Research
My research is at the intersection of anthropology and ethics. I focus on science, medicine, and bioethics as cultural systems, and examine culture as a place where power relations are constituted and contested.
One of my enduring interests is in the governance of research that poses collective risks to , particularly for Indigenous communities and marginalized populations. One important focus of that work, which I developed through a long-standing research collaboration with the Southern Inuit of NunatuKavut, is the examination of the 減olitics of risk in community-based research ethics. I have also examined the social and cultural implications of in terms of the politics of risk.
My work in examines whether and how to accommodate non-Euro-American healing practices and ways of knowing into mainstream medicine. Here, my research and teaching intersect in my critique of the notion of . I ask whether and how we can teach cross-cultural ethics in medicine while also challenging the Euro-American normative assumptions in bioethics.
span a range of subject matter, some in collaboration with students in the context of course work, some inspired by my clinical ethics work for the NL Provincial Health Ethics Network, and some driven by the needs of the NL Provincial Health Ethics Board.
Research ethics
Research involving socially identifiable communities
D. Martin (Dalhousie), Nominated PI Co-PIs: A. Bombay, A. Cunsolo, J. MacMillan; Co-Is: G. Baikie, A. Benoit, F. Brunger, H. Castleden, M. Doucette, A. Fox, A. Hudson, L. Jackson, M. Latimer, D. Lewis, C. MacDonald, M. McNally, W. Montelpare, S. Neilsen, N. Pollock, M. Robinson, E. Root, J. Shea, J. Snook, A. Steenbeek, J. Taylor, A. Vukic, J. Whitty-Rogers, P. Williams, T. Young; Knowledge User: C. Wolfrey; Atlantic Indigenous Mentorship (AIM) Network, CIHR Indigenous Mentorship Network Program, $999,990 (5 years), April 2017 March 2022.
A. Hudson, J. Ball, F. Brunger, H. Castleden, B. Chubbs, M. Hudson, D. Martin, M. Paul, A. Procter, J. Shea, & D. Wall. The Naalak Gathering: A Regional Dialogue on Indigenous Research Governance, Application to Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Special call: Indigenous Research Capacity & Reconciliation Connection Grant, 2018-2019 (6 months), $50,000.
J. Shea, D. Wall (Co-PIs), F. Brunger, J. Bull, M. Jong, L. Leibenberg, D. Martin, M. Paul, N. Pollock, & C. Wellon (Co-Is), Enhancing Mental Health Services for Southern Inuit Communities: A Community-Based Approach, Bridge funding, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, July 2018-June 2019, $100,000.
F. Brunger (PI), J. Bull, J. Graham, D. Pullman, D. Wall, C. Weijer, with D. Wall, NunatuKavut Health and Social Sector Manager. The Labrador Inuit-M茅tis Research Ethics Project: An Experiment in Aboriginal Governance of Health Research in Complex Communities, Canadian Institutes of Health Research Operating Grant, 2010-2013, $180,000.
F. Brunger (PI), Population Genetics and Protection of Communities: A Critical Inquiry into the Cultural History of a Canadian Policy Controversy, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Facing Our Future, 2004-2005, $47,400.
Publications
Brunger F, Wall D, & Russell, T. (2020). 淒ecolonizing Research Ethics: Best Practices for the Ethical Conduct of Research Involving Indigenous Communities, In Oxford Handbook of Research Ethics, A. S. Iltis & D. MacKay, eds.
Brunger F, & Chubbs B (2021). 淗ealth and Health Care Research Ethics: Health Research Ethics in Northern Canada, In Health and Healthcare in Northern Canada, R. Schiff & H. Moller, eds. University of Toronto Press.
Bull J, Hudson A, MacQuarrie C, Beazley KF, Brunger F, Shea J, Shaw K, Kavanagh C, & Gagne B. (2020). , Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management, 15(1): 21-35.
Marshall Z, Welch V, Minichiello A, Swab M, Brunger F, & Kaposy C. (2019). 湞,&苍产蝉辫;Transgender Health, 4(1): 68-80.
Webber V, & Brunger F. (2018). 湞,&苍产蝉辫;Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung/ Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 19(3). doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.17169/fqs-19.3.3062
Marshall Z, Brunger F, Welch V, Asghari S, & Kaposy C. (2018). 湞,&苍产蝉辫;Journal of Medical Internet Research, 20(2): e70.
Marshall Z, Welch V, Thomas J, Brunger F, Swab M, Shemilt I, & Kaposy C. (2017). 湞,&苍产蝉辫;Systematic Reviews, 6(1): 35.
Brunger F, & Wall D. (2016). 湞,&苍产蝉辫;Qualitative Health Research, 26(13):1862 1877. doi: 10.1177/10497323-6649-58
Brunger F, & Russell T. (2015). 湞,&苍产蝉辫;Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics, 10(4): 368-379.
Brunger F, Bull J, & Wall D. (2015). 淭he NunatuKavut Model of Research Oversight: Innovation Through Collaboration, In , N. Gros-Louis McHugh, K. Gentelet, & S. Basile, eds. First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Health and Social Services Commission, pp.51-59.
