Anjana Sengar

AI Ethics & Data Advisor, Trillium Health Partners

Anjana Sengar has practiced as a hospital pharmacist for over two decades, is an educator and health-services researcher affiliated with Trillium Health Partners. She graduated from the Johns Hopkins, Bloomburg School of Public Health with a Master in Population Health to further her work in big data and health equity. Her research interests include pharmacist practice models and AI healthcare readiness.

Anjana has been driving change in the space of research ethics for over a decade, recently completing her second term as Chair of THP’s Research Ethics Board (REB) and now serving as the THP AI Research REB Chair. As a subject matter expert in AI research ethics, Anjana has been an invited provincial and national speaker on ethical AI research in healthcare. Anjana has obtained her American Board in Artificial Intelligence in Medicine Advanced Certification and training as a Certified AI Ethics Officer. Trained in anti-oppression, Anjana seeks to ensure equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging principles are represented throughout the AI research & innovation lifecycle.

All Sessions by Anjana Sengar

  • Tuesday, June 16


  • 11:00  - 12:15
    Workshop

    DESCRIPTION OF SESSION

    Artificial Intelligence (AI) is an emerging field with a plethora of ethical challenges. Given the lack of significant guidance in terms of regulation, Research Ethics Board’s (REB) are left to determine the ethical issues and risks associated with AI research. Additionally, as with many emerging technologies and practice, the identification and management of ethical issues often lag behind the pace of development. AI is expanding rapidly within healthcare and is being applied across a wide range of programs and areas. As such, THP REB identified significant gaps in both resources available and REB reviewer’s foundational AI knowledge needed to perform comprehensive and appropriate ethics reviews. REB reviewers often face challenges identifying which additional questions to ask, and which questions may not be applicable given the type of research being conducted and the stage of the AI life cycle. To address this gap, THP sought to develop an independent REB specializing in AI research ethics review.

    Through the development of a novel AI focused REB, the REB has sought to deepen its overall knowledge of AI, and to develop a robust awareness of the types of ethical issues that can arise at all stages in the life cycle of AI research. Through engagement with AI researchers, other REBs and REB members, and AI Ethics experts, THP’s REB is in the process of finalizing several resources and tools, including an AI-specific reviewer guide for our reviewers, to support robust, ethical and proportionate review of AI research.

    ***

    L’intelligence artificielle (IA) est un domaine émergent qui soulève une multitude de défis éthiques. En l’absence de directives réglementaires significatives, il incombe aux comités d’éthique de la recherche (CER) de déterminer les enjeux éthiques et les risques associés à la recherche en IA. De plus, comme c’est souvent le cas avec les technologies et les pratiques émergentes, l’identification et la gestion des enjeux éthiques sont souvent à la traîne par rapport à l’évolution du domaine. L’IA connaît une expansion rapide dans le secteur de la santé et est mise en œuvre dans un large éventail de programmes et de domaines. De ce fait, le CER de THP a identifié des lacunes importantes tant au niveau des ressources disponibles que des connaissances fondamentales en IA dont disposent les évaluateurs du CER pour mener des évaluations éthiques complètes et appropriées. Les évaluateurs du CER ont souvent du mal à déterminer quelles questions supplémentaires poser et quelles questions ne sont pas pertinentes compte tenu du type de recherche menée et du stade du cycle de vie de l’IA. Pour combler cette lacune, THP a cherché à mettre en place un CER indépendant spécialisé dans l’évaluation de l’éthique de la recherche en IA.

    Grâce à la mise en place de ce comité d’éthique novateur axé sur l’IA, le comité a cherché à approfondir ses connaissances générales en matière d’IA et à développer une solide compréhension des types de questions éthiques pouvant se poser à toutes les étapes du cycle de vie de la recherche en IA. Grâce à sa collaboration avec des chercheurs en IA, d’autres CER et leurs membres, ainsi que des experts en éthique de l’IA, le CER de THP est en train de finaliser plusieurs ressources et outils, notamment un guide d’évaluation spécifique à l’IA destiné à nos évaluateurs, afin de soutenir une évaluation rigoureuse, éthique et proportionnelle de la recherche en IA.

    Workshop

  • Mardi 16 juin


  • 11:00  - 12:15
    Workshop

    DESCRIPTION OF SESSION

    Artificial Intelligence (AI) is an emerging field with a plethora of ethical challenges. Given the lack of significant guidance in terms of regulation, Research Ethics Board’s (REB) are left to determine the ethical issues and risks associated with AI research. Additionally, as with many emerging technologies and practice, the identification and management of ethical issues often lag behind the pace of development. AI is expanding rapidly within healthcare and is being applied across a wide range of programs and areas. As such, THP REB identified significant gaps in both resources available and REB reviewer’s foundational AI knowledge needed to perform comprehensive and appropriate ethics reviews. REB reviewers often face challenges identifying which additional questions to ask, and which questions may not be applicable given the type of research being conducted and the stage of the AI life cycle. To address this gap, THP sought to develop an independent REB specializing in AI research ethics review.

