Africa Neuroethics Research Group

?????Department of Psychiatry

?Research - Research Units

Africa Neuroethics Research Group?

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The Africa Neuroethics Research Group is led by Dr. Olivia Matshabane, under the mentorship of Prof. Soraya Seedat.

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We are a transdisciplinary team that explores the ethical, legal, social, and cultural implications of neuroscience and neurotechnology in Africa. Our research group aims to contribute to the establishment of culturally and contextually relevant neuroethics guidelines for neuroscientific advancements in and for Africa, the diaspora, and globally.

Research mandate

We aim to build research capacity on neuroethics in Africa through securing local and international funding for new projects, graduate students, and the establishment of new collaborations and partnerships which will all lead to not only capacity development, it will also contribute to the production of scholarly outputs as well as public and community engagement. ?

Team values??

Research team

? South African Team: Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 ?
?Prof Soraya Seedat MBChB, FC Psych (SA), MMed Psych, MPhil Applied Ethics (Bioethics), PhD Distinguished Professor Executive Head of the Department of Psychiatry Interests: Assessment and treatment of anxiety disorders with a special interest in clinical and translational work in childhood and adult posttraumatic stress disorder.	?Dr Olivia Matshabane BA in Psychology, BA (Hons) in Psychology, MA in Psychology, PhD in Medicine Principal Investigator Neuroethics Researcher Interests: Mental health, neuroscientific technologies, neuroethics, and the ethical, legal, social, and cultural implications of neuropsychiatric genomics in Africa and globally.
?Miss Mohhadiah Rafique BSc Human Life Sciences with Psychology, BA (Hons) Psych (Cum Laude), MA Research Psychology Research Assistant Interests: Mental health interventions, substance use behaviours, minorities, and marginalized communities, critical consciousness – towards the decolonial project.	?Miss Buhle Songo BSc Human Anatomy and Physiology, BMS (Hons) Human Anatomy MSc Neuroscience (Neuroethics) candidate Interest: Neuroethics research focused on developing Africa-specific neuroethics guidelines for neuroscience research on innovative neurotechnologies for PTSD in Africa.
?Kenyan Team: Brain & Mind Institute, Aga Khan 中国体育彩票 ?
?Dr Mary Bitta BSc in Nursing, PG Diploma in Health Research Methods, MSc in Global Mental Health, PhD in Psychiatry Kenya Principal Investigator Interests: Developing and testing contextually relevant interventions to address the treatment gap for mental, neurological, and substance use disorders in low-resource settings.	?Miss Vivian Nyadimo BSc in Foods, Nutrition and Dietetics, MSc in Epidemiology and Biostatistics Candidate Kenya Project Manager Interests: Public health nutrition, innovative strategies to improve health through education, prevention and intervention as well as research on neurological conditions in Africa. ?
?Miss Shilla Dama Unda BA in Sociology and Communication Research Assistant Interests: Development and humanitarian health research and social protection, sexuality, reproductive health, gender-based violence, and research on neurological conditions in Africa.	?
?Collaborators?
?Prof Stefan du Plessis Clinician Scientist Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 Interests: Neuroimaging and virtual reality.	Prof Bonga Chiliza Chief Specialist Psychiatrist and Head of Department Department of Psychiatry, 中国体育彩票 of Kwa-Zulu Natal Interests: Mental health, psychosis and genomics research in Africa.

Other collaborations

?Dana Foundation Career Network in Neuroscience & Society in the United States of America, see webinar: “Re-imagining an Inclusive Global Neuroethics: Views from the Global South?”???.
International Neuroethics Society in the United States of America.

???Publications

Matshabane, O. P., & ?Seedat. (In press). An Afrocentric Perspective on Neurodiversity: Neuroethical Considerations in Africa. AJOB Neuroscience.
Matshabane, O. P., Hartford, A., Ewuoso, C. O., Palk, A. C., Koehly, L. M., Stein, D. J., & de Vries, J. (2024). Advancing neuroethics in Africa. South African Journal of Science, 120(5/6). https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2024/18180?
Matshabane, O. P., & Ewuoso, C. (2023). A Braver Neuroethics that Matters in (and for) Africa. AJOB Neuroscience, 14(4):410-413. https://doi.org/10.1080/21507740.2023.2257161?
??Book Chapter submitted: Rafique, M.A.C., Songo, B.S., & Matshabane, O.P. Moving with the drum beat of the community: Reflections on decolonial and cross-cultural neuroethics community engagement (Imbizo) in Africa. Developments in Neuroethics and Bioethics: Indigenous and Cross-cultural Perspectives on Brain and Mind, 8.

??Conference presentations?

??Songo, B.S., Rafique, M.A.C., Du Plessis, S., Seedat, S., & Matshabane, O.P. (2024). Towards Africa-specific neuroethics guidelines for neuroscience research on innovative neurotechnologies for PTSD in Africa. 10th NIH BRAIN Initiative (Poster).
Matshabane, O.P. & Seedat, S. (2023). Ethical challenges of psychedelic treatments, neurotechnologies and AI. Global Collaboration on Traumatic Stress Conference (Oral).
Upcoming: Africa Global Mental Health Initiative Conference (November 2024, Nairobi, Kenya)
Upcoming: South African Biological Psychiatry Congress (November 2024, Cape Town, South Africa)?

Open opportunities

??Contextually and culturally relevant neuroethical implications of research on neuropsychiatric conditions and neurotechnologies in Africa?
?Institution: Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 – South Africa Level: Masters Supervisors: Dr O Matshabane, Prof S Seedat Description: This project focuses on the neuroethical considerations for neuroscientific technologies (i.e., those used to assess the brain and nervous system functioning or to influence activity through modulation and stimulation) for neuropsychiatric conditions in Africa. The study will involve conventional scientists who have expertise in brain science, mental health clinicians, bioethicists, policymakers, and community engagement professionals as well as African people with neuropsychiatric conditions.	?Institution: Aga Khan 中国体育彩票 – Kenya Level: Masters Supervisors: Dr M Bitta, Dr O Matshabane Description: The study will involve non-conventional practitioners – which includes traditional and faith-based healers, as well as African people with neuropsychiatric conditions.

??Contextually and culturally relevant neuroethical implications of research on neuropsychiatric conditions and neurotechnologies in Africa?

?Institution: Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 – South Africa

Level: Masters
Supervisors: Dr O Matshabane, Prof S Seedat
Description: This project focuses on the neuroethical considerations for neuroscientific technologies (i.e., those used to assess the brain and nervous system functioning or to influence activity through modulation and stimulation) for neuropsychiatric conditions in Africa. The study will involve conventional scientists who have expertise in brain science, mental health clinicians, bioethicists, policymakers, and community engagement professionals as well as African people with neuropsychiatric conditions.

?Institution: Aga Khan 中国体育彩票 – Kenya

Level: Masters
Supervisors: Dr M Bitta, Dr O Matshabane

Description: The study will involve non-conventional practitioners – which includes traditional and faith-based healers, as well as African people with neuropsychiatric conditions.

??Funders and Sponsors

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Latest news: Dr Matshabane participates as a member of the Ad Hoc Exert Group at UNESCO'S Recommendation on the Ethics of Neurotechnology and as a member of the Expert Advisory Group for UNICEF Neurotechnology and Children?