Research Interests

Dr. Anderson’s research is driven by an interest in how ethics and epistemology – morals and methods – intersect and interact. The development of novel therapeutics, for example, typically involves input from the basic sciences, clinical sciences, and clinical practice, each with its own methods and evidential norms. Often, we see conflict at the borders between these methodological cultures. The regulatory uncertainty associated with the emergence of precision medicine and clinical AI are current examples of this phenomenon. Recent work has focused on the intersection of ethics and epistemology in the clinical translation of whole genome sequencing, ML applications in healthcare and clinical decision making in paediatrics.

Education & Training History

• Fellowship in Clinical and Organizational Ethics, University of Toronto, 2013-2014
• PhD in Philosophy, Dalhousie University, 2007
• Master of Arts in Philosophy, Dalhousie University, 2002
• Master in Health Administration, Dalhousie University, 2001
• Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy (Honours), McGill University, 1998

Honours & Awards

• Nomination for the Christine Harrison Award for Excellence in Teaching. Joint Centre for Bioethics, University of Toronto, May 2015
• Post-Doctoral Fellowship – Montreal Children’s Hospital Research Institute (2009-2011)
• Post-Doctoral Fellowship – Clinical Trials Research Group, Biomedical Ethics Unit, McGill University (2008-2009)
• 2007 – Nomination for the Dalhousie University Doctoral Thesis Award
• Doctoral Fellowship, Social Science and Humanities Research Council (2003-2007)
• Izaak Walton Killam Pre-Doctoral scholarship (honourary), Dalhousie University (2003-2006)
• Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Ethics of Health Research and Policy Training Program Doctoral Fellowship (2003-2006)

Other Affiliations

• Member, Canadian Bioethics Society