The Neuroethics research unit is committed to training a new generation of students and researchers in neuroethics through the conduct of collaborative interdisciplinary research within Montréal’s unique neuroscience and bioethics environment.
RESEARCH UNIT DIRECTORÉric Racine, PhDDr. Eric Racine is Director of the Neuroethics research unit and Assistant IRCM Research Professor. He is also a member of the Departments of Medicine and Social and Preventive Medicine (Bioethics Programs; Université de Montréal), an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery (McGill University), and an Affiliate Member of the Biomedical Ethics Unit (McGill University). Read Dr. Eric Racine's complete biography.
ASSOCIATE RESEARCHEREmily Bell, PhD Emily Bell completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Neuroethics Research Unit in Spring 2010. Dr Bell has since been an Associate Researcher at the Unit. Her MSc and PhD research in Psychiatry at the University of Alberta in Edmonton focused on investigating brain activity in mood disorders and anxiety disorders using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Her postdoctoral work examined ethical and social challenges in deep brain stimulation (DBS) based on a Canadian multi-site investigation of neurosurgical units. She is a co-investigator on a CIHR funded project (PI: Eric Racine) which examines caregiver and patients perspectives in the use of DBS for Parkinson’s disease and is a member of the Neuroethics Core of NeuroDevNet, a National Centre of Excellence of Canada. She has published or has in progress several qualitative papers, and has spoken at national and international bioethics meetings on her empirical work. She brings to the Unit a strong background in neuroscience and neuroimaging and plays an active role in the leadership and coordination in collaboration with Dr. Racine of several projects in the Unit. In the past, Dr. Bell has been awarded support from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), the Fonds de la recherche en santé du Quebec (FRSQ), and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). In 2012, she will spend a month as a visiting researcher at the Brocher Foundation, Switzerland.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTJeannine Amyot Jeannine Amyot has over 30 years of combined experience in professional writing, communications, bioethics, research, and administration. She provides overall assistance and support for the research activities of the Neuroethics research unit.
STUDENTS, INTERNS, AND POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS
Nicole Palmour, PhD Postdoctoral researcherNicole Palmour is a psychology graduate from St. Edward's University, holds a Master’s degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in forensic psychology and a doctorate from McGill University, Department of Human Genetics with a specialization in biomedical ethics. In September 2010, Nicole was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, States of Mind: Emerging Issues in Neuroethics. Her research interests include neuroethics, neuroimaging ethics, neurogenetics, disorders of consciousness, ethical issues in direct to consumer marketing of neurological enhancers, behavioural genetics and social and legal implications in the forensic uses of DNA.
Cynthia ForliniPhD studentCynthia Forlini is a graduate of Université de Montréal in biochemisty (B.Sc) and bioethics (M.A). Her Masters research, completed at the Neuroethics research unit, examined the media, ethics, and public health discourses around the use of neuropharmacology for cognitive enhancement. Cynthia’s current research as a PhD student at the Neuroethics research unit (and McGill University) aims to examine the perspectives of different stakeholders and public understanding with regard to cognitive enhancement. This research project is supported by a doctoral award from the Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec (FRSQ). Cynthia’s work at the unit has been published in Neuroethics, BMC Medical Ethics and the Journal of Medical Ethics and has been presented at local, national and international conferences. In the spring of 2008 Cynthia completed an international research mission supported by a scholarship awarded to her from the Institut International de Recherche en Éthique Biomédicale (IIREB). The research mission took place at the Instituto do Medicina Social of the Universidade do Rio de Janeiro in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where she helped develop a project on the public understanding of cognitive enhancement. Cynthia also has an interest in research ethics and has been a member of the Research Ethics Board of the Montreal General Hospital since February 2008.
Ghislaine MathieuPhD studentGhislaine Mathieu is completing a PhD program in Applied Human Sciences (Bioethics option) at the Université de Montréal. Her interests in the field of neuroscience research and neuroethics have led her to pursue her training under the supervision of Dr. Racine since December 2006. Her current research aims at studying social, legal and ethical challenges emerging from the current regulatory frameworks for functional neurosurgery using deep brain stimulation for the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders. One of her key interests concerns the Canadian system for the evaluation and approval of medical devices. Ghislaine also holds a master in political science from Université Laval and a Law certificate also from Université Laval. Over the past year, Ghislaine has had the opportunity to present posters and communications on her work at different national and international conferences, such as the Canadian Bioethics Society, the Canadian Neuroscience Association, the International Association for Bioethics, the Neuroethics Society, and the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health.
Isabelle ChouinardPhD StudentIsabelle Chouinard is a Trudeau Scholar and PhD candidate in the Applied Human Sciences program (Bioethics option) at the Université de Montréal. Her academic background includes studies in anthropology, social work, and telehealth. Prior to returning to Montréal in 2010, Isabelle was an active member of the ethics community in Calgary, Alberta where she was a member of a hospital clinical ethics committee, member of the Conjoint Research Ethics Board of the University of Calgary and Alberta Health Services, as well as long-time volunteer and student within the Clinical Ethics Services at Alberta Health Services. Isabelle’s current research aims to understand the impact of neuroprognostication and prognostic variability, within the context of evidence-based medicine, on end-of-life decision-making in pediatric intensive care settings.
Emma Zimmerman PhD StudentEmma completed her bachelors and masters degrees in bioengineering at Arizona State University. There, she worked with The Neural Engineering and Informatics Lab to develop a non-invasive diagnostic for coronary artery disease. In an effort to think more broadly about how these biotechnologies interacted with society she became interested in biomedical ethics. She joined the Neuroethics research unit in Fall 2009, where she is pursuing her PhD at the Graduate Program in Neurological Sciences at McGill University. Her research interests include the ethical and responsible transfer of knowledge in neuroscience research.
Lucie Wade Master’s studentWith a degree in Marine Biology and Contemporary Studies from the University of Kings College and Dalhousie University, Lucie’s ethics experience began in the field of marine mammal noise research where she explored a conflict of interest. Currently, her master’s work at the Neuroethics research unit research focuses around hype found in media and bioethics articles related to the phenomenon of cognitive enhancement and a similar trend that’s occurring with media coverage of the development of pharmaceuticals to “cure” intellectual disability. This latter project is being completed as part of Lucie’s training with NeuroDevNet Canada. In July she will begin an Academic Fellowship in Clinical and Organizational Ethics at the Joint Centre for Bioethics (University of Toronto).
Lila Karpowicz Master’s studentLila Karpowicz is currently a master’s student in bioethics at the Université de Montréal. She obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Neuroscience from Concordia University, where she was also a member of the Science College, a small department which offers a minor in Multidisciplinary Studies in Science. While at Concordia, she has been involved in a few research projects in biophysics, neuroscience, and neuropsychology. Her current academic interests revolve around neuroscience and neurology in the medical field, including the ethics of neurosurgical innovation and neurostimulation.
Ariane Daoust Master’s studentAriane Daoust holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the Université de Montréal and is a practicing nurse since 2003. Her work in a pediatric intensive care unit has led to her interest in bioethics. She is currently pursuing her studies in the Master's programs in bioethics at the Université de Montréal. She is a member of the bioethics committee of the CHU Sainte-Justine. Her graduate work at the Neuroethics research unit deals with the neurological determination death. Ariane is also interested in clinical ethics, and palliative care.
RESEARCH ASSISTANTSConstance DeslauriersResearch assistant and former graduate studentConstance Deslauriers graduated from California State University Sacramento with a degree in Biological Sciences with minors in Organic Chemistry and Microbiology. Her concerns and interests for diverse biomedical ethic questions guided her towards the Neuroethics research unit where she focused on the ethical issues that arise from the recent technological progress in neuroimaging. Constance also developed an interest for qualitative research and patient observation which she is planning to integrate in her future practice of medicine. Constance Deslauriers is currently in charge of the coordination of the international neuroethics conference “Brain Matters 2” being held in Montréal at the end of May 2011.
Catherine Rodrigue Research assistant and former graduate studentCatherine Rodrigue graduated from the University de Québec à Montréal (UQAM) with a degree in biology specializing in toxicology. She completed a master's degree in bioethics at the Neuroethics research unit and the Université de Montréal. She is a strong interest in clinical ethics and is a member of the clinical ethics committee of the Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM). Her research project at the Unit focused on ethical issues related to decision making for patients with neurological disorders of consciousness. She is now providing assistance for the “Brain Matters 2” conference and other projects.