DOCSLIB.ORG

2017 Annual Report

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
2017 Annual Report RESEARCH FOR RECOVERY ACCELERATING PATHWAYS TO MENTAL HEALTH BRAIN & BEHAVIOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION 2017 ANNUAL REPORT Awarding research grants to develop improved treatments, cures, and methods of prevention for mental illness. www.bbrfoundation.org 1 FROM DISCOVERY TO RECOVERY Mission The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (BBRF) is committed to alleviating the suffering caused by mental illness by awarding grants that will lead to advances and breakthroughs in scientific research. Vision To dramatically improve the lives of those living with mental illness and ultimately enable them to live full, happy, and productive lives. 100% of all donor contributions for research are invested in grants that lead to discoveries in understanding the causes and improving treatments for brain and behavior disorders in children and adults including addiction, ADHD, anxiety, autism, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, depression, eating disorders, OCD, PTSD, schizophrenia, and suicide prevention. For 30 years we have awarded more than $380 million, to more than 4,500 scientists carefully selected by our prestigious Scientific Council. 2 ANNUAL REPORT 2017 BBRF GRANTS SUPPORT THE MOST PROMISING IDEAS IN BRAIN RESEARCH. We invest in: Basic Research to understand what happens in the brain to cause mental illness New Technologies to advance or create new ways of studying and understanding the brain Diagnostic Tools And Early Intervention to recognize early signs of mental illness and begin treatment as early as possible Next-Generation Therapies to reduce symptoms of mental illness and ultimately prevent and cure brain and behavior disorders www.bbrfoundation.org 3 Table of Contents 06 Leadership Letter 08 Leading Research Achievements by Foundation Grantees 20 Our Scientific Council 22 Our Newest Scientific Council Members 28 Webinars 29 Getting the Word Out 30 2017 Research Grants 34 Grants by Illness 43 Foundation Events 53 Donors Research Partners Donor Listings Matching Gift Companies Honor Tributes Memorial Tributes Team Up for Research 81 2017 Financial Summary 4 ANNUAL REPORT 2017 BY THE NUMBERS SINCE 1987 As of une 2018 AWARDED TO SCIENTISTS $380 MILLION GRANTS The breadown o our grantees since 1987 4,282 Young Investigators 828 Independent Investigators 426 Distinguished Investigators 5,500 Table of Contents 06 Leadership Letter 08 Leading Research Achievements UNIVERSITIES EDICAL ENTERS COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THE U.S. by Foundation Grantees 20 Our Scientific Council 22 Our Newest Scientific Council Members 28 Webinars 550 29 Getting the Word Out 35 30 2017 Research Grants 34 Grants by Illness 175 ACTIVE SCIENTIFI OUNCIL EMBERS AND 7 EMERITUS EMBERS) 43 Foundation Events The all-volunteer Foundation Scientic The group includes: Council is composed of leading experts 52 Members of the National Academy of Medicine 53 Donors across disciplines in brain & behavior 26 Chairs of Psychiatry & Neuroscience Departments research who review grant applications Research Partners 13 Members of the National Academy of Sciences and recommend the most promising ideas 4 Recipients of the National Medal of Science Donor Listings to fund. 2 Former Directors of the National Institute of Mental Health and the Current Director Matching Gift Companies 2 Nobel Prize Winners Honor Tributes Memorial Tributes Team Up for Research 81 2017 Financial Summary 747 Third Avenue, 33rd Floor New York, NY 10016 | 646.681.4888 | bbrfoundation.org www.bbrfoundation.org 5 Dear Brain & Behavior Research Foundation Supporters: Since 1987, the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation has BBRF is Accelerating Discovery… invested in the future. We support innovative brain and behavior In Genetics, Molecular Biology, Brain Imaging, Early research today which will lead to new treatments, cures, and Interventions, and Rapid-Acting Medications methods of prevention. We are proud to present you with our 2017 Annual Report. The achievements of our grantees are rooted in fostering a researcher’s career in brain science. BBRF is Leading The World… In Charitable Funding of Research Grants for Mental Illness A survey of our grantees revealed that Foundation grants increased a researcher’s ability to secure additional grant support. BBRF The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation is the largest non- grants result in subsequent funding (both federal and private) governmental funder of mental health research grants in the world. and the more than $380 million in grants awarded to date has With our operating expenses covered by separate foundation resulted in more than $3.8 billion in additional brain research grants, 100 percent of every dollar donated for research is funding for these scientists. invested in research grants. A recent RAND