Initial thoughts on BRAIN’s strategic plan from the Advisory Committee to the NIH Director BRAIN Initiative Working Group 2.0 are open for public comment through May 15, 2019. In parallel, a draft Neuroethics Roadmap from the BRAIN Neuroethics Subgroup is now open for public comment through May 20, 2019.
The Advisory Committee to the NIH Director BRAIN Initiative Working Group 2.0, formed in April 2018, has been working tirelessly to assess BRAIN’s progress and advances within the context of the original BRAIN 2025 report, identify key opportunities to apply new and emerging tools to revolutionize our understanding of brain circuits, and designate valuable areas of continued technology development. Over the course of the last year, the Working Group has undertaken a deliberative and open process consisting of portfolio review, scientific workshops, town halls, and public solicitation.
Continuing in this manner, the Working Group is sharing with the community its initial thoughts on the current state of the BRAIN Initiative, including opportunities for keeping pace with the evolving scientific landscape, including the identification of new opportunities for research and technology development, within a solid ethical framework, to ensure BRAIN Initiative research is of the utmost value to the public it intends to serve. Please submit comments through the Request for Information (RFI) or by emailing BRAINfeedback@nih.gov by May 15, 2019.
In parallel, the ACD Working Group on BRAIN 2.0 Neuroethics Subgroup (BNS) was formed to develop a Neuroethics Roadmap for the NIH BRAIN Initiative; review priority areas identified in the BRAIN 2025 Strategic Plan, incorporating updates from the broader BRAIN 2.0 Working Group; and characterize the neuroethical implications that may arise as BRAIN Initiative investments produce new tool/neurotechnologies, and/or those tools/neurotechnologies are applied to advancing the goals of the NIH BRAIN Initiative.
The BNS has conducted a portfolio review and held a public workshop on neuroethical issues posed by research through the BRAIN Initiative. The BNS is now welcoming comments from the public on draft findings and analysis detailed in the Neuroethics Roadmap. The Neuroethics Subgroup has also provided analysis and findings to the Working Group on BRAIN 2.0 for inclusion in the Working Group’s initial thoughts. Please submit comments to BNS@nih.gov by May 20, 2019.
Both groups will consider all public responses as they iterate their findings and analysis, which they will present to the Advisory Committee to the NIH Director (ACD) for consideration at its meeting on June 13-14, 2019.