NATIONAL CORE FOR NEUROETHICS
LA NEUROÉTHIQUE
THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
Judy Illes, PhD
Dr. Illes is Professor of Neurology and Canada Research Chair in Neuroethics at the University of British Columbia. She is Director of the National Core for Neuroethics at UBC, and faculty in the Brain Research Centre at UBC and the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute. She also holds affiliate appointments in the School of Population and Public Health and the School of Journalism at UBC, and in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA, USA. Dr. Illes’ research focuses on ethical, legal, social and policy challenges specifically at the intersection of the neurosciences and biomedical ethics. This includes studies on stem cells and regenerative medicine, functional neuroimaging in basic and clinical research, dementia, addiction, neurodevelopmental disorders and the commercialization of cognitive neuroscience. She also leads a robust program of research and outreach devoted to improving the literacy of neuroscience and engaging stakeholders on a global scale. Dr. Illes is an internationally recognized author, lecturer, and mentor. She is a co-founder and Executive Committee Member of the Neuroethics Society, a member of the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives, and a former member of the Internal Advisory Board for the Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA) of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and of the Forum on Neuroscience and Neurological Disorders of the Institute of Medicine (IoM). Her most recent book, the Oxford Handbook of Neuroethics (Oxford University Press), is forthcoming in 2011. Dr. Illes is also currently Chair of the Committee on Women in World Neuroscience (WWN) for the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO), the advocacy officer for the Canadian Association for Neuroscience, and a Canadian Representative to the National Academy of Sciences/IBRO US-Canada Committee.
Peter B. Reiner, VMD, PhD
Dr. Reiner is Professor in the Kinsmen Laboratory of Neurological Research, Department of Psychiatry, Brain Research Centre and the National Core for Neuroethics. Dr. Reiner has a distinguished track record as a research scientist studying the neurobiology of behavioral states and the molecular underpinnings of neurodegenerative disease. Dr. Reiner also has experience in the private sector, having been President & CEO of Active Pass Pharmaceuticals, a drug discovery company that he founded to tackle the scourge of Alzheimer's disease. Upon returning to academic life in 2004, Dr. Reiner refocused his scholarly work in the area of neuroethics, specializing in the commercialization of neuroscience and a particular interest in cognitive enhancement.
B. Lynn Beattie, MD, FRCPC
Dr. Beattie is Professor Emeritus, Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, at the University of British Columbia. She is Director of the Clinic for Alzheimer Disease (AD) and Related Disorders at UBC Hospital and sees patients at this venue. In addition, Dr. Beattie is involved with a number of research activities. These include the multi centre Canadian Quality of Life in AD Study, a number of clinical trials in AD, a look at psychological resilience and well-being of spousal caregivers of persons with dementia, development of psychosocial indicators of oral health-related quality of life in three ethnic groups, genetic epidemiological study of AD, brain power, resistance training and cognitive function in older women. Other activities include participation in the Executive Committee of the BC Network for Aging Research and in the Centre for Research in Personhood in Dementia. Dr. Beattie is on the Board of the Alzheimer Society of Canada as Chair of the Research Policy Committee and is Secretary Treasurer of C5R, the Consortium of Canadian Centres for Clinical Cognitive Research. In 2007 she started as the Scientific Director for CHAP, the Centre for Healthy Aging at Providence at Providence Health Care in Vancouver. She is a member of the Board of PARF, the Pacific Alzheimer Research Foundation. In the past, Dr. Beattie started and was the first Head of the DIvision of Geriatric Medicine at UBC, initially based at Shaughnessy Hospital and in later years at Vancouver Coastal UBC/VGH. She is Past President of the American Geriatrics Society and the Canadian Geriatric Society.