Europe analysis of the global mental health research Now, three decades since our inception, we have awarded funding landscape found that we are the top non-governmental more than: funder cited in published articles. • $380 million, in more than 5,500 grants, to more than 4,500 Results from the investigations funded by our grants continue to researchers, from 550 institutions in 35 countries around define the leading edge of all research in the mental health field the world. and once again, this past year proved to be a year of advancement. • $19 million in grants in 2017 divided between our 17 Distin- The research findings we report on pages 8-19 in this annual report guished Investigators, 80 Independent Investigators and 400 would not be possible without the extraordinary volunteer effort Young Investigators. and leadership of our Scientific Council. This prestigious group of scientists steers the Foundation’s grants selection process. We are The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation’s sustained commit- proud to report that 12 distinguished experts joined the Scientific ment to research over the past 30 years and its plan for progress Council this year, bringing our total number to 175. Our new in the years ahead is empowered by a remarkable collaboration members are highlighted on page 22. between our donors and the worldwide leaders in brain science. BBRF is Informing the Public… BBRF is Advancing Recovery… About the Research Progress Which We Support in the Through Our Research Grants Field of Mental Health Funding the most promising and cutting-edge research is at the This past year the Foundation continued its longstanding com- core of our mission. Supporting young scientists’ careers and mitment to public education with its annual International Mental keeping them in the field of neuroscience is vital to finding cures for Health Research Symposium (highlighted on page 46), which mental illness. Communicating research results and sharing insights offered complimentary general admission to hear presentations is also vitally important to our mission. from the Foundation’s 2017 Outstanding Achievement Prizewin- ners and two exceptional Young Investigator Grantees, on topics The pathway to the future of scientific research and discovery is ranging from schizophrenia and addiction to childhood inter- a challenging and lengthy process, but we remain committed to ventions and the brain circuitry behind mood disorders. These funding “innovative and out of the box” ideas because it is this presentations are available online. cutting-edge research that will eventually result in new treatments and cures for brain and behavior disorders. The “Meet the Scientist” webinar series had more than 5,800 6 ANNUAL REPORT 2017 attendees from more than 52 countries register to watch the In contributing to BBRF you are supporting both an impressive program and post event, the series received more than 22,000 history of achievements that have advanced science and are paving views of the 2017 webinars on our YouTube channel. These public the way forward to change what it means to live with a mental events combined with our private fundraising events, and our illness and open possibilities for more people to live full, happy, and ongoing communications continually disseminate grantee research productive lives. We thank you for your ongoing support to help us discoveries and share stories of hope and recovery. Information get closer to realizing this vision. is available 24/7 on our redesigned and continuously updated website, bbrfoundation.org, and on our social media channels Sincerely, which include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. The Foundation’s publication, Brain & Behavior Magazine, has a circulation of more than 19,000 and can also be found in the media section of our website under publications. The Foundation produces the Emmy Award-nominated public television series Healthy Minds which aims to remove the stigma of mental illness, educate the public and offer a message of hope by Jeffrey Borenstein, M.D. shedding light on common psychiatric conditions through inspiring President & CEO personal stories and experts sharing cutting edge information on research and treatment. The goal of Healthy Minds is to inspire conversations about mental illness, and provide understandable information and resources for viewers. BBRF and the Future We are excited about recent technological advances that have made possible experiments that would have seemed Stephen A. Lieber like science fiction 30 years ago. The Foundation is proud of the Chair, Board of Directors accomplishments of the scientists we fund and we are excited to focus on their promising paths of discovery. New donors, both large and small, have come forward to join us as our message
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Unrestricted Immigration and the Foreign Dominance Of
