Fostering Responsible Company-University Partnerships in Brain Technology
Industry-academia partnerships are critical for bringing brain technologies to market for public benefit. Brain technologies present unique ethical challenges compared to other health innovations: they can alter brain function and record and transmit brain data. There are can be competing priorities and values between academia and industry (e.g., transparency vs. protecting trade secrets) and some competing internal missions within academia (e.g., innovation and entrepreneurship vs. managing conflicts of interest and institutional risk) that raise the need to rethink existing rules and guidance governing brain technology partnerships.
This project addresses a gap in our understanding of ethical complexities inherent to brain technology partnerships by engaging 7 Key Stakeholder Groups:
- Institutional Officials: Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property
- Institutional Officials: Conflicts of Interest and Research Contracts
- Brain technology Researchers
- Brain technology Industry Leaders
- Clinicians
- Patients & Research Participants
- Ethics Scholars
In addition to understanding unique ethical and practical challenges emerging from brain technology-focused industry-academia partnerships, by engaging these stakeholder groups we will also be able to identify promising solutions and actionable guidance for navigating these practical and ethical complexities. This project is funded by the NIH BRAIN Initiative (1R01MH130519, PI: McIntosh) and is being conducted by the Bioethics Research Center at Washington University School of Medicine (IRB #202205141)
Our Team
Tristan McIntosh, PhD
Principal Investigator
Director of Tracking and Evaluation, Bioethics Research Center
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Washington University School of Medicine
James M. DuBois, DSc, PhD
Co-Investigator
Executive Director, Bioethics Research Center
Steven J. Bander Professor of Medical Ethics and Professionalism
Professor of Psychology
Washington University School of Medicine
Eric Leuthardt, MD
Co-Investigator
Shi H. Huang Professor of Neurosurgery
Chief, Division of Neurotechnology
Professor of Neurosurgery, Neuroscience, Biomedical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science
Director, Center for Innovation in Neuroscience and Technology
Director, Brain Laser Center
Castle Connolly Top Doctor
Washington University School of Medicine
Joseph Culver, PhD
Co-Investigator
Director, Biophotonics Research Center
Sherwood Moore Professor of Radiology
Director, Imaging Sciences Pathway
Co-Director, Imaging Sciences Doctoral Program
Co-Chair, Radiology Faculty Search Committee
Washington University School of Medicine
Erin Solomon, PhD
Program Manager
Bioethics Research Center
Washington University School of Medicine
Meredith Parsons, MS, CHES
Program Manager
Washington University School of Medicine
Judith Mwobobia
Graduate Research Assistant
Washington University School of Medicine
Maya Skolnik
Graduate Research Assistant
Washington University School of Medicine
Advisory Board
Patricia Hastings, JD
Assistant Vice Chancellor Associate General Counsel
Washington University School of Medicine
Eran Klein, MD
Co-Lead, Center for Brain technology
University of Washington
Associate Professor of Neurology
Oregon Health & Science University
Gianna (Gigi) McMillan
Associate Director, Bioethics Institute
Patient Advocate
Loyola Marymount University
Scott Ransom, PhD
Director, Industry Relations and Innovation, Center for Brain technology
University of Washington School of Medicine
Melanie Roewe, JD
Associate Vice Chancellor, Research Development and Contracts
Washington University School of Medicine
Karen Rommelfanger, PhD
Founder, Institute of Neuroethics
Craig Weilbaecher, PhD
Business Development Associate, Office of Technology Management & Transfer
Washington University School of Medicine
Yi Zhang, RN, JD
Assistant Dean for Clinical Trials
Administrative Director of Clinical Studies
Washington University School of Medicine
Questions?
Read our FAQs | Contact Us: m.parsons@wustl.edu