The BRAIN Blog

The 8th Annual BRAIN Initiative Meting kicks off today, Tuesday, June 21, 2022. Dr. Walter Koroshetz, Director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), shares what’s to come in his newest Director’s Message.  

The BRAIN Initiative® launched an essay and video contest for high school students in March called the BRAIN Initiative Challenge. Winners and honorable mentions will be announced and highlighted at the upcoming BRAIN Initiative meeting.

Last month, members of the Multi-Council Working Group (MCWG) met virtually to discuss the current state of the NIH BRAIN Initiative and to learn about new chemical and synthetic biology technologies.

Please join us virtually on June 21-22 at the BRAIN Initiative’s 8th Annual Meeting and hear from our three plenary speakers as they share their expertise and insights with the BRAIN research community. 

Apply by June 17 to attend a hackathon at the Allen Institute from October 3-5, 2022 where participants will have the opportunity to reanalyze existing open datasets to generate new insights. 

The Notice of Special Interest reflects participation by additional NIH Institutes and Centers, including the BRAIN Initiative. The deadline for letters of intent to apply for a partnership award is June 13, 2022, and applications for projects are due by July 13, 2022. 

The Dana Foundation recently released a request for proposals for planning grants for future Dana Centers for Neuroscience & Society. The deadline for proposals is July 6, 2022. 

Last week marked my second anniversary as BRAIN Director, an amazing opportunity and challenge for which I am deeply grateful. Over the past two years, I’ve strived to maintain perspective about all that we do, and to be guided by others’ views and critiques. People often ask me, “What’s the payoff, and when will we see it?” These questions are important, considering the magnitude of BRAIN investments and the promises we’ve made to better understand neural circuit function and develop new cures.

Have you read the latest BRAIN Initiative Alliance newsletter? BRAIN scientists are invited to share their tools with the scientific community in the Toolmakers Newsletter. These newsletters spotlight BRAIN Initiative investigators with tools, technologies, or theories ready for distribution to the research community to advance neurotechnology.