The Brain Bioethics Lab studies developments in neuroscience and genomics. Specifically, we examine what are the ethical, legal, and social implications of these developments to our everyday lives, medicine, public health, civil liberties, employment, education, and other contexts. We study these issues by bringing together researchers from multiple disciplines (e.g., bioethics, law, philosophy, experimental and social psychology, anthropologists), and collaborating with scientists and clinicians developing and/or working with novel technologies, as well as potential end-users. Our goal is to conduct action-oriented research that can identify challenges, inform current debates, and advance potential solutions to challenges raised by emerging scientific knowledge and technologies.

We use a mix of methodological approaches to identify challenges and solutions to complex dilemmas generated by scientific developments. We conduct ethical, legal, and policy analyses. We also use empirical approaches such as participant-observation in laboratories, key-stakeholder interviews (e.g., technology developers, trial participants, patients, care partners), public opinion surveys, and clinician and researcher surveys examining the integration of novel biotechnologies in clinical care.

We study issues such as: 1) what is necessary for the responsible development and use of neural prostheses or brain implants such as deep brain stimulation (DBS) systems, and non-invasive neural devices in both children and adults; 2) how do advances in neuroscience challenge current notions of identity, privacy, respect, space, control, and justice; 3) what are the clinical and social implications of screening embryos for polygenic conditions (e.g., psychiatric disorders, diabetes) and traits (e.g., height, “intelligence” or cognitive ability); and 4) what is necessary for the responsible integration of genomics, perceptual computing, and artificial intelligence into mental illness prevention and care.