Designing brain devices around patients' needs
Neuroethics and human-centered design in neurotechnology
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · NIH-11159746
This project will bring patients' voices into the design of brain devices so they work better, feel safer, and respect users' experiences.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (SAN FRANCISCO, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11159746 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would be part of conversations about real experiences with implanted or other brain technologies, including in-depth interviews where people describe what helped or harmed them. The team will also talk with device developers to learn why user perspectives are not always included and what gets in the way. Researchers will convene workshops with neurotechnologists, designers, and patients to create practical strategies for putting users at the center of device design. The work aims to create guidelines and practices that make future neurotechnologies more usable, ethical, and acceptable to people who need them.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are people who have used or considered implanted or other neurotechnologies, their caregivers, or people with conditions that might lead them to use these devices in the future.
Not a fit: People with no experience or interest in brain devices or whose conditions are unrelated to neurotechnology are unlikely to receive direct benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to brain devices that better match patients' needs, reduce ethical harms, and improve people’s everyday functioning and satisfaction.
How similar studies have performed: Human-centered design has improved usability in other areas of health care, and neuroethics interviews have revealed important patient concerns, but applying these methods systematically to implanted brain technologies is still relatively new.
Where this research is happening
SAN FRANCISCO, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO — SAN FRANCISCO, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: CHIONG, WINSTON — UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- Study coordinator: CHIONG, WINSTON
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.