Responsible Innovation: The Case of Alzheimer Diagnostics

Biomedical innovation is often envisioned as a linear process, translating results of lab research into the clinic. The assumption is that deliberation with different concerned parties contributes to responsible innovation. Focusing on the case of Alzheimer diagnostics, Pols and M’charek demonstrate that innovations do not emerge in a linear way. Patient advocacy movements engage with scientific research, and research and clinical practices are highly intertwined. Yet, research and clinical practices may also have very different problem definitions, aims, knowledge, concerns, and pace. Pols and M’charek argue that responsible innovation, rather than privileging a particular type of laboratory research, should start innovations by taking notice of the different manifestations of ‘Alzheimer problems’ and the different science-clinic-representation practices needed to address these problems.