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The BRAIN Initiative (Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies)
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The Human Genome project, begun in 1990 and completed in 2003, was a large collaboration between government scientists to sequence every DNA nucleotide in the human genome. It was launched amid a great fanfare, celebrating all the possible new information and therapies that could be invented simply by learning the sequence of nucleotides in human DNA. Indeed, many new insights have been discovered, and links between diseases and a person’s genetic code have been found. This achievement has given researchers and clinicians powerful tools to help develop more personalized approaches to medicine.

Now that intensive research studies into the genetic components of disease have begun, scientists are looking toward other large projects to help improve scientific research. One such initiative supported by President Obama, is called the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies Initiative (BRAIN Initiative), announced on April 2nd, has been developed to map out neurons within the brain and study how the brain functions. This information may help find information regarding the causes of a variety of neurological disorders, including schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, autism, and Parkinson’s disease. The BRAIN initiative will also examine how the brain works to process memories, and possibly lead to improved treatments for neuropyschiatric disorders.

Government spending on the BRAIN Initiative is suspected to be well below that used for the Human Genome Project. The initiative has a proposed budget of only $110 million dollars, which is less than 3% of the $3.8 billion dollars spent on the Human Genome Project. Private organizations will be supplying most of the money needed for the BRAIN Initiative. Of course, though, there are arguments regarding the amount of money being spent on scientific research in general, and in particular on one initiative. However, funding into scientific researcher is essential to the nation. It provides many jobs, to professors, post-docs, students, and technicians. Scientific research also helps the nation remain competitive globally by fostering innovation. Many of the advancements we take for granted in our society are the result of government-funded research.

While the BRAIN Initiative is an exciting announcement, especially as mental health and treatment for neurological disorders become increasingly important to our society, it does raise a host of ethical considerations, just as the Human Genome Project before it. In addition to the most pressing concerns of how the studies will be conducted, who will conduct the studies, and how will research participants be protected, are questions about what will happen with the data obtained from the BRAIN Initiative.

These questions are reminiscent of those brought up by the Human Genome Project. One concern involves patents and intellectual property. Many sequences of DNA were patented during the Human Genome Project, causing worry amongst scientists that this could hamper future research. In fact, the Supreme Court is preparing to hear a case regarding patents issued on DNA sequences for several genes, including BRCA1 and BRCA2. There is a similar concern with the BRAIN Initiative that companies could patent maps of neurons within the brain. Another question raised by the completion of the Human Genome Project involved protection of individuals who have their genomes sequenced. Passage of the Genetic Nondiscrimination Act has successfully calmed fears that these individuals could be discriminated against by insurers, employers, and others based on the results of their genome sequence.

With recent events demonstrating a lack of adequate mental health care, such as shootings in Aurora, Colorado, and at Sandy Hook School, development of new insights and treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders are seen as another major benefit of the BRAIN Initiative. Funding and news releases regarding the BRAIN Initiative could spur much needed research into mental health disorders, and even prompt development of more clinical applications to be available for those suffering from mental illness. Some ethicists worry, however, that information and treatments gained from the BRAIN Initiative may be used on individuals without consent. For example, if a person is demonstrating aggressive and dangerous behavior, he or she may be forced to receive therapy that can reduce the aggression. While this would be good in one sense to protect others, it would be morally ambiguous to force someone to take medications without consent. These ethical concerns should be addressed before the BRAIN Initiative begins, in order to prevent last minute stand-offs and lengthy court proceedings.



References:
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/scie...2083.story

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kelly-bulk...rack-obama
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