2025 BRAIN AWARENESS WEEK – ANNUAL DISTINGUISHED NEUROETHICS LECTURE
2025 Distinguished Neuroethics Speaker:
Laura Y. Cabrera, PhD, Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Chair in Neuroethics, Associate Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics, Philosophy, and Bioethics, Pennsylvania State University
Panelists:
- Benoit-Antoine Bacon, PhD, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of British Columbia
- Christopher R. Honey, MD, DPhil, Alcan Chair in Neuroscience, Professor and Head of the Division of Neurosurgery, University of British Columbia
- Julie M. Robillard, PhD, Associate Professor of Neurology, University of British Columbia
- Lakshmi N. Yatham, MBBS, FRCPC, EMBA, Professor and Head of the Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia
Moderator:
Judy Illes, CM, PhD, UBC Distinguished Scholar in Neuroethics, Professor of Neurology, University of British Columbia
Overview:
New developments in neurotechnology are blurring the lines between what we thought was possible and what we thought it was in the realm of science fiction. In this lecture, Dr. Cabrera will explore groundbreaking advancements in neurotechnology that are transforming science fiction into reality, as well as their profound implications for healthcare and beyond. In particular, Dr. Cabrera will focus on key ethical considerations to ensure these technologies are developed and used for the benefit of society.
Event details:
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
C300 Theatre, UBC Robson Square, 800 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 3B7 (map)
DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER
Laura Y. Cabrera, PhD
Dr. Laura Y. Cabrera is the Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Chair in Neuroethics. Dr. Cabrera is an Associate Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics, Philosophy, and Bioethics at Penn State University. She is Senior Research Associate at the Rock Ethics Institute, and affiliated with the Center for Neural Engineering. She is also Faculty Affiliate at Neuroethics Canada, University of British Columbia. Dr. Cabrera is past chair of the Responsible Design and Development of Neurotechnologies – Standard Development Group for the IEEE and member of the International Neuroethics Society (INS) Board of Directors. Dr. Cabrera’s interests focus on the ethical, societal and cultural implications of the design, development and use of neurotechnologies and other disruptive technologies.
PANELISTS
Benoit-Antoine Bacon, PhD
Dr. Benoit-Antoine Bacon started a five-year term as the 17th President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of British Columbia on November 1, 2023. Since 2020, he has also been serving on the Board of Directors of Universities Canada.
Before joining UBC, Dr. Bacon served in several academic leadership roles, including as President and Vice-Chancellor of Carleton University in Ottawa, Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) at Queen’s University in Kingston, and as Provost and Vice-President (Academic Affairs) at Concordia University in his hometown of Montreal, where he was recognized with an award as Sustainability Champion.
Dr. Bacon holds a PhD in neuropsychology from the University of Montreal, after which he undertook a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Glasgow, Scotland. His research in the field of cognitive neuroscience focuses on the links between brain activity and perception in the visual, auditory and vestibular systems, as well as on multisensory integration.
Sharing his own lived experience, he advocates nationally for open conversations about mental health and substance use.
Christopher R. Honey, MD, DPhil
Dr. Honey is Professor and Head of the Division of Neurosurgery at the University of British Columbia. He obtained his medical degree from the University of Toronto and his doctoral degree from Oxford University as a Canadian Rhodes Scholar. He completed his Royal College training in neurosurgery in Vancouver in 1995 and became a diplomat of the American Board of Neurological Surgeons in 2000. He has completed an additional year of training at Harvard Medical School and is a Scholar in Surgical Leadership.
His research is focused on the treatment of movement disorders and pain.
Julie M. Robillard, PhD
Julie M. Robillard, PhD is an Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Scientist in Patient Experience at BC Children’s and Women’s Hospital (C&W). She is an affiliated researcher with the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, the Women’s Health Research Institute, the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, and Vancouver Coastal Research Institute.
Dr. Robillard holds a PhD in Neuroscience and completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the National Core for Neuroethics where she studied the quality and the ethics of eHealth and social media content about brain health.
As an Associate Professor and Scientist, she now leads the Neuroscience, Engagement and Smart Tech (NEST) lab and oversees a range of initiatives related to patient experience research at C&W.
Lakshmi N. Yatham, MBBS, FRCPC, EMBA
Dr. Lakshmi N. Yatham is a Professor and Head of the Department of Psychiatry and Director of the Institute of Mental Health at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. He is also the Regional Head of Psychiatry and Regional Program Medical Director for Mental Health and Addictions at Vancouver Coastal Health and Providence Healthcare.
Dr. Yatham’s areas of interests include neurobiology and treatment of bipolar disorders.
MODERATOR
Judy Illes, CM, PhD, FCAHS, FRSC
Dr. Judy Illes, pioneer in neuroethics, is Professor of Neurology at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Distinguished University Scholar, UBC Distinguished Scholar in Neuroethics, and Director of Neuroethics Canada. She holds appointments in UBC’s School of Population and Public Health, and in Journalism. She has made groundbreaking contributions to cross-cultural ethical, legal, social and policy challenges at the intersection of the brain sciences and biomedical ethics.
Dr. Illes was awarded the Order of Canada, the country’s highest recognition of its citizens, in 2017.