    Unrestricted Immigration and the Foreign Dominance of United States Nobel Prize Winners in Science: Irrefutable Data and Exemplary Family Narratives—Backup Data and Information Andrew A. Beveridge, Queens and Graduate Center CUNY and Social Explorer, Inc. Lynn Caporale, Strategic Scientific Advisor and Author The following slides were presented at the recent meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. This project and paper is an outgrowth of that session, and will combine qualitative data on Nobel Prize Winners family histories along with analyses of the pattern of Nobel Winners. The first set of slides show some of the patterns so far found, and will be augmented for the formal paper. The second set of slides shows some examples of the Nobel families. The authors a developing a systematic data base of Nobel Winners (mainly US), their careers and their family histories. This turned out to be much more challenging than expected, since many winners do not emphasize their family origins in their own biographies or autobiographies or other commentary. Dr. Caporale has reached out to some laureates or their families to elicit that information. We plan to systematically compare the laureates to the population in the US at large, including immigrants and non‐immigrants at various periods. Outline of Presentation • A preliminary examination of the 609 Nobel Prize Winners, 291 of whom were at an American Institution when they received the Nobel in physics, chemistry or physiology and medicine • Will look at patterns of
    [Show full text]
  • Homage to Gaia
    Homage to Gaia The Life of an Independent Scientist James Lovelock Souvenir Press I dedicate this book to my beloved wife Sandy This paperback published in 2019 First published by Souvenir Press in 2014, an imprint of Profile Books Ltd 3 Holford Yard Bevin Way London WC1X 9HD www.profilebooks.com First published in Great Britain in 2000 by Oxford University Press Copyright © 2000, 2013 by J.E. Lovelock Copyright © 2000, 2013, 2019 by J. E. Lovelock First published in 2000 by Oxford University Press The right of James Lovelock to be identified as the author of this work has been Thisasserted second in accordance paperback withedition section published 77 of thein 2014 Copyright, by Souvenir Designs Press and Ltd Patents Act, 431988 Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3PD All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a Theretrieval right system of James or Lovelocktransmitted, to be in identifiedany form oras bythe any means, electronic, mechanical, authorphotocopying, of this work or otherwise, has been withoutasserted the in accordanceprior permission with of the Copyright owner. section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988 ISBN 978 1 78816 460 3 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, eISBN 978 0 28564 256 0 stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise, withoutPrinted andthe priorbound permission in Great Britain of the byCopyright owner. CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon, CRO 4YY ISBN 9780285642553 Offset from the Oxford University Press edition of ‘Homage to Gaia: The Life of an Independent Scientist’ by James Lovelock.
    [Show full text]
  • Physical Chemistry
    The Journal of Physical Chemistry 0 Copyright 1993 by the American Chemical Society VOLUME 97, NUMBER 12, MARCH 25,1993 .. " .. ",.. I~.__ 1, ~,.... ", Photograph eaurlcry of Stanlord University Viiud SIrriecr Harden M. Mcconnelk A Celebration of His Scientific Achievements Harden McConnell is a scientist of great imagination and originality. He has made major contributions to theoretical and experimental chemistry for over forty years. On April4.1992, tocoincidewith theAmericanchemicalsociety Meetinginsan Francisco, approximately 100 of his present and former students, colleagues, and friends held a scientific meeting at Stanford to honor the McConnells on Harden's 65th birthday. As part of the celebration, and with the encouragement of Mostafa El-Sayed, Editor, this issue of The Journal of Physical Chemistry was planned. A special issue of the Biophysical Journal is being published concurrently to present the more biological work of McConnell's former students and colleagues. These two publications provide a glimpse of the broad scope of activities and careers influenced by Harden McConnell, ranging from molecular quantum mechanics to immunology. C022-36S4/93/2097-2805S04.C0/0 0 1993 American Chemical Society 2806 The Journal of Physical Chemistry, Vol. 97, No. 12. 1993 Biographical Summary Harden M. McConnell was born on July 18, 1927, in Richmond, VA. He earned a B.S. degree in chemistry from George Washington University in 1947, and his Ph.D. in chemistry from the California Instituteof Technology in 1951 with Norman Davidson. After serving for two years as a National Research Fellow in physics at the University of Chicago with Robert S. Mulliken and John Platt, he held a position as research chemist at Shell Development Co.
