of perfection: Neuroscience has been used to provide athletes a mental edge, but it raises ethical issues." The Vancouver Sun, 8 September 2008. [an editorial by the Core's leader]
  5. ^ Post-traumatic stress drug. The News Hour, Global BC, November 2008.
  6. ^ Retention's the thing. Science, August 2008.
  7. ^ http://neuroethicscanada.wordpress.com [user-generated source]
  8. ^ Lau P., Chahal, N. Lombera, S. National Core for Neuroethics Annual Report 2007-2008. 2008, Vancouver, BC.
  9. ^ a b "National Core for Neuroethics". www.neuroethics.ubc.ca. Archived from the original on 2008-06-24.
  10. ^ "Joseph J. Fins, MD, MACP | Patient Care".
  11. ^ "Professor Barbara J Sahakian: Professor of Clinical Neuropsychology". www.psychiatry.cam.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 2003-08-24.
  12. ^ "Neuroethics". www.ircm.qc.ca. Archived from the original on 2007-03-16.
  13. ^ "Biography of Scientific Director, Dr. Rémi Quirion - CIHR". www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2004-09-09.
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Neuroethics Research Centres

Neuroethics blogs

Neuroethics journals

Neuroethics societies

Neuroethics literature databases

Neuroethics resources