Brunger F, Schiff R, Bull J, & Morton-Ninomiya M. (2014) 湞,&苍产蝉辫;International Journal of Indigenous Health, 10(1): 3-15.
Gustafson D, & Brunger F. (2014). 湞,&苍产蝉辫;Qualitative Health Research, 24(7): 997-1005.
Brunger F, & Bull J. (2011), 湞,&苍产蝉辫;Etudes/Inuit/Studies, 35(1-2): 127-142.
Brunger F. (2009). 淲hy Do Communities Matter in Global Health Research? In Global Health Research Ethics E-book, J. V. Lavery, ed. Toronto, Ontario: YourProf.com.
Brunger F. (2008). 淐ulture, Religion and Ethnicity: Important Ethical Considerations in Undertaking Research in Vulnerable Populations, In . R. Bortolussi, ed. The Canadian Child Health Clinician Scientist Program, pp.38-43.
Brunger F, & Weijer C. (2007). 淧olitics, Risk, and Community in the Maya-ICBG Case, In . J. V. Lavery, E. Wahl, C. Grady, E. J. Emanuel, eds. New York: Oxford University Press, pp.35-42.
Brunger F, & Burgess M. (2005). 湞,&苍产蝉辫;Health Law Review, 13(2/3): 69-74.
Brunger F. (2003). 淧roblematizing the Notion of 楥ommunity in Research Ethics, In , B. Knoppers, ed. Leiden/Boston: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, pp.245-256.
Brunger F, & Weijer C. (2002). 淭he Importance of Context in International Research, The Forum. Ethics & Behavior, 12(4): 384-387.
Burgess M, & Brunger F. (2000). 淐ollective Effects of Health Research, In A Study of the Ethical Governance of Health Research Involving Human Subjects, M. McDonald, ed. The Law Commission of Canada.
Ethics and research in genetics/genomics
P. Parfrey (PI), (F. Brunger, Collaborator), Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Human Genetics. Canadian Foundation for Innovation, 2007-2010, $6.8 million.
J. McLaughlin (Toronto) (PI), (F. Brunger, Co-Investigator), CIHR Team in Interdisciplinary Research on Colorectal Cancer, 2006-2010, $718,617 per annum (avg).
M. Samuels (Dalhousie) & T. Young (91亚色) (Co-PIs), (F. Brunger, Collaborator), Atlantic Medical Genetics and Genomics Initiative (AMGGI), Genome Canada, 2006-2009, $2,275,000 per annum.
F. Brunger (PI), Population Genetics and Protection of Communities: A Critical Inquiry into the Cultural History of a Canadian Policy Controversy, CIHR, Facing Our Future, 2004-2005, $47,400.
F. Brunger (PI) & M. Burgess (Co-Investigator), Moral Dimensions of Genetic Risk: Ethnic Identity, Heredity and Experiences around Testing for Hereditary Breast Cancer, MRC, Genomics Research Program (MELSI), 1999, $9,185.
F. Brunger (Co-Investigator) & K. Bassett (Co-Investigator), Culture and Genetics, MRC, Canadian Genome Analysis and Technology Program (Medical, Ethical, Legal & Social Issues Advisory Committee), 1996, $10,000.
Publications
Manual A, & Brunger F. (2016). 湞,&苍产蝉辫;Global Qualitative Nursing Research, 3: 1-10. doi: 10.1177/2333393616674810
Manuel A, & Brunger F. (2015). 湞,&苍产蝉辫;Journal of Community Genetics, 6(2):167-175. doi: 10.1007/s12687-015-0212-x
Manuel A, & Brunger F. (2014). 湞,&苍产蝉辫;Journal of Genetic Counseling, 23(6): 1045-1055.
Manuel A, Brunger F, & Hodgkinson K. (2010). 淧sychosocial Implications of Genetic Investigations, In , R. Brugada, ed. London: Springer-Verlag, pp.311-316.
Brunger F. (2006). 淒iscrimination g茅n茅tique et 茅thique de la recherche: consentement et politique du risque,&苍产蝉辫;In , M-H Parizeau, ed. Presses de l'universit茅 Laval, pp.231-246.
Brunger F, & Cox S. (2000). 淓thics and Genetics: The Need for Transparency, In , F. Miller et al., eds. National Network on Environments and Women檚 Health Working Paper Series, Toronto: York University, pp.27-31.
Brunger F, & Bassett K. (1998). 淐ulture and Genetics, In Socio-Ethical Issues in Human Genetics, B.M. Knoppers, ed. Cowansville, QC: Les Editions Yvon Blais Inc.
Bubela T, Nisbett M Brunger F et al. (2009). 湞,&苍产蝉辫;Nature Biotechnology, 27(6):514-518.
Caulfield T, Ogbogu U Brunger F et al. (2007). 湞,&苍产蝉辫;Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada, 29(10):843-848.