    [Show full text]
  • Advertising (PDF)
    Neuroscience 2013 SEE YOU IN San Diego November 9 – 13, 2013 Join the Society for Neuroscience Are you an SfN member? Join now and save on annual meeting registration. You’ll also enjoy these member-only benefits: • Abstract submission — only SfN members can submit abstracts for the annual meeting • Lower registration rates and more housing choices for the annual meeting • The Journal of Neuroscience — access The Journal online and receive a discounted subscription on the print version • Free essential color charges for The Journal of Neuroscience manuscripts, when first and last authors are members • Free online access to the European Journal of Neuroscience • Premium services on NeuroJobs, SfN’s online career resource • Member newsletters, including Neuroscience Quarterly and Nexus If you are not a member or let your membership lapse, there’s never been a better time to join or renew. Visit www.sfn.org/joinnow and start receiving your member benefits today. www.sfn.org/joinnow membership_full_page_ad.indd 1 1/25/10 2:27:58 PM The #1 Cited Journal in Neuroscience* Read The Journal of Neuroscience every week to keep up on what’s happening in the field. s4HENUMBERONECITEDJOURNAL INNEUROSCIENCE s4HEMOSTNEUROSCIENCEARTICLES PUBLISHEDEACHYEARNEARLY in 2011 s )MPACTFACTOR s 0UBLISHEDTIMESAYEAR ,EARNMOREABOUTMEMBERAND INSTITUTIONALSUBSCRIPTIONSAT *.EUROSCIORGSUBSCRIPTIONS *ISI Journal Citation Reports, 2011 The Journal of Neuroscience 4HE/FlCIAL*OURNALOFTHE3OCIETYFOR.EUROSCIENCE THE HISTORY OF NEUROSCIENCE IN AUTOBIOGRAPHY THE LIVES AND DISCOVERIES OF EMINENT SENIOR NEUROSCIENTISTS CAPTURED IN AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL BOOKS AND VIDEOS The History of Neuroscience in Autobiography Series Edited by Larry R. Squire Outstanding neuroscientists tell the stories of their scientific work in this fascinating series of autobiographical essays.
    [Show full text]
  • R. Stephen Berry 1931–2020
    R. Stephen Berry 1931–2020 A Biographical Memoir by Stuart A. Rice and Joshua Jortner ©2021 National Academy of Sciences. Any opinions expressed in this memoir are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Academy of Sciences. RICHARD STEPHEN BERRY April 9, 1931–July 26, 2020 Elected to the NAS, 1980 We have prepared this memoir to bear witness to the life of R. Stephen (Steve) Berry, with emphasis on the view that a memorial is about reminding ourselves and others of more than his many and varied contributions to science; it is also to remind us of his personal warmth and freely offered friendship, of his generous support for all of us in a variety of situations, and of his loyalty to his friends and the institutions he served. The record of an individ- ual’s accomplishment is commonly taken to define his/ her legacy. Using that protocol, creative scientists are fortunate in that their contributions are visible, and those contributions endure, or not, on their own merits. Steve Berry was one of the most broadly ranging and influen- tial scientists in the world. His seminal experimental and By Stuart A. Rice theoretical contributions are distinguished by a keen eye and Joshua Jortner for new concepts and innovative and practical analyses. These contributions, which are remarkable in both scope and significance, have helped to shape our scientific perception. They have had, and continue to have, great influence on the development of chemistry, biophysics materials science, the science and technology related to the use, production, and conservation of energy, the societal applications of science and technology, and national and international science policy.
    [Show full text]
  • Eric Kandel Form in Which This Information Is Stored
    RESEARCH I NEWS pendent, this system would be expected to [2] HEEsch and J E Bums. Distance estimation work quite well, since the new recruit bees by foraging honeybees, The Journal ofExperi­ mental Biology, Vo1.199, pp. 155-162, 1996. tend to take the same route as the experi­ [3] M V Srinivasan, S W Zhang, M Lehrer, and T enced scout bee. What dOJhe ants do when S Collett, Honeybee Navigation en route to they cover similarly several kilometres on the goal: Visual flight control and odometry, foot to look for food? Preliminary evidence The Journal ofExperimental Biology, Vol. 199, pp. 237-244, 1996. indicates that they don't use an odometer but [4] M V Srinivasan, S W Zhang, M Altwein, and instead might count steps! J Tautz, Honeybee Navigation: Nature and Calibration of the Odometer, Science, Vol. Suggested Reading 287, pp. 851-853, 1996. [1] Karl von Frisch, The dance language and OT­ Moushumi Sen Sarma, Centre for Ecological Sci­ ientation of bees, Harvard Univ. Press, Cam­ ences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, bridge, MA, USA, 1993. India. Email: [email protected] Learning from a Sea Snail: modify future behaviour, then memory is the Eric Kandel form in which this information is stored. Together, they represent one of the most valuable and powerful adaptations ever to Rohini Balakrishnan have evolved in nervous systems, for they In the year 2000, Eric Kandel shared the allow the future to access the past, conferring Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicinel flexibility to behaviour and improving the with two other neurobiologists: Arvid chances of survival in unpredictable, rapidly Carlsson and Paul Greengard.
