1. Purpose and Scope

 

The Applied Neuroscience Association (ANA) Ethical Practice Guidelines or AEPG promote ethical practices for the field of Applied Neuroscience.

AEPG compliments the ethical codes of conduct of members' respective professional bodies.

 

AEPG is underpinned by ANA's Purpose, Vision and Mission.

 

New joiners to ANA are required to read, acknowledge their understanding of, and agree to abide by AEPG as part of the ANA member registration process. Additionally, members must remain informed about any updates to AEPG that may happen from time to time.

​

AEPG applies to ANA Community members listed on the member register. As distinct from the ANA Network, which is part of the wider ecosystem, including collaborators, institutions, partners and supporters.

 

2. Responsibility for Ethical Conduct

 

ANA maintains and promotes AEPG, with responsibility for adherence shared by ANA, and its members upon registration.

​

AEPG is a guidance document setting out registered members' ethical practices, and professional conduct, including a commitment to continual professional development (CPD).

​

AEPG is not legally binding and does not cover every potential ethical or professional nuance, including translation to local laws. Any such local nuances does not contradict the essence of AEPG.

 

3. Personal Conduct

 

At ANA, we uphold AEPG as part of a culture of respect, professionalism and responsibility, reflecting also ANA’s commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

AEPG includes educational initiatives, such as bi-annual workshops to raise awareness, challenge biases, and develop sustainable practices across the ANA Community, ANA Network, and in policy.

 

We are committed to maintaining an environment free from harassment and discrimination (see definitions below), ensuring all members can participate fully and confidently in our shared purpose:

​

Harassment:

• Persistently engaging in unwelcome interactions: repeated behaviours, communication, or actions that continue despite requests to stop, such as excessive messaging, unwanted proximity, or unsolicited comments.

• Disruptive behaviour: actions or speech that interfere with others' ability to engage professionally, including interruptions, spreading misinformation, or creating distractions that hinder participation.

• Bullying and cyberbullying: any repeated or severe behaviour, in-person or online, that intimidates, humiliates, or causes harm.

Discrimination:

• Hindering participation: actions that marginalise, exclude, or demean individuals based on identity, background, or position, limiting their opportunities for recognition and involvement.

• Exclusionary behaviour: conduct that singles out or disadvantages individuals due to personal characteristics (e.g., race, gender, disability), including stereotypes or policies that unfairly impact certain groups.

​​​

4. Professional Conduct

​

AEPG encourages ANA members to commit to the following practices:

 

• Accurately advertising and presenting services, including a clear policy for client data protection and storage, an accessible complaints policy and relevant business insurance.

• Awareness of relevant statutory requirements in the countries in which practising, such as safeguarding practises if working with children or vulnerable adults.

• Taking all reasonable precautions to protect ANA service users from harm, always demonstrating a concern for individual's rights, safety, health, and dignity.

• Ensuring factual statements are accurate and verifiable, using evidence-based sources, taking responsibility for the accuracy and fairness of information presented, and giving appropriate acknowledgement and credit.

• Respecting the intellectual property (IP) of ANA, ANA subsidiaries, members, collaborators and third parties, and acknowledging or obtaining permission for use of IP where appropriate.

• Moderating user-generated content to ensure it is lawful, respectful and appropriate for the ANA community and wider ecosystem, and does not include graphic sexual or violent content, hate speech, harassment, trolling or spam.

• Fostering intellectual freedom through open discussion of theories and factual findings, conducive to promoting equity, diversity, inclusivity, and expression of ideas, free of harassment and discrimination.

• Maintaining appropriate autonomy and self-regulation, including safety and responsibility for other members in the context of supporting a friendly, safe, and welcoming experience for all members.

• Maintaining professional and cultural respect and integrity (legal, decent, truthful, and honest), such as when discussing the opinions and findings of others or faced with bribery or corruption.

• Maintaining confidential or non-public information, relating to ANA, ANA subsidiaries, active members and collaborators. This includes commercially sensitive and internal governance information, and personal data.

• Respecting privacy by handling personal data responsibly and in accordance with the ANA Privacy Notice and any applicable legal or regulatory data protection requirements. 

• Declaring actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest and taking appropriate steps to manage them transparently.

 

ANA members are expected to demonstrate professional conduct and behaviour in different settings, where they represent their work, role, or affiliation with ANA. Examples of unprofessional behaviour include, but are not limited to:

​

Unprofessional Behaviour:

• Using language or actions that perpetuate stereotypes, reinforce biases, or marginalise others, undermining inclusion.

• Intentional misgendering and harmful disclosure, deliberately using incorrect pronouns or sharing sensitive personal information without consent.

• Spreading misinformation or disinformation with intent, diminishing trust in the professional standing of members and the organisation.

• Breaching confidentiality and privacy, disclosing sensitive information or processing personal data without explicit consent, except as required by law.

• Inappropriate self-promotion that conflicts with the shared mission or misuses its visibility, dominating collaborative spaces, or disregarding consensus-based practices and transparency.

​

5. ANA Global Initiatives

 

An ANA Initiative is any inclusive programme activity led by the Association, and/or by an ANA registered member that may engage the ANA Network and local communities, in supporting ANA’s shared purpose and vision.

