The virtual briefing allowed members of Congress and their staff to learn about the profound impact of the NIH BRAIN Initiative and engage with a BRAIN study participant directly benefitting from advanced neurotechnologies.
On February 20, 2025, the American Brain Coalition—a BRAIN Initiative Alliance member—partnered with the Congressional Neuroscience Caucus, the American Academy of Neurology, the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, and the Society for Neuroscience to host a virtual congressional briefing on the current state and future of the NIH BRAIN Initiative. The briefing showcased BRAIN Initiative-funded technologies, which are accelerating the development of treatments for brain disorders, in this case, for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Dr. Mark Rasenick, Chair of the American Brain Coalition, provided opening remarks, emphasizing the importance of sustained federal investment in neuroscience. His remarks were followed by panel moderator, Dr. Diane Lipscombe, the Government and Public Affairs Committee Chair of Society for Neuroscience, who underlined the $1.5 trillion annual cost of brain conditions on the nation’s economy. Dr. Lipscombe also discussed the role of the NIH BRAIN Initiative’s interagency partnership in providing new tools and resources for life-changing neuroscience breakthroughs. The panel discussion included Dr. John Ngai, Director of the NIH BRAIN Initiative, who described the Initiative’s long-term vision of building momentum for the discovery of next generation treatments for brain diseases.
A major highlight of the briefing was hearing the personal story of retired US Army Infantry Platoon Sargeant Adam Holbrook. Sargeant Holbrook is one of two people to receive a neuromodulatory brain implant - a small electrode placed in the brain and controlled from the outside, much like a pacemaker - to test its use in treating PTSD. He discussed the debilitating nature of his PTSD symptoms and the remarkable remission of those symptoms since the BRAIN Initiative funded neuromodulation device was implanted 3 years ago. The BRAIN Initiative investigators involved in his treatment, Dr. Nanthia Suthana and Dr. Evan Einstein, elaborated on this remarkable breakthrough and the technologies involved. Dr. Einstein noted that over time, Sargeant Holbrook’s brain implant has contributed to functional improvements in his neurocircuitry, which, along with other factors, has allowed Sargeant Holbrook to gradually reduce his need for PTSD medications.
Dr. Ngai explained that Sargeant Holbrook’s deep brain stimulation treatment builds on existing technologies that have previously been used to treat the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. BRAIN-funded researchers, such as Dr. Suthana and Dr. Einstein, are now applying these technologies in ways that were unimaginable 10 years ago. Dr. Suthana added that through the BRAIN Initiative, neurological devices have significantly evolved compared to earlier models. Importantly, they can now continuously read brain activity, as they have every day for the past three years with Sargeant Holbrook. Dr. Suthana also explained that the contributions of patient partners like Sargeant Holbrook have enabled researchers to learn much more about the human brain and help improve the precision and personalization of treatments.
The briefing concluded with the panelists emphasizing the critical role of the BRAIN Initiative in supporting advances in neuroscience. Dr. Ngai highlighted the BRAIN Initiative’s efforts to scale up the dissemination and accessibility of tools, enhance their quality, and make them more affordable for clinical settings. Dr. Suthana expressed deep gratitude, noting that without the BRAIN Initiative, her lab would not have existed. She further stated that due to the resources required for treatment development of this nature, private funding sources would not have been sufficient to facilitate such progress in just 10 years. Dr. Einstein stated that, “if we want to keep finding ways to help the people that aren’t being helped by the standards of care, there is no way to do that without this research,” funded through the BRAIN Initiative.