Archive for category Uncategorized
Naming the devil: The mental health double bind
Posted by Karen Rommelfanger in mental health, mind-body, Uncategorized on March 17, 2016
*Editor’s note: This post was originally published on The Neuroethics Blog.
By Jennifer Laura Lee
Jenn Laura Lee recently received her undergraduate in neuroscience from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and hopes to pursue a PhD in neurobiology this fall. Her current interests include the advancement of women in STEM and the ethics of animal experimentation.
The Bell Let’s Talk initiative swept through Canada on January 27, hoping to end the stigma associated with mental illness, one text and one share at a time. Michael Landsberg shares his thoughts in a short video on the Facebook page. “The stigma exists because fundamentally there’s a feeling in this country still that depression is more of a weakness than a sickness,” he explains. “People use the word depression all the time to describe a bad time in their life, a down time. But that’s very different than the illness itself.” Perhaps such a bold statement merits closer examination.
NIH BRAIN Funding for Neuroethics Research
Posted by Karen Rommelfanger in funding, Uncategorized on February 26, 2016
The NIH BRAIN Initiative is now offering funding for neuroethics research in the form of administrative supplements to existing NIH BRAIN Initiative awards.
Since these supplements are open specifically to investigators currently funded by an NIH BRAIN grant, BRAIN investigators and neuroethics researchers alike should know there is now a funded opportunity to collaborate. A full list of the NIH BRAIN Initiative funded awards is here: http://braininitiative.nih.gov/funding/fundedAwards.htm
Note that the supplement applications are due May 2, and should follow the instructions in PA-14-077 (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-14-077.html)
I believe we are seeing the tides shift with this unprecedented opportunity and hope there will be more formal funding mechanisms for neuroethics research in the future. If you’re not already aware, the NIH BRAIN Initiative has created a formal neuroethics workgroup (of which I’m honored to be a part along with NEW Leaders Nita Farahany and many talented others), so please keep an eye out for further neuroethics developments on that front.
Best wishes and happy brainstorming,
Karen
The freedom to become an addict: The ethical implications of addiction vaccines
Posted by Karen Rommelfanger in addiction, Uncategorized on December 22, 2015

- prevent children from becoming addicted to drugs in the future,
- allow addicts to easily and safely stop using drugs, and
- potentially lower the social and economic costs of addiction for society at large.
Meet-a-Member: Dr. Tomi Kushner
Posted by Karen Rommelfanger in Uncategorized on October 20, 2015
Dear Friends:
I am a philosopher with a special interest in neuroethics. Until retirement, I served as Clinical Professor of Bioethics in the UCSF/Berkeley Joint Medical Program, teaching bioethics to medical students, other graduate students on the Berkeley campus, and supervising Masters and PhD theses in the School of Public Health. Described below are my current projects and I am happy to extend an invitation for you to join me.
Journals: As founding editor of the CQ, The Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics, I’m proud to announce that 2016 marks the journal’s 25th anniversary. Of particular interest to you, will be CQ’s “Neuroethics Now” section that welcomes papers addressing the ethical application of neuroscience in research and patient care, as well as its impact on society. Read the rest of this entry »
Join Us at International Neuroethics Society on Friday, Oct. 16, 2015 @ 7:30 pm.
Posted by Karen Rommelfanger in Uncategorized on October 14, 2015
JOIN US FOR FOOD AND DRINK* (each person will be responsible for his/her bill).
• Date: Friday, October 16
• Time: 7:30pm until?
• Location: Potter’s, lobby level of Palmer House Hotel, 17 East Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60603, Phone: 312.917.4933
*We will have small plates (in lieu of a sit down dinner) and drinks.
We will meet after the International Neuroethics Society poster reception. Potter’s is a 4 min walk from the INS Venue (Art Institute of Chicago).
Tips for a Job Interview
Posted by Karen Rommelfanger in Uncategorized on May 1, 2015
Editor’s note: Laura successfully interviewed and will be starting a new position this fall. Congratulations, Laura!!
Dr. Cabrera is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the National Core for Neuroethics where she has been conducting research to explore the attitudes of the general public toward enhancing interventions, as well as the normative implications of using neurotechnologies for non-medical purposes. She received a BSc in Electrical and Communication Engineering from the Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM) in Mexico City, an MA in Applied Ethics from Linköping University in Sweden, and a PhD in Applied Ethics from Charles Sturt University in Australia. Her career goal is to pursue interdisciplinary neuroethics scholarship, provide active leadership, and train and mentor future leaders in the field.
Email: laura.cabrera@singularityu.org
By Dr. Laura Y. Cabrera
I recently went through a job interview for a faculty position and wanted to share with the NEW Leaders community some strategies that work for me in preparing for it. Read the rest of this entry »
Hot off the presses! Ethical issues with direct-to-consumer neuroscience.
Posted by Karen Rommelfanger in Uncategorized on April 22, 2015
Ethical issues with Lumosity and other Direct-to-Consumer Brain Training
Games by NEW Leader, Dr. Karen Rommelfanger and her graduate student Ryan Purcell.
Article is open access here for the next 50 days until June 11, 2015.
“Internet brain training programs, where consumers serve as both subjects and funders of the research, represent the closest engagement many individuals have with neuroscience. Safeguards are needed to protect participants’ privacy and the evolving scientific enterprise of big data.”
Join Us at International Neuroethics Society on Friday, Nov. 14, 2013 @ 7:30 pm.
Posted by Karen Rommelfanger in Uncategorized on November 12, 2014
JOIN US FOR FOOD* AND DRINKS at International Neuroethics Society (each person will be responsible for his/her bill).
- Date: Friday, November 14
- Time: 7:30pm until?
- Location: Cure Bar and Bistro, 1000 H Street Washington, DC, CA 2001 (Grand Hyatt’s bar) Phone: (202) 582-1234
*We will have heavy appetizers (in lieu of a sit down dinner) and drinks.
We will meet after the International Neuroethics Society poster reception at Cure Bar and Bistro at the Grand Hyatt, which is a 4 min walk from the INS Venue (AAAS). See map below for directions from AAAS to the Cure Bar and Bistro.
Please RSVP to Karen Rommelfanger (krommel@emory.edu) by Thurs, Oct 30th at 5pm EST.
UPDATED LOCATION: Join Us at International Neuroethics Society on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013 @ 7 pm.
Posted by Karen Rommelfanger in meet a member, professionalization, Uncategorized on October 23, 2013
JOIN US FOR DINNER AND DRINKS (each person will be responsible for his/her bill).
- Date: Friday, November 8
- Time: 7pm until 830pm or until ?
- UPDATED LOCATION: Marina Kitchen, 333 West Harbor Drive San Diego, CA 92101 (in the same hotel where INS is being held)
We will meet immediately after the International Neuroethics Society meeting on Friday 7pm at the Marina Kitchen‘s lounge area which located in the Marriott Marquis Marina (the same location as the INS venue) at 333 West Harbor Drive *each person will be responsible for his/her bill*
Please RSVP to Karen Rommelfanger (krommel@emory.edu) by Fri, November 1 at 5pm EST.
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