Welcome to neuroethics.ca. On this website, you will find information on the field of neuroethics—an exciting new field at the intersection of neuroscience and ethics—and on the activities of the Neuroethics New Emerging Team funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Neuroscience is the study of the brain and nervous system, encompassing many aspects, from molecular and cellular biology, to psychology and behaviour. Neuroethics deals with the ethical matters raised by advances in functional neuroimaging, brain implants and psychopharmacology as well as emerging issues relating to behaviour, personality, and consciousness.

We invite you to enter this site to learn more about neuroethics and our Neuroethics NET, including its objectives, the specific projects, and results.

Who We Are

The Neuroethics New Emerging Team (NET) was created in 2003 in response to developing neuroscience technology. The NET is funded by the Canadian Institute of Health Research, Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction.

The NET is led by Dr. Jocelyn Downie at Dalhousie University. The NET is split into three projects, each researching different aspects of the legal and ethical issues raised by the paediatric use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

As is fitting for a discipline grounded in both science and ethics, the NET is comprised of researchers with a wide variety of backgrounds including bioethics, law, medicine, neuroscience, philosophy, physics and psychology.  As well, members come from a variety of Canadian Institutions: in Halifax, the Dalhousie Health Law Institute and Department of Bioethics, the IWK Health Centre; and in Winnipeg, the St. Amant Centre, the University of Manitoba and the NRC Institute for Biodiagnostics.

We are proud to have a broad base of researchers collaborating on these projects, as the diverse perspectives they bring will encourage a complete examination of all the scientific, legal, and ethical issues.