​

ANA Initiatives may include public or private events, workshops, educational campaigns, training, webinars, collaborative projects, co-branded activities, Chapter activities, Special Interest Group activities, online groups, campaigns, talks, meetings, and other participatory spaces convened or supported by ANA and partners.

​

Participation in ANA Initiatives is guided by the AEPG and is subject to ANA’s event terms and participation standards, platform rules, and any stated activity-specific requirements.

​

Participants are expected to engage respectfully, responsibly, and in a manner consistent with ANA’s purpose, values, and ethical standards. This includes:

 

1. treating other participants, speakers, organisers, volunteers, partners, and ANA representatives with respect;

2. avoiding harassment, bullying, discrimination, intimidation, abuse, or disruptive behaviour;

3. respecting confidentiality where information is shared in confidence or where the nature of the activity makes confidentiality reasonably expected;

4. requesting permission from the relevant content owner before recording, reproducing, publishing, or distributing any presentation, discussion, slides, images, recordings, or other materials shared at ANA activities;

5. ensuring appropriate citation, attribution, copyright acknowledgement, and permissions where content is quoted, reproduced, published, or shared;

6. not misrepresenting any affiliation with, endorsement by, or authority to speak on behalf of ANA;

7. disclosing any relevant conflicts of interest in abstracts, presentations, talks, panels, publications, or other contributions made within ANA Initiatives;

8. respecting cultural differences, including differences in values, communication styles, customs, language, professional norms, and worldviews;

9. using ANA spaces, platforms, names, resources, and relationships only for appropriate purposes connected with the relevant activity;

10. complying with any reasonable participation, access, safeguarding, confidentiality, accessibility, or event-specific requirements communicated by ANA and the event platform and/or venue rules.

​​

ANA does not endorse products, services, claims, or opinions expressed by speakers, contributors, partners, sponsors, or participants unless expressly stated in writing.

​

Personal data provided to ANA in connection with ANA Initiatives, including event registrations, speaker forms, attendance records, feedback forms, or accessibility requests, will be processed in accordance with ANA’s Privacy Notice, applicable data protection law, and the purpose for which the information was collected. ANA will not sell personal data.

​

ANA aims to make relevant ANA Initiatives accessible and inclusive. Where reasonable adjustments or access support may be required, participants will be provided with information on how to contact ANA in advance of the activity where possible.

​

ANA Network member participants, newsletter and neuroevent calendar subscribers, partners, initiative attendees, and public participants are not normally subject to ANA’s formal Disciplinary Procedure solely by virtue of attending or engaging with ANA Initiatives.

 

Where concerns arise in relation to behaviour within ANA Initiatives, ANA will manage this as a participation matter. Participation management may include reminding an individual of expected standards, removing them from an event or group, restricting future access to ANA participatory spaces, declining further engagement, or taking other proportionate steps connected with the relevant activity and issue.

​

Use of ANA’s website, resources, and digital materials is governed separately by ANA’s Terms of Use which can be found on the ANA website.

​

6. Full Members Continuous Professional Development (CPD)

​

ANA endorses the following five standards for Full Members Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in their chosen field(s) of neuroscience. Full Members align to:

 

1. Maintaining an accurate and up-to-date record of CPD
   Keep a clear, truthful, and current log of CPD activities, updated consistently.

2. Retaining evidence of CPD activities for verification
   Ensure records are complete and available for submission to ANA upon request.

3. Pursuing CPD that enhances professional ethical practice
   Seek to undertake development activities that embed ethical practice

4. Ensuring CPD reflects ethical standards
   Engage in learning that upholds ethical principles and benefits those they serve.

5. Demonstrating a diverse and relevant CPD portfolio:

   • Professional Engagement – e.g., speaking, mentoring, serving in a professional organisation

   • Academic and Educational Pursuits – e.g., authoring publications, pursuing formal education

   • Practical Learning – e.g., critical reflection, supervision, collaborative research, SIGs

   • Independent Learning – e.g., reviewing scholarly literature, evaluating new knowledge

   • Social Impact Contributions – e.g., voluntary work, public education, community initiatives, ANA social pledges

​

7. Upholding These Guidelines

​

ANA expects Members, Volunteers, Leaders and other representatives to uphold AEPG in all activities undertaken on behalf of the Association.

 

Where there are concerns that AEPG may not have been upheld, ANA will seek to address them fairly, proportionately, and in accordance with its published policies and related governing documents.

 

Depending on the circumstances, this may include guidance, mediation, temporary suspension of activities, or removal from a volunteer, leadership or representative role.

​

8. AEPG Continuous Improvement

 

ANA and its Members jointly take responsibility for reviewing and improving AEPG. This means regularly assessing and reflecting on culture and behaviours to address any issues that may arise between members and within the Network.

 

ANA will gather feedback via surveys, focus groups, or Advisor consultations to inform updates to AEPG and educational sessions about AEPG and how to apply it effectively in everyday practice. In the longer term, ANA seeks to collaborate with leading neuroethics institutions to further enrich AEPG.

​

ANA trusts that individuals will adhere to both AEPG and the professional standards of members' respective sectors, upholding shared ethical frameworks and values across all areas of work and academic practice.