The BRAIN Blog

BRAIN-supported technology development holds promise for clinical applications.

Post-doctoral fellow, Dