Dr. Eric Racine is the Director of the Neuroethics Research Unit and Assistant Research Professor at the IRCM (Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal). He is also Assistant Research Professor at the Departments of Medicine and Social and Preventive Medicine (Bioethics Programs; University of Montreal), Adjunct Professor at the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery (McGill University) and an Affiliate Member of the Biomedical Ethics Unit (McGill University).

Dr. Racine is a New Investigator of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and his research is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, the Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec, the CIHR, and the IRCM,. He is also a member of two large-scale CIHR-sponsored neuroethics networks (States of Mind: Emerging Issues in Neuroethics, led by Dr. Françoise Baylis; Neuroimaging Ethics: From Theory to Practice, led by Dr. Jocelyn Downie) as well as a member of the Loeb Chair in Organ and Tissue Donation (led by Dr. Sam Shemie).

Eric Racine did his postdoctoral training in neuroethics at the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics and previously studied bioethics, philosophy and social science at the University of Ottawa (Summa Cum Laude) and the University of Montreal. In 2007, he was a visiting fellow at the Brocher Foundation in Geneva, Switzerland and, in 2008, he was a fellow of the International Institute of Biomedical Ethics at Uppsala University, Sweden. He previously completed clinical ethics internships in Geneva and Montreal.

Dr. Racine’s research interests include the ethical application of neuroscience in research and patient care, empirical bioethics research, and pragmatism in bioethics. He is the author of several peer reviewed papers, chapters, and columns published in bioethics, neuroscience, social science, and medical journals. He has delivered several talks and guest lectures to various Canadian and international audiences. His first book entitled Pragmatic Neuroethics, forthcoming at MIT Press, (http://mitpress.mit.edu/catalog/author/default.asp?aid=37735) will capture some of his work and views in neuroethics.

Dr. Eric Racine is an associate editor of the journal Neuroethics, a member of the advisory board of the CIHR Institute for Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction, a member of the scientific committee of Quebec’s bioimaging network and chair of the Montreal Neuroethics Network and the Canadian Neuroethics Interest Group. He has served on clinical ethics committees and research ethics boards, and currently serves as an advisor for neuroethics programs while being involved in the teaching of neuroethics. Dr. Racine was a member of the scientific committee of the first meeting of the Neuroethics Society and a member of the planning committee of the first Canadian neuroethics conference “Brain matters: New directions in neuroethics” hosted in 2009. He was also a member of the committee on neuropharmacology of the Committee on Science, Ethics, and Technology of the Government of Quebec that reported in 2009.

Nicole Palmour is a psychology graduate from St. Edward's University and holds a Master’s degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in forensic psychology. She is currently finishing her doctorate at McGill University in the Department of Human Genetics with a specialization in biomedical ethics. Her research interests include ethical, social and legal implications in the forensic use of DNA, neuroethics, neurogenetics, and behavioral genetics.

Please note that Nicole is currently on maternity leave.

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.

PhD student

Cynthia 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 popular, ethical 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 (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 recherché en santé du Québec (FRSQ). Cynthia’s work at the Unit has been published in Neuroethics, BMC Medical 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.

PhD student

Ghislaine Mathieu is completing a PhD program in Applied Human Sciences (with option in bioethics) at the University of Montreal. Her interests in the field of neurosciences research and neuroethics have motivated her to pursue her training at the Neuroethics Research Unit since December 2006. Her current research aims at studying social, legal and ethical challenges emerging from functional neurosurgery using deep brain stimulation for the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders. One of her key interests concerns t 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 had the opportunity to present posters resuming her works at different national and international conferences, such as the Canadian Bioethics Society, the Canadian Neuroscience Association, the International Association for Bioethics, and the Neuroethics Society.

Postdoctoral fellow

Emily Bell has been a Postdoctoral fellow at the Neuroethics Research Unit since Fall 2007. She has previously completed an MSc and PhD in Psychiatry at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta. Emily’s graduate research focused on investigating brain activity in mood disorders and anxiety disorders using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The challenges that she observed in carrying out fMRI research in psychiatry provoked a shift in research interest to neuroethics. Her current research interests include, explorations of the ethical and social issues associated with deep brain stimulation in psychiatric patients, the initiation of novel research trials and clinical innovation in deep brain stimulation in neurological and psychiatric patients and in the application of fMRI in psychiatry. In May 2008, Emily was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), and a postdoctoral award from the Fonds de la recherche en santé du Quebec (FRSQ).

Master's student

Danaë Larivière-Bastien holds a degree in international studies (Law profile) of the University of Montreal and the International Program diploma of the Institute of Political Studies of Paris. She is doing a Master's in bioethics within the Programs of bioethics of the University of Montreal. She has worked with disabled persons in the school setting. She is a member of the clinical ethics committee of Maisonneuve-Rosemont hospital. She is interested in the ethical issues related to the various aspects of the experience of people living with a disability, particularly with cerebral palsy. Danaë received one of the scholarships of excellence of the Bioethics Programs in 2008-2009.

Marie-Josée Dion was a graduate student in Biomedical Ethics at McGill University and is currently attending medical school at Université de Montréal. She has a particular interest in applied clinical ethics and hopes to pursue a career in that field.

Former Intern

Matthew Seidler is currently a medical student at McGill University. Matthew’s work in the Neuroethics Research Unit focused around the public understanding of neuroscience and the Terri Schiavo case, where he helped gather study data. Aside from being an avid reader, Matthew enjoys exploring technology as well as caring for his dogs.

David Risse studied philosophical ethics at the Universities Nancy 2 and Strasbourg 2 (Master’s, DEA). His doctoral dissertation on ethics and sexuality will be defended at Laval University and is supported by a Charles - De Koninck scholarship. He is a member and regular speaker for the International Association of French Language Sociologists and has interest in sociology of sexuality, youth and family. His diverse contributions in public health, social philosophy and philosophical bioethics will soon be published in a book format. He plans to extend his expertise to the neuroethics of sexuality and brain development.

Former Research Assistant

Zoë Costa-von Aesch received her BScH from Queen's University and completed her MSc at McGill University, specializing in Biomedical Ethics. Her research interests include women's health, HIV/AIDS and research ethics. Zoë is now a MD / PhD candidate at McGill University. She is now studying medicine at McGill University

Former intern

Amaryllis studied biomedical sciences and psychology at the University of Ottawa and she is now pursuing medical studies at the at the same university. Her interest for questions at the intersection of neuroscience, ethics and epistemology led her to join the Neuroethics Research Unit for an internship in 2007.

Former intern

David Bouvier holds a PhD in cellular and molecular neurobiology from the University of Montreal. He pursued his interests in neuroscience and neuroethics through an internship at the Neuroethics Research Unit, from 2006 to 2007, examining stakeholder perspectives and public understanding of the ethical and social issues of cognitive enhancement using methylphenidate. He is currently pursuing postdoctoral neuroscience research in Geneva.

Previous invited fellow

After studies in psychology, Luciana Caliman did a Master's and a Ph.D. in Collective Health at the Institute for Social Medicine (IMS), State University of Rio de Janeiro. She has spent two years at Max-Planck-Institute for the History of Science, Berlin, researching for her doctoral thesis on “The historical constitution of the moral biology of attention”. Currently, she is professor at the department of psychology, Brazilian Faculty UNIVIX, and a post-doctoral student at the Institute of Psychology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Her research interests include the history of the inattentive individual, and the ethical challenges of the extension of the childhood diagnosis of ADHD to adults.