Francis Shen, JD, PhD (University of Minnesota)
Susan M. Wolf, JD (University of Minnesota)
Frances Lawrenz, PhD (University of Minnesota)
This innovative 4-year project will convene a national Working Group of top neuroethics, neurolaw, and neuroscience experts to conduct empirical research and generate evidence-based consensus recommendations for the ethical conduct of research using highly portable, cloud-enabled MRI with new and diverse populations in field settings. Highly-portable MRI, a transformative technology supported by the NIH BRAIN Initiative, will allow researchers to conduct population-based neuroscience research and will accelerate research on brain biomarkers. As portable MRI develops quickly, guidance is urgently needed on unresolved ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI). This project builds on two NIH Administrative Supplements that have preliminarily identified the most pressing unresolved ELSI issues.
Project outcomes include:
Public Webinar
Portable MR Imaging of the Brain: Practical Challenges and Ethical Solutions for Indigenous, and Rural and Remote Communities
Thursday, April 17, 2025 - 2-3:30pm Central
Watch the Video
Public Conference
Conference: Emerging Portable Technology for Neuroimaging Research in New Field Settings: Legal & Ethical Challenges
Thursday, December 7, 2023 - 8:30am to 4:30pm Central
Watch the Videos
JLME Symposium, Winter 2024
- Press Release for JLME Symposium
- Shen FX, Wolf SM, Lawrenz F. Introduction: Revolutionizing Neuroimaging Research with Highly Portable MRI: Confronting Ethical and Legal Challenges. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics 2024;52(4):764-768;doi:10.1017/jme.2024.161.
- Shen FX, Wolf SM, Lawrenz F, Comeau DS, Evans BJ, Fair D, Farah MJ, Garwood M, Han SD, Illes J, Jackson JD, Klein E, Rosen MS, Torres E, Tuite P, Vaughn JT. Conducting Research with Highly Portable MRI in Community Settings: A Practical Guide to Navigating Ethical Issues and ELSI Checklist. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics 2024;52(4):769-785;doi:10.1017/jme.2024.162.
- Madzelan M, Lawrenz F, Wolf SM, Shen FX. Expert Stakeholder Perspectives on Emerging Technology for Neuroimaging Research with Highly Portable MRI: The Need for Guidance on Ethical, Legal, and Societal Issues. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics 2024;52(4):786-804;doi:10.1017/jme.2024.160.
- Wolf SM, Illes J. Far from Home: Managing Incidental Findings in Field Research with Portable MRI. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics 2024;52(4):805-815;doi:10.1017/jme.2024.169.
- Birly S, Teeple A, Illes J. The Realization of Portable MRI for Indigenous Communities in the USA and Canada. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics 2024;52(4):816-823;doi:10.1017/jme.2024.159.
- Farah M. Socioeconomic Factors in Brain Research: Increasing Sample Representativeness with Portable MRI. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics 2024;52(4):824-829;doi:10.1017/jme.2024.168.
- Klein E, Han SD, Tuite P, Kimberly WT, Agarwal M. Portable Accessible MRI in Dementia Research: Ethical Considerations About Research Representation and Dementia-Friendly Technology. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics 2024;52(4):830-839;doi:10.1017/jme.2024.157.
- Comeau DS, Silverman BC, Avanki MA, Wolf SM. The Need for IRB Leadership to Address the New Ethical Challenges of Research with Highly Portable Neuroimaging Technologies. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics 2024;52(4):840-850;doi:10.1017/jme.2024.156.
- Evans B. Ethical Oversight and Social Licensing of Portable MRI Research. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics 2024;52(4):851-867;doi:10.1017/jme.2024.166.
Media Coverage
Follow links to media coverage on the topic: Stories highlighted by NeurologyToday, the Research & Innovation Office, University of Minnesota Law School, Medical Ethics Advisor and a Bill of Health blogpost.