2026 Jaharis Symposium

Each year, the Mary and Michael Jaharis Health Law Institute, in collaboration with the College of Law's Center for Intellectual Property Law & Information Technology, explores a critical legal issue at the intersection of health law, intellectual property law and information technology.

This year's symposium will examine how neurotechnology is rapidly moving from research labs into real‑world health care, communication tools and consumer technologies. As brain–computer interfaces and related systems evolve, they raise urgent legal and ethical questions involving privacy, consent, equity and intellectual property. These developments challenge long‑standing frameworks and require thoughtful, forward‑looking guidance.

Leading scholars, practitioners and policymakers from across the country will gather to explore how law can keep pace with emerging neurotechnologies. Through conversations spanning criminal law, privacy and data governance, neurorights and ethics, and innovation and competition, participants will consider how to protect individuals while enabling responsible scientific progress.

Featured Speaker

A pioneer in neurolaw, Professor Francis Shen will offer insights into how advances in neuroscience and neurotechnology are reshaping core legal concepts—from responsibility and fairness to autonomy and cognitive liberty.

Dr. Shen is a Professor of Law and Faculty Member in the Graduate Program in Neuroscience at the University of Minnesota, and co-directs the Neurotech Justice Accelerator at Mass General Brigham. He received his JD from Harvard Law School and his PhD from Harvard University.