What are some of the ethical issues that you are grappling with in your research? What are some of the ways in which you are responding to these questions?
Ethical issues are definitely something I think about often in this research. Working with non-human primates raises serious questions about consent and the impact on the animals. These are highly intelligent, social creatures, and it’s important to recognize that they’re not just tools for data. They are also living beings with needs and experiences. One of the main ways I try to respond to these questions is by learning as much as I can about how the monkeys are treated, how protocols are approved, and what kinds of enrichment and care are in place. At Columbia, the animals are housed under strict guidelines, given enrichment, social time, and regular health monitoring. There are also checks in place, like IACUC approval, to make sure that the research is justified and the animals’ welfare is prioritized as much as possible. But even then, the question of whether it’s ever going to be ethical still remains.
As you continue your research, have you considered alternative viewpoints in your investigation? If so, how have these alternative viewpoints enriched or changed your project?
I’ve also been trying to think through alternative viewpoints. Some people argue that any invasive research on primates is unethical, no matter how careful we are. Others believe the knowledge we gain, like how the cerebellum might be involved in memory or how we can help stroke patients regain motor function, can justify the methods, especially if it leads to real-world medical benefits. These views challenge me to keep asking myself why we’re doing what we’re doing, and whether the benefits truly outweigh the costs. Even if I stay in this field, I think it’s important not to get too comfortable with the ethics. Questioning things should be part of the work.