Publications by Marcello Ienca

Clinical trials for implantable neural prostheses: understanding the ethical and technical requirements

Neuroprosthetics research has entered a stage in which animal models and proof-of-concept studies are translated into clinical applications, often combining implants with artificial intelligence techniques. This new phase raises the question of how clinica ...

ELSEVIER2025

Conference report: Trends, new technologies and implications for dementia diagnostics, treatment and care in Switzerland

Marcello Ienca

Dementia diseases represent a major burden for the directly affected people, their relatives and modern society. Despite considerable efforts in recent years, early and accurate disease diagnosis and monitoring is still a challenge while no cure is availab ...

2025

On Religious Influence in Bioethics: The Limits of Pluriversalism

Marcello Ienca

The World Congress of Bioethics held in Qatar in 2024 (WCB 2024) sparked controversy around the role of religion in bioethics, highlighting the need for critical discussions. During the congress, there was a strong push for incorporating religious values i ...

Wiley2025

Finding Consensus on Trust in AI in Health Care: Recommendations From a Panel of International Experts

Marcello Ienca

Background: The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into health care has become a crucial element in the digital transformation of health systems worldwide. Despite the potential benefits across diverse medical domains, a significant barrier to the ...

JMIR PUBLICATIONS, INC2025

Non-voluntary BCI explantation: assessing possible neurorights violations in light of contrasting mental ontologies

Marcello Ienca

In research involving patients with implantable brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), there is a regulatory gap concerning post-trial responsibilities and duties of sponsors and investigators towards implanted patients. In this article, we analyse the case of ...

BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP2024

Why converging technologies need converging international regulation

Marcello Ienca

Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, gene editing, nanotechnology, neurotechnology and robotics, which were originally unrelated or separated, are becoming more closely integrated. Consequently, the boundaries between the physical-biologi ...

Springer2024

HYBRIDMINDS-summary and outlook of the 2023 international conference on the ethics and regulation of intelligent neuroprostheses

Marcello Ienca

Neurotechnology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) have developed rapidly in recent years with an increasing number of applications and AI-enabled devices that are about to enter the market. While promising to substantially improve quality of life across var ...

FRONTIERS MEDIA SA2024

Beyond neural data: Cognitive biometrics and mental privacy

Marcello Ienca

Innovations in wearable technology and artificial intelligence have enabled consumer devices to process and transmit data about human mental states (cognitive, affective, and conative) through what this paper refers to as "cognitive biometrics."Devices suc ...

CELL PRESS2024

Deep brain stimulation and suicide attempts in treatment-resistant patients: a case report and neuroethical analysis

Marcello Ienca

This case presents the situation of a 66-year-old woman diagnosed with Multiple System Atrophy Parkinsonian Type who underwent deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy and subsequently made two suicide attempts. Despite receiving treatment and extensive psycho ...

FRONTIERS MEDIA SA2024

Where is the exit? The ethical importance of exit plans in clinical trials with neural implants

Marcello Ienca

Background: As clinical trials involving implantable neural devices (INDs) increase in frequency and attract greater public attention, it is paramount to ensure they are conducted in alignment with fundamental ethical guidelines. Particular focus must be p ...

ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC2024