Judy Illes,, PHD, FRSC, FCAHS, (born April 30, 1960) is Professor of Neurology and Distinguished University Scholar in Neuroethics at the University of British Columbia. She is Director of Neuroethics Canada at UBC, and faculty in the Brain Research Centre at UBC and at 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. She was appointed a member of the Order of Canada in 2017.

Research focus

Illes' research focuses on the ethical, legal, social and policy challenges specifically at the intersection of the neurosciences and biomedical ethics. This includes studies on advanced neurotechnologies in basic and clinical research, regenerative medicine, dementia, addiction, and the commercialization of cognitive neuroscience. She also leads a program of research and outreach devoted to improving the literacy of neuroscience and engaging stakeholders.

Other activities

Illes is involved in the field of neuroethics that was formally established in early 2000 to directly align biomedical ethics with neuroscience in research, clinical practice, and the commercialization of brain health. She is co-lead of the Canadian Brain Research Strategy of the International Brain Initiative, and sits on numerous advisory boards, including the Standing Committee on Ethics and the Institute for Neuroscience Mental Health and Addiction of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. She is a director-at-large of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. Illes has academic and personal ties to Israel. Professionally, she was a visiting professor at Bar-Ilan University in Tel Aviv, Israel, in March 2015, where she delivered the lecture "Genomes, Brainomes: Rights and Responsibilities". Her collaborations with Israeli institutions reflect her engagement with global neuroscience and bioethics communities. In addition to her professional connections, Illes has spoken on topics related to Judaism and neuroethics, including a lecture titled "Neuroethics in the Jewish Context" at Temple Beth Jacob in Redwood City, California, in 2007.

Books

Awards and honours

In 2017, Illes was appointed to the Order of Canada.

Sources