Ashley Feinsinger

Ashley Feinsinger, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She serves as Co-Principal Investigator for multiple NIH-funded research initiatives, including the NeuroEthics of Non-Therapeutic Invasive Human Neurophysiologic Research (NIH RF1MH121373) and as Co-Principal Investigator of Ethics Supplement for the Early Feasibility Clinical Trial of a Visual Cortical Prosthesis (NIH UH3NS103442). Dr. Feinsinger is also a key contributor to the UCLA-CDU Dana Center for Neuroscience and Society as MPI.

• Role: Assistant Professor, Department of Neurosurgery
• Institution: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
• Affiliation: David Geffen School of Medicine

Dr. Feinsinger's research focuses on neuroethics, particularly examining ethical challenges in translating brain-computer interfaces and neural implant technologies. Her work addresses critical issues in informed consent processes for intraoperative brain research, post-trial obligations for neural implant studies, and participant perspectives in visual cortical prosthesis trials. She also explores feminist ethics in medical education and bioethical considerations in human intracranial electrophysiology research.

Her recent publications (2022-2025) span neuroethics, visual prosthesis development, patient-centered communication for disabled individuals, and psychiatric neurosurgery frameworks. Key themes include ethical frameworks for emerging neurotechnologies, informed consent methodologies, and equitable healthcare practices in organ transplantation contexts.

Dr. Feinsinger actively collaborates with researchers across institutions including UCSF (Edward Chang, Winston Chiong), UCLA (Itzhak Fried, Nanthia Suthana), and USC. Her work intersects neuroscience, medical ethics, and human subject research with particular attention to vulnerable populations and technological applications in neurosurgery.