Personal profile
Biography
Professor Adrian Carter is an Australian Research Council Future Fellow on the responsible research and innovation of neuroscience and neurotechnology. He leads the Neuroscience and Society Group at the Monash Bioethics Centre, School of Philosophical, Historical and Indigenous Studies and an Adjunct Fellow of the School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University. Adrian’s research examines the impact of neuroscience on our understanding and treatment of addiction, mental illness and neurological disorders, including our agency, identity, and moral responsibility. He has developed ethical guidelines for the research and use of a diverse range of emerging neurotechnologies, including DBS, fMRI, genetic and neurological testing, illicit and pharmaceutical drugs, virtual reality, wearables and smartphones, and direct-to-consumer brain devices (EEG, tDCS). His research has also made a significant impact upon the ethical conduct of neuroscience research, such as consent, coercion, inducements, privacy, patient selection and safety. Adrian’s contribution to bioethics scholarship is evident in >200 publications including in Nature, Lancet Psychiatry, Neuron, and Annual Reviews. Adrian has been the lead researcher on several large reviews of the ethical and public policy implications of addiction neuroscience, including reviews for the World Health Organization (WHO), European Union (EU), United Nations (UN) and Australian Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy (MCDS). Adrian has received over $4 million in research funding including from the Australian Research Council, the National Health and Medical Research Council, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Wellcome Trust. He has received 14 national and international awards including Monash Supervisor of the Year in 2018. He is an elected member of the International Neuroethics Society Board of Directors and Executive Committee, Co-Chairs the Neuroethics and Responsible Research and Innovation Committee for the Australian Brain Alliance, and is Co-Editor-in-Chief of the journal, Neuroethics (Springer). Adrian has been an advisor to the World Health Organization, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, European Union, Australian Government and United Nations.
Research area keywords
- neuroethics
- addiction
- drugs
- public policy
- neurolaw
- ethics
- compulsive behaviour
- impulsivity
- substance abuse
- policy
- bioethics
- mental health
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 1 No Poverty
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
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SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Supporting Responsible Psychedelic Therapies with Ethical Risk Management
Gardner, J. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)) & Carter, A. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/03/26 → 28/02/29
Project: Research
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Ethics, evidence, and expert disagreement in public health emergencies
Jamrozik, Z. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)) & Carter, A. (Sponsor)
ARC - Australian Research Council, Monash University – Internal Department Contribution
1/06/25 → 9/03/29
Project: Research
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Ethical frameworks for responsible innovation of neurotechnology
Carter, A. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI))
1/01/23 → 31/12/27
Project: Research
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Responsible Innovation Network for the Global South (RINGS)
Carter, A. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)) & Cabrera, L. Y. (Chief Investigator (CI))
Pennsylvania State University, Monash University – Internal Faculty Contribution
12/06/23 → 31/12/24
Project: Research
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Bioethics Horizon Scanning for Mental Health Research
Gardner, J. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Mills, C. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Carter, A. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/02/23 → 31/10/23
Project: Research
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Developing digital mental health tools with culturally diverse parents and young people: qualitative user-centered design study
Butorac, I., McNaney, R., Seguin, J. P., Olivier, P., Northam, J. C., Tully, L. A., Carl, T. & Carter, A., 2025, In: JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting. 8, 22 p., e65163.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access3 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus) -
Ethical governance strategies for the responsible innovation of neurotechnologies: a scoping review
Robertson, L. J., Higgins, N. L., Maier, M. J., Carter, A. & Gardner, J. G., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Journal of Bioethical Inquiry. 18 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access1 Link opens in a new tab Citation (Scopus) -
Ethical issues and recommendations in psychedelic research and practice: A Scoping Review
Brittain, N., Higgins, N., Barber, M., Choi, W., Carter, A. & Gardner, J., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Journal of Bioethical Inquiry. p. 1-17 17 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access3 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus) -
History, hype, and responsible psychedelic medicine: a qualitative study of psychedelic researchers
Barber, M., Gardner, J. & Carter, A., Jun 2025, In: Journal of Bioethical Inquiry. 22, 2, p. 327–343 17 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access5 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus) -
How to involve society into the ethics of non-invasive brain stimulation? Strategies for broader participation of stakeholders
Maier, M. J., Breuer, J., Ramasawmy, P., Antal, A., Northoff, G., Oliviero, A. & Carter, A., Sept 2025, In: Technology in Society. 82, 8 p., 102890.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access1 Link opens in a new tab Citation (Scopus)
Prizes
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Associate Faculty Member Award
Carter, A. (Recipient), 2012
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Associate Faculty Member Award
Carter, A. (Recipient), 2013
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Dean's Award for Outstanding Research Higher Degree Thesis
Carter, A. (Recipient), 2010
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Early Career Award for Excellence in Research and Science
Carter, A. (Recipient), 2012
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Shimadzu Young Investigator Award
Carter, A. (Recipient), 2013
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Responsible Innovation of Neurotechnology in the Global South (RINGS) Workshop
Carter, A. (Organiser) & Tan Kiak Min, M. (Speaker)
17 Nov 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to workshop, seminar, course
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Brain Control: The Impact of Neuroscience on Law and Privacy
Walvisch, J. (Producer), Carter, A. (Producer) & Seear, K. (Producer)
4 Dec 2019Activity: Community Talks, Presentations, Exhibitions and Events › Public event
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Responsible Neuroinnovation
Walvisch, J. (Organiser) & Carter, A. (Organiser)
2 Dec 2019Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to workshop, seminar, course
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Neuroscience and Society 2019
Walvisch, J. (Organiser), Carter, A. (Organiser) & Seear, K. (Organiser)
3 Dec 2019 → 4 Dec 2019Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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Psychedelic Entanglements
Gardner, J. (Organiser), Carter, A. (Organiser), Warren, N. (Organiser) & Mason, P. (Organiser)
22 Jun 2018Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to workshop, seminar, course