Anti-racist neuroethics for epistemic justice in mental health research

Racism impacts brain and mental health (BMH), costing Australia $37.9 billion/year. Racism also manifests in research practices and ethics guidelines, limiting full participation of racial/ethnic minorities in knowledge generation. This leads to knowledge gaps and inadequate BMH care for the 29% of overseas-born Australians and 3.2% who are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. With health and multiculturalism being national priorities, this study will determine the extent of knowledge gaps by examining Australian BMH research outputs. It will then identify systems and practices that limit minority participation by conducting interviews, surveys, and workshops with scientists. The project aims to generate recommendations for scientists, institutions, funders, and ethics committees on fostering equitable partnerships and increasing minority participation in research.