Roundtable speakers at the 19th meeting of the Neurobioethics Group. Left to right: Dr. Lucilla Bossi, Br Alberto Carrara, Prof. Massimo Gandolfini, and Dr. Riccardo Carrara.

Rome, Italy. May 3, 2011. Three important national and international events were held at the Regina Apostolorum from April 1-8 to continue exploring the new frontier of neurobioethics.

19th Meeting of the Neurobioethics Group

The first academic event was held on Friday, April 1 in the main auditorium of the Pontifical Regina Apostolorum College. Four experts covered the topic of brain stimulation as the new frontier of neuroscientific technologies used for health improvement. The round table discussion was held in the context of the 19th meeting of the “Neurobioethics Group” (4th public seminar), in collaboration with the Vicariate of University Ministry of the Diocese of Rome, the Italian Ministry for Instruction, and the National Italian Research Center (CNR). After a brief introduction, Br. Alberto Carrara, LC, who has a doctorate in medical biotechnology from the University of Padua’s Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, served as a moderator for the three expert

	Professor James Giordano from Oxford University offers his Lectio Magistralis. Dr. Adriana Gini is on his left; Fr Pedro Barrajón, LC, rector of the Regina Apostolorum, is on his right.

speakers: Professor Massimo Gandolfini, Dr. Lucilla Bossi, and Dr. Riccardo Carrara.

Professor Gandolfini, director of the Department of Neurosurgery at the Brescia Hospital, recounted the history of brain stimulation, from its origins in the year A.D. 47 up to the modern technologies of peripheral and deep brain surgery in treatments for Parkinson’s disease and clinical depression. Next came the testimony of Dr. Lucilla Bossi, who has carried a neuroimplant electrode in her brain for the past 13 years. She is president of the Italy Parkinson’s Association. Mrs. Lucilla suffers from Parkinson’s and her life was given a fresh start thanks to this cutting-edge technology. The last speaker, from the University of Padua, Dr. Riccardo Carrara, explained the use of brain stimulation in patients who are clinically depressed. Finally, there was a debate on the topic: “Knowing our brain.”

Lectio Magistralis of Professor James Giordano, from Oxford University

The second event took place

	Speakers at the Viterbo roundtable. Left to right: Professor Aurelio Rizzacasa, Professor James Giordano, Professor Edoardo Boncinelli, Professor Francesco Orzi (moderator), and Professor Gilberto Corbellini.

on Wednesday, April 6, also in the Regina Apostolorum’s main auditorium. Professor James Giordano, from Oxford University, an expert in neuroscience and neuroethics, presented for the first time in Italy the perspectives and limits to the new field of neuroethics. After the initial greeting by Fr Pedro Barrajón, LC, rector of the Regina Apostolorum, and the presentation of the speaker by Dr. Adriana Gini, coordinator of the “Neurobioethics Group,” Professor Giordano offered the participants a Lectio Magistralis entitled “Neuroethics: Balance and Perspective.”

Roundtable in the Brugiotti Palace of Viterbo

Finally, on Friday, April 8, a roundtable discussion was held in Viterbo’s Brugiotti Palace on the topic: “Mind, brain, and neuroethics.” This event was promoted by the Carivit Foundation of Viterbo and by the Neurobioethics Group of the Pontifical Regina Apostolorum College. Professor Francesco Orzi, a neurologist from La Sapienza University in Rome, moderated the event. The roundtable began with some reflections by His Eminence Gilberto Corbellini, a professor of the history of medicine at La Sapienza University in Rome; Professor Edoardo Boncinelli, professor of biology and genetics at the Vita-Salute University of Milan, and Professor James Giordano, from Oxford University.

Professor Aurelio Rizzacasa, professor of moral philosophy at the University of Perugia, concluded with a reflection emphasizing the importance of mutual friendship between science and philosophy.