    Through the development of a novel AI focused REB, the REB has sought to deepen its overall knowledge of AI, and to develop a robust awareness of the types of ethical issues that can arise at all stages in the life cycle of AI research. Through engagement with AI researchers, other REBs and REB members, and AI Ethics experts, THP’s REB is in the process of finalizing several resources and tools, including an AI-specific reviewer guide for our reviewers, to support robust, ethical and proportionate review of AI research.

    ***

    L’intelligence artificielle (IA) est un domaine émergent qui soulève une multitude de défis éthiques. En l’absence de directives réglementaires significatives, il incombe aux comités d’éthique de la recherche (CER) de déterminer les enjeux éthiques et les risques associés à la recherche en IA. De plus, comme c’est souvent le cas avec les technologies et les pratiques émergentes, l’identification et la gestion des enjeux éthiques sont souvent à la traîne par rapport à l’évolution du domaine. L’IA connaît une expansion rapide dans le secteur de la santé et est mise en œuvre dans un large éventail de programmes et de domaines. De ce fait, le CER de THP a identifié des lacunes importantes tant au niveau des ressources disponibles que des connaissances fondamentales en IA dont disposent les évaluateurs du CER pour mener des évaluations éthiques complètes et appropriées. Les évaluateurs du CER ont souvent du mal à déterminer quelles questions supplémentaires poser et quelles questions ne sont pas pertinentes compte tenu du type de recherche menée et du stade du cycle de vie de l’IA. Pour combler cette lacune, THP a cherché à mettre en place un CER indépendant spécialisé dans l’évaluation de l’éthique de la recherche en IA.

    Grâce à la mise en place de ce comité d’éthique novateur axé sur l’IA, le comité a cherché à approfondir ses connaissances générales en matière d’IA et à développer une solide compréhension des types de questions éthiques pouvant se poser à toutes les étapes du cycle de vie de la recherche en IA. Grâce à sa collaboration avec des chercheurs en IA, d’autres CER et leurs membres, ainsi que des experts en éthique de l’IA, le CER de THP est en train de finaliser plusieurs ressources et outils, notamment un guide d’évaluation spécifique à l’IA destiné à nos évaluateurs, afin de soutenir une évaluation rigoureuse, éthique et proportionnelle de la recherche en IA.

    Workshop

  • Thursday, June 18


  • 10:15  - 11:25
    Keynote Presentation

    DESCRIPTION OF SESSION

    As Canada’s research environment continues to evolve, questions are emerging about whether a new version of the Tri-Council Policy Statement is needed. This panel brings together five experts from across the research ethics landscape to explore what a future policy might include, update, or remove, with perspectives from researchers, Research Ethics Boards (REBs), and a representative from the Panel on Research Ethics (PRE).

    The discussion will examine key pressures driving change, including the ethical implications of artificial intelligence, evolving approaches to Indigenous research, and the practical realities of interpreting and applying policy across diverse research settings.

    Panelists will reflect on the strengths and limitations of the current TCPS framework, identifying areas where guidance may be challenging to apply, overly complex, or in need of clarification for emerging contexts. They will also consider what must remain foundational, including respect for persons, concern for welfare, and justice, and how these principles can continue to support both researchers and REBs, while informing the ongoing work of PRE as the policy evolves.

    Together, this panel will offer a forward-looking conversation on whether TCPS 3 is needed and, if so, how it can better serve researchers, participants, and communities in an increasingly complex ethical landscape.

    Panel

  • Jeudi 18 juin


  • 10:15  - 11:25
    Keynote Presentation

    DESCRIPTION OF SESSION

    As Canada’s research environment continues to evolve, questions are emerging about whether a new version of the Tri-Council Policy Statement is needed. This panel brings together five experts from across the research ethics landscape to explore what a future policy might include, update, or remove, with perspectives from researchers, Research Ethics Boards (REBs), and a representative from the Panel on Research Ethics (PRE).

    The discussion will examine key pressures driving change, including the ethical implications of artificial intelligence, evolving approaches to Indigenous research, and the practical realities of interpreting and applying policy across diverse research settings.

    Panelists will reflect on the strengths and limitations of the current TCPS framework, identifying areas where guidance may be challenging to apply, overly complex, or in need of clarification for emerging contexts. They will also consider what must remain foundational, including respect for persons, concern for welfare, and justice, and how these principles can continue to support both researchers and REBs, while informing the ongoing work of PRE as the policy evolves.

    Together, this panel will offer a forward-looking conversation on whether TCPS 3 is needed and, if so, how it can better serve researchers, participants, and communities in an increasingly complex ethical landscape.

    Panel




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Anjana Sengar