Clinical ethics
Ethics and diversity in clinical care
F. Brunger (PI) 淭he Eastern Health Diversity Project: Examining Needs and Establishing Priorities, NL SUPPORT Research Grant. September 15, 2017-September 14, 2018, $69,022.
C. Aubrey-Bassler (PI), A. Dunsmore, R. Majid, S. Mulay, F. Brunger, & K. Aubrey-Bassler, 淚dentifying Missed Appointment Statistics for Government Assisted Refugees to Improve Access to Care, NL SUPPORT Clinician/Allied Health Professional-Led Research Grant. December 2018-2019, $9,733.
F. Brunger (PI), B. Gray and R. Thackrah (Co-Investigators), Critiquing Ideology and Confronting Power in Cross-cultural Ethics: An Analysis of the Understandings and Uses of 楥ulture in Bioethics Deliberations Over Parental Refusals of Treatment, Phase 1. Dean檚 Innovation Grant, Faculty of Medicine, 91亚色, 2015-2016, $20,000.
Publications
Brunger F (2021). . Report to Eastern Health and Community Stakeholders.
Gray B, & Brunger F (2018). 湞,&苍产蝉辫;Clinical Ethics, 13(2): 55-66. doi: 10.1177/1477750917738109
Bhogal A K, & Brunger F. (2010). 湞,&苍产蝉辫;Canadian Family Physician, 56(10): 993-999.
Cultural competency training in medical education
F. Brunger (PI), J. Allison, C. Aubrey-Blasser (Co-Investigators), The MUN MED Gateway Project: Evaluation of Effectiveness of a Service Learning Strategy for Teaching Cultural Humility, MRF Cox Award, 2019-2022, $35,000.
Publications
Brunger F. (2016). 湞,&苍产蝉辫;Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 13(1): 117-132. doi: 10.1007/s11673-015-9679-8
Duke P, Brunger F, & Ohle L. (2015). 湞,&苍产蝉辫;Health and Social Care, 11(2): 86-94.
Duke P, & Brunger F. (2015). 湞,&苍产蝉辫;Canadian Family Physician, 61(2): e81-7.
Brunger F, Duke P, & Kenny R. (2014). 湞,&苍产蝉辫;International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, 10(1): 36-51.
Other miscellaneous projects
V. Maddalena (PI), F. Brunger, V. Kaminksy, C. Kaposy, D. Pullman, R. Singleton (Co-Investigators), Organizational Ethics in the Midst of Crisis: Examining the Perceived Role and Responsibilities of RHA Boards with Regard to Monitoring Quality, Commission of Inquiry Research Funding (Eastern Health, The Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Care Foundation and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador), 2013-2014, $58,000.
Other miscellaneous publications
Borges J, Lee T, Saif A, Sundly A, & Brunger F. (2019). 湞,&苍产蝉辫;Canadian Journal of Bioethics/Revue Canadienne de Bioethique, 2(2): 39-41.
Campbell VLS, Foley HL, Vianna KW, & Brunger F. (2019). 湞,&苍产蝉辫;Psychiatric Quarterly, 90(2):413-420. doi: 10.1007/s11126-019-09636-1
Kaposy C, Maddalena V, Brunger F, Pullman D, & Singleton R. (2016). 湞,&苍产蝉辫;AJOB Empirical Bioethics, 8(2): 128-136.
Kaposy C, Brunger F, Maddalena V, & Singleton R. (2016). 湞,&苍产蝉辫;HEC Forum, 28(4): 273-282. doi: 10.1007/s10730-015-9299-z
Kaposy C, Brunger F, Maddalena V, & Singleton R. (2016). 湞,&苍产蝉辫;Bioethics, 30(8): 636-642.
Webber V, Bartlett J, & Brunger F. (2016). 湞,&苍产蝉辫;Critical Public Health, 26(4): 359-367.
Olsen C, El-Bialy R, Mckelvie M, Rauman P, & Brunger F. (2016). 湞,&苍产蝉辫;Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 18(1): 58-66. doi: 10.1007/s10903-014-9983-0
Hunter K, Maxwell E, & Brunger F. (2015). 湞,&苍产蝉辫;Bioethique Online, 4/21.
Schiff R, & Brunger F. (2013). 湞,&苍产蝉辫;Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 3(3): 31-45.
Bonia K, Brunger F, Fullerton L, Griffiths C, Kaposy C, Mason B, Morrison M, Morton-Ninomiya M, & Patten A. (2012). 湞,&苍产蝉辫;Techn茅: Research in Philosophy and Technology, 16(3): 275-295.
Boydell KM, Volpe T, Cox S, Katz A, Dow R, Brunger F, Parsons J, Belliveau G, Gladstone B, Zlotnik-Shaul R, Cook S, Kamensek O, Lafreni猫re D, & Wong, L. (2012). 湞,&苍产蝉辫;International Journal for the Creative Arts in Interprofessional Practice, 11: 1-17.
Kaposy C, Bandrauk N, Pullman D, & Brunger F. (2010). 湞,&苍产蝉辫;Healthcare Quarterly, 13(2): 60-63.