INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ETHICAL, LEGAL AND SOCIAL CHALLENGES OF
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND BIG DATA IN HEALTH CARE AND HEALTH RESEARCH 2026
May 15th, 2026
Online Conference
Download Call for Papers
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
The rapid proliferation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data (BD) in health care and health research promises to speed up discoveries, accelerate medical knowledge and benefit patients and society as a whole. Yet, the applications of AI and BD in health care raise pressing ethical, legal and social questions due to the highly personal nature of health data and its tremendous potential to be utilized, monetized and abused to the benefits of some and the detriment of other members of society potentially exacerbating social inequalities, historic injustices and economic marginalization. This international interdisciplinary conference will explore the main ethical, legal and social issues arising from the uses of AI and BD in health care delivery and clinical research.
The aim of the conference is to contribute to the ongoing debate on the uses of AI and BD in health care delivery and health research, and to provide guidance to policy makers and the public at large regarding the risks and benefits of these transformative technological tools.
Papers examining both foundational questions and practical applications are welcome.
PROPOSED TOPICS
Topics to be explored include (but are not limited to): challenges related to data collection, bias and lack of transparency in algorithm generation, loss of anonymity, ambiguities of data ownership, fair distribution of burdens and benefits, the extant lack of ethical and regulatory guidance and oversight of the uses of AI and BD in-practice, the impact of AI and BD on the provider—patient relationship, and the potential of AI and BD to disrupts and transform the very nature of health care. Authors of accepted oral presentations will be invited to submit their presentation as a paper for potential publication in a peer-reviewed collection of scholarly essays on the same topic to be published by Trivent Publishing as part of their book series Perspectives in Bioethics.
ORGANIZERS
The organizers for the conference are
Assya Pascalev, PhD, Howard University & Bulgarian Center for Bioethics
together with the Editors of the book series Perspectives in Bioethics
and in collaboration with Trivent Publishing
REGISTRATION AND SUBMISSIONS
Scholars are invited to submit an abstract of approximately 250 words in English, along with a brief CV
(including affiliation, career stage, and research interests), by May 4th, 2026 to Assya Pascalev, Ph.D.,
at assya.pascalev@bio-ethics.net.
Please also complete the conference registration form HERE.
DATES AND DEADLINES
Abstract submission by: May 4th, 2026
Abstract acceptance: within one week after abstract submission
Publication foreseen for January 2027
PUBLICATION
Participants will be invited to submit full papers after the conference. All the papers will undergo a double-blind peer review process after which the selected papers will be published in an edited collection. The proceedings of this conference will be published in
Perspectives in Bioethics book series (ed. Assya Pascalev, Howard University & Bulgarian Center for Bioethics)
CONFERENCE LANGUAGE
The conference language will be English.
CONFERENCE FEES
The International Conference on Ethical, Legal and Social Challenges of Artificial Intelligence and Big Data
in Health Care and Health Research requires no participation fees.
CONTACT
For any questions, please contact us at:
Prof. Assya Pascalev, assya.pascalev@bio-ethics.net
publishing@trivent-publishing.eu
