In brief
Published on 28 March 2025
Neuroscience is the study of the structure and function of the nervous system, i.e. the brain, nerves and spinal cord. Innovations in this field, notably neurotechnologies (technologies that interact with the nervous system), are opening up major medical and non-medical prospects. The Agence de la biomédecine's role is to inform and support public authorities and players in this sector in the face of the scientific, ethical and regulatory challenges posed by neuroscience.
The Agency's legal framework and missions
In accordance with the French bioethics laws, the Agence de la biomédecine keeps Parliament and the government constantly informed about the development of knowledge and techniques in the field of neuroscience. It provides public decision-makers with scientific, ethical and regulatory analysis to support legislative developments and guarantee a controlled framework for practices and innovations. The Agency also contributes to the debate on the challenges posed by scientific advances in this field.
The Agency's actions
The Agency carries out in-depth scientific monitoring in collaboration with recognized experts. This enables us to identify major advances in neuroscience, both in France and internationally. The results of this watch are regularly published in La Lettre de la biomédecine, a quarterly publication aimed at institutional decision-makers and accessible to all. This document offers a synthetic and enlightened analysis of neuroscience research and its ethical, societal and regulatory implications.
Find out more
Since January 2025, the Agency has also been piloting the Charter for the Responsible Development of Neurotechnologies, initiated by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research. This initiative aims to support the controlled development of neurotechnologies, while protecting citizens from potential abuses in terms of cognitive freedom and brain data confidentiality. A monitoring committee led by the Agence ensures the implementation and regular assessment of this charter.
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