Email

gabriel.lazaro-munoz@bcm.edu

Positions

Assistant Professor

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, TX US

Addresses

Baylor College of Medicine (Office)

One Baylor Plaza
Suite 310D BCM:420
Houston, TX 77030
United States
Phone: (713) 798-2672
https://twitter.com/glmbioethics

Education

PhD from New York University

New York City, NY

Neuroscience

JD from University of Pennsylvania School of Law

Philadelphia, PA

MA from University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine

Philadelphia, PA

Bioethics

BA from University of Puerto Rico

San Juan, PR

Psychology

Postdoctoral Fellowship at University of North Carolina School of Medicine

Chapel Hill, NC

ELSI Genomics

Professional Interests

• Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) of Genomics
• Emerging Neurotechnologies
• Psychiatry
• Neuroethics
• Bioethics, Law, and Policy - emerging biomedical technologies

Professional Statement

Gabe Lázaro Ph.D., J.D., M.B.E., is an Assistant Professor in the Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy at Baylor College of Medicine. In his research, Dr. Lázaro-Muñoz combines his background in neuroscience, law, and bioethics to examine the social implications of emerging biomedical technologies in neuroscience and genomics.

He is principal investigator of three studies: a K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award from the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to examine ethical, legal, and public policy challenges generated by translational psychiatric genomics research, and the integration of psychiatric genomics knowledge and technologies into clinical care and other spheres of society; a BRAIN Initiative - National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded study to examine emerging ethical, legal, and social implications of the development of adaptive deep brain stimulation systems for the management of neuropsychiatric and movement disorders; and a BRAIN Initiative NIMH study examining pediatric deep brain stimulation: neuroethics and decision making.

Dr. Lázaro-Muñoz is Chair of the International Society of Psychiatric Genetics Ethics Committee and visiting professor of Neuroethics in the Center for Bioethics at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Lázaro-Muñoz obtained a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Professor Joseph LeDoux’s laboratory at New York University, where he studied neural pathways involved in the acquisition, storage, and behavioral expression of memories associated with fear-motivated actions. Dr. Lázaro-Muñoz has a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and is a licensed attorney. He also has a Master of Bioethics from the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, and a B.A. in psychology from the University of Puerto Rico.

Selected Publications

• Lázaro-Muñoz G, Yoshor D, Beauchamp MS, Goodman WK, McGuire AL. "Continued access to investigational brain implants.." Nat Rev Neurosci.. 19 (6): 317-318. Pubmed PMID: 29686310
• Sierra-Mercado D, Zuk P, Beauchamp MS, Sheth SA, Yoshor D, Goodman WK, McGuire AL, Lázaro-Muñoz G. "Device Removal Following Brain Implant Research." Neuron. 2019 :
• Lázaro-Muñoz G, Farrell MS, Crowley JJ, Filmyer DM, Shaughnessy RA, Josiassen RC, Sullivan PF "Improved ethical guidance for the return of results from psychiatric genomics research.." Mol Psychiatry.. 2018 January ; 23 (1): 15-23. Pubmed PMID: 29158581
• Lázaro-Muñoz, Pereira, Carmi, Lencz "Screening Embryos for Polygenic Conditions and Traits: Ethical Considerations for an Emerging Technology." Genetics in Medicine. 2021 :

Memberships

Center for Bioethics, Harvard Medical School

Neuroethics Scholar in Residence (01/2019)

Ethics Committee of the International Society of Psychiatric Genetics

Chair (07/2017)

Funding

Neuroethics of aDBS Systems Targeting Neuropsychiatric and Movement Disorders (PI) - #R01MH114854

(09/15/2017 - 08/31/2021) Grant funding from BRAIN Initiative - National Institute of Mental Health of the National Institutes of Health

This projects examines emerging ethical, legal, and social implications of the development of adaptive deep brain stimulation systems for the management of neuropsychiatric and movement disorders.

Pediatric Deep Brain Stimulation: Neuroethics and Decision Making - #RF1MH121371

$1,733,920.00 (09/18/2019 - 08/31/2023)

Grant funding from NIH-BRAIN Initiative

Polygenic Embryo Screening: Towards Informed Decision-Making - #R01HG011711

(06/01/2021 - 03/31/2025) Grant funding from NIH-National Human Genome Research Institute

Languages

Spanish