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Human enhancement technologies

Human enhancement technologies. Definition STOA Human Enhancement project: “Any modification aimed at improving individual human performance and brought about by science-based or technology-based interventions in the body ” Distinction between Non-enhancing (restorative or preventive)

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Human enhancement technologies

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  1. Humanenhancementtechnologies • Definition STOA Human Enhancement project: “Any modification aimed at improving individual human performance and brought about by science-based or technology-based interventions in the body” • Distinction between • Non-enhancing (restorative or preventive) • Therapeutic enhancements • Non-therapeutic use • Examples: gene therapy, designer babies, Ritalin, deep brain stimulation (DBS)

  2. Improvinghuman performance technologies – Intimatetechnologies

  3. The techno-humancondition

  4. Do you remember biotechnology? Cloned sheep Dolly: “First the sheep, than the shepherd?” Bull Herman

  5. More bio-ethical issues coming up

  6. Four technological revolutions BIOTECH REVOLUTION MATERIALS REVOLUTION REVOLUTION IN COGNITIVE SCIENCES INFORMATION REVOLUTION

  7. The new technology wave NBIC convergence

  8. Convergence goes two ways Biology becoming technology Technology becoming biology LIFE SCIENCES PHYSICAL SCIENCES

  9. Two bio-engineering megatrends BIOLOGY BECOMING TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY BECOMING BIOLOGY

  10. Four fields of bio-engineering

  11. Engineering of living artefacts Top-down synthetic biology Endy: “If you consider nature to be a machine, you see it is not perfect and it can be revised and improved” (Nature 24-11-’05) First bacteria with complete synthetic genome (2010) Spanish Flew Virus (2002) Van Santen (2009): “The final goal is to build a microscopic factory that is self-sustaining and duplicates itself. This is not only a intellectual challenge but also offers interesting prospects for the pharmaceutical industry.” Bottom-up synthetic biology

  12. Engineering of the body Artificial heart valve Biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease 3D printing of artificial blood vessels

  13. Engineering of the brain Forward engineering of the brain Deep Brain Stimulation Controlling movement Reverse engineering of the brain

  14. Engineering of intelligent artefacts Persuasive technology Military robot Pedestrian detection with full auto-brake Chatbot

  15. Familiar interventions in living organisms Genetic modification of living organisms

  16. New interventions and artefacts New types of interventions in living organisms Bio-, socio-, and cogno-inspired artefacts

  17. How to safeguard human dignity? • Challenges regulatory practices • Safety • Privacy • Bodily integrity • Informed consent • … • Challenging fundamental concepts • Living and non-living • Health and sickness • Brain and machine • Human and machine agency • … Biology = Technology

  18. Four specific developments • Engineering of the body: • Whole genome sequencing & implicationsfor privacy • Engineering of the brain: • Neuromodulation & regulation • Engineering of living artefacts • Syntheticbiology & standardisation • Engineering of intelligent artefacts • Biocyberneticadaptation / Human-computer interfaces

  19. Trend towards neuromodulation devices • Influencing the brain electronically or magnetically, instead of chemically • Sometimes better than pharmaceuticals • Regulatory pathways for medical devices are shorter than those of drugs (3-4 months versus 2-4 years) • Two neuromodulation technologies • Invasive: Deep brain stimulating (DBS) • Non-invasive: EEG neurofeedback

  20. Dynamics of sociotechnical and regulatory practices New Socio-technical practice Shifting Stable Adequate Under pressure Inadequate Regulatory practice

  21. Regulatory zone and wasteland New Regulatory wasteland Regulatory zone Socio-technical practice Shifting Stable Adequate Under pressure Inadequate Regulatory practice

  22. Central governance question New How to align the dynamics of sociotechnical and regulatory practices? Socio-technical practice Shifting Stable Adequate Under pressure Inadequate Regulatory practice

  23. Timescale of neuromodulation practices Enhancing DBS Exploratory Therapeuticuse Gaming EEG-NF Emerging Use of neurodevices Enhancing EEG-NF Research EEG-NF Established EEG-NF Research DBS DBS 5-10 years Now > 10 years Time scale

  24. Socio-technicalpractice: Deepbrainstimulation • Mechanisms not exactly known • In clinical practice since 1997, offered in hospitals only • 75.000 people have a DBS system • 10-40 % suffer from side effects, like mood changes, depression, hypersexuality, suicidality • Shift from neurological (Parkinson’s essential tremor, dystonia) to psychiatric indications (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, depression) • No practice of non-medical use, although clinical experience with mood enhancing effects

  25. Regulatory challengesDeep Brain Stimulation • Therapeuticuse: Active ImplantableMedicalDeviceDirective • European Group onEthics (2005): “implantabledevicesformedicalpurposesshouldberegulated in the sameway as drugs when the medical goal is the same” • EU Public consultation (2010): “adoption of pharmaceutical-likeregulation … would have anadverse effect on SME.” • Enhancement • Long term (> 10 years) • Ifthistechnology is marketedbybusinesseswhodeliver DBS formedicaluse, technology has gonethrough Active ImplantableMedicalDeviceDirectivetrajectory

  26. Soci-technical practice: EEG neurofeedback • Mechanisms not exactly known • Alternative therapy since 1960s, offered in commercial private clinics • EEG imaging technology assisted mental training • Self regulation, requires active participation of patient • Therapy for ADHD (efficacy not proven) • Side-effects: relatively safe unless in case of unskilled use • Experimental research: a.o. epilepsy, autism, learning disabilities, insomnia, anxiety, addiction • Non-medical use: enhancement of cognitive, sports, artistic performance, gaming

  27. Regulatory challenges:EEG Neurofeedback • Therapeuticuse: MedicalDevicesDirective • Non-medicaluse (gaming & enhancement): • Technology is similar to EEG NF formedicaluse • ButnoMedicalDevicesDirectivetrajectory is needed

  28. Socio-technical and regulatory practices in neuromodulation “Enhancing DBS” New Gaming EEG-NF Shifting Therapeutic use EEG-NF Socio-technical practice DBS Enhancing EEG-NF Stable Research Under pressure Adequate Inadequate Regulatory practice

  29. New moral & human identity issues Human enhancement Remote control Animal (mis)use Tracking medical actions Simulation of friendship Remote killing / Dehumanisation of the enemy

  30. Conclusions • From biotechnology to NBIC convergence • “Biology becoming technology”: Promises new types of interventions into humans • “Technology becoming biology”: Promises bio-, cogno-, and socio-inspired artefacts • Challenge to safeguard human dignity • Broaden bio-ethics radically from life sciences to NBIC convergence • Move beyond bioethics to biopolitics: the need for timely anticipating on the regulatory challenge

  31. Credits MEPs Malcolm Harbour Vittorio Prodi STOA Vittorio De Crescenzo Miklos Gyoerffi Fraunhofer Bärbel Hüsling ITA Helge Torgersen Karen Kastenhofer Markus Schmidt KIT Knud Böhle Christopher Coenen Michael Decker Michael Rader Leonard Hennen Rathenau Institute Ira van Keulen Ingrid Geesink Mirjam Schuijff Dirk Stemerding Presentation / project leader Rinie van Est Presentation graphics Niko Vegt

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