    [Show full text]
  • Mothers in Science
    The aim of this book is to illustrate, graphically, that it is perfectly possible to combine a successful and fulfilling career in research science with motherhood, and that there are no rules about how to do this. On each page you will find a timeline showing on one side, the career path of a research group leader in academic science, and on the other side, important events in her family life. Each contributor has also provided a brief text about their research and about how they have combined their career and family commitments. This project was funded by a Rosalind Franklin Award from the Royal Society 1 Foreword It is well known that women are under-represented in careers in These rules are part of a much wider mythology among scientists of science. In academia, considerable attention has been focused on the both genders at the PhD and post-doctoral stages in their careers. paucity of women at lecturer level, and the even more lamentable The myths bubble up from the combination of two aspects of the state of affairs at more senior levels. The academic career path has academic science environment. First, a quick look at the numbers a long apprenticeship. Typically there is an undergraduate degree, immediately shows that there are far fewer lectureship positions followed by a PhD, then some post-doctoral research contracts and than qualified candidates to fill them. Second, the mentors of early research fellowships, and then finally a more stable lectureship or career researchers are academic scientists who have successfully permanent research leader position, with promotion on up the made the transition to lectureships and beyond.
    [Show full text]
  • President's Message
    Winter Issue 2013–2014 SOT News President’s Message I’m starting this President’s message with a quiz!!! It’s just one question, but it’s important that everyone knows the answer. The question is: What do prenatal programming and toxicity, perfluorinalkyl acids ,and human relevance of hemangiosarcomas in rodents have in common? [the answer appears at the end of this message]. While you ponder the answer to that question, I want to reflect on events of this fall and focus on several activities of the Society during recent times of uncertainty. The shutdown of the US government had some effect on nearly all of us. Important meetings, study sections, and day-to- day professional discussion and dialog were all furloughed during this time. However, the most significant impact was on our members who are government employees, and we can only hope that these matters are completely behind us. Unfortunately, there were significant deadlines for SOT matters scheduled during this time, particularly for abstract submissions and award President nominations. Lois D. Lehman- McKeeman I want to specifically acknowledge the work of the Scientific Program and Awards Committees for showing remarkable flexibility in modifying deadlines to accommodate member needs. As a quick review, the Awards committee moved deadlines for nominations to the last possible minute—giving them only about 1 week to review all nominations prior to meeting to select award winners. The prestigious Society awards are central to celebrating member accomplishments, and the work of this committee, against their own time limitations, underscores their commitment to this important activity.
    [Show full text]
  • See the Scientific Petition
    May 20, 2016 Implement the Endangered Species Act Using the Best Available Science To: Secretary Sally Jewell and Secretary Penny Prtizker We, the under-signed scientists, recommend the U.S. government place species conservation policy on firmer scientific footing by following the procedure described below for using the best available science. A recent survey finds that substantial numbers of scientists at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration believe that political influence at their agency is too high.i Further, recent species listing and delisting decisions appear misaligned with scientific understanding.ii,iii,iv,v,vi For example, in its nationwide delisting decision for gray wolves in 2013, the FWS internal review failed the best science test when reviewed by an independent peer-review panel.vii Just last year, a FWS decision not to list the wolverine ran counter to the opinions of agency and external scientists.viii We ask that the Departments of the Interior and Commerce make determinations under the Endangered Species Actix only after they make public the independent recommendations from the scientific community, based on the best available science. The best available science comes from independent scientists with relevant expertise who are able to evaluate and synthesize the available science, and adhere to standards of peer-review and full conflict-of-interest disclosure. We ask that agency scientific recommendations be developed with external review by independent scientific experts. There are several mechanisms by which this can happen; however, of greatest importance is that an independent, external, and transparent science-based process is applied consistently to both listing and delisting decisions.
