Barbara Prainsack

Barbara Prainsack is a Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Vienna's Faculty of Social Sciences. Her work focuses on bioethics, data governance, and healthcare policy, particularly in the context of global crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. She leads projects such as the Austrian Corona Panel and 'WoCo: Daten und Analysen zum Wandel der Arbeit,' examining societal responses to pandemics and digital transformation.

Her research interests include pandemic solidarity, ethical implications of AI in healthcare, and equitable access to biomedical innovations. Notable contributions include advocating for 'data solidarity' as a framework for governing health data and critiquing technosolutionist approaches to consent mechanisms.

Prainsack has organized over 100 academic activities, including lectures on NHS solidarity and AI ethics. Her media engagements address topics like the future of work and AI's societal impact. She contributes to EU policy consultations on issues ranging from genomic data governance to climate ethics.

Recent projects emphasize cross-national qualitative studies, such as analyzing vaccination decision-making in Europe and solidarity practices during lockdowns. Her work bridges academic research with public engagement, aiming to inform policies that balance technological innovation with societal values.