    [Show full text]
  • The Use of Non-Human Primates in Research in Primates Non-Human of Use The
    The use of non-human primates in research The use of non-human primates in research A working group report chaired by Sir David Weatherall FRS FMedSci Report sponsored by: Academy of Medical Sciences Medical Research Council The Royal Society Wellcome Trust 10 Carlton House Terrace 20 Park Crescent 6-9 Carlton House Terrace 215 Euston Road London, SW1Y 5AH London, W1B 1AL London, SW1Y 5AG London, NW1 2BE December 2006 December Tel: +44(0)20 7969 5288 Tel: +44(0)20 7636 5422 Tel: +44(0)20 7451 2590 Tel: +44(0)20 7611 8888 Fax: +44(0)20 7969 5298 Fax: +44(0)20 7436 6179 Fax: +44(0)20 7451 2692 Fax: +44(0)20 7611 8545 Email: E-mail: E-mail: E-mail: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Web: www.acmedsci.ac.uk Web: www.mrc.ac.uk Web: www.royalsoc.ac.uk Web: www.wellcome.ac.uk December 2006 The use of non-human primates in research A working group report chaired by Sir David Weatheall FRS FMedSci December 2006 Sponsors’ statement The use of non-human primates continues to be one the most contentious areas of biological and medical research. The publication of this independent report into the scientific basis for the past, current and future role of non-human primates in research is both a necessary and timely contribution to the debate. We emphasise that members of the working group have worked independently of the four sponsoring organisations. Our organisations did not provide input into the report’s content, conclusions or recommendations.
    [Show full text]
  • The Role of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase in Treatment Strategies for Fear and Drug Addiction
    13 The Role of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase in Treatment Strategies for Fear and Drug Addiction Robyn Mary Brown, Andrew J. Lawrence and Jee Hyun Kim* Florey Neuroscience Institutes, University of Melbourne, Australia 1. Introduction Fear-avoidance and reward-seeking are necessary motivations to guide survival; however, both can lead to maladaptive behavior when expressed inappropriately, manifesting as anxiety disorders and drug addiction. Both disorders are a major worldwide public health concern with a high co-morbidity (M. S. O'Brien et al., 2005; Wasserman et al., 1997). Specifically, the World Health Organization (WHO) pin-pointed generalized anxiety disorder and substance abuse as the most common mental disorders across the world, ranking them highly as a cause of disease burden (WHO, 2001). Furthermore, in the recent United States National Comorbidity Survey Replication study, it was reported that 18.1% and 8.9% of adults met the 12-month Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV; American Psychiatric Association, 2000) criteria for an anxiety or substance abuse disorder, respectively (Kessler et al., 2005). These staggering statistics also highlight the economic costs of anxiety disorders and substance abuse. For example, one estimate puts the yearly economic cost of alcohol abuse to be $148 billion, and the economic cost of harmful drug use and dependence has been estimated to be $98 billion in the United States alone (Harwood et al., 1998). Another study reported the economic cost of anxiety disorders to be $42 billion in the United States (Greenberg et al., 1999). Given the prevalence and the financial burden of anxiety disorders and substance abuse, a significant amount of research has been dedicated to finding effective treatments for those disorders.
    [Show full text]
  • Cognitive Enhancement and the Emergence of Personhood
    http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/1677-2954.2021.e80030 FROM THE NECESSITY OF BEING HUMAN TO THE POSSIBILITY OF PURSUING A GOOD LIFE: COGNITIVE ENHANCEMENT AND THE EMERGENCE OF PERSONHOOD GIOVANA LOPES1 (UNIVERSITÀ DI BOLOGNA/Italia) BRUNELLO STANCIOLI2 (UFMG/Brasil) ABSTRACT Throughout human history, cognition enhancement has not only been a constant, but also imperative for our species evolution and well-being. However, philosophical assumptions that enhancing cognition by biomedical means goes against some immutable human nature, combined with the lack of conclusive data about its use on healthy individuals and long-term effects, can sometimes result in prohibitive approaches. In this context, the authors seek to demonstrate that cognition enhancement, whether by “natural” or biotechnological means, is essential to the emergence of personhood, and to existence of an autonomous life that is guided by a person’s own conception of the good. In order to do so, the main possibilities of enhancing cognition through biotechnologies, along with its benefits and potentialities, as well as its risks and limitations, will be presented. Following Savulescu and Sandberg’s account on cognitive enhancement, it will be argued that it constitutes both a consumption good, being desirable and happiness-promoting to have well-functioning cognition, and a capital good that reduces risks, increases earning capacity, and forms a key part of human capital. Finally, having in mind that progress in the field of biotechnology aimed at cognition enhancement may improve a person’s (and society’s) well-being, the authors will argue that further research in the field is necessary, especially studies that takes into consideration dimensions such as dose, individual characteristics and task characteristics.
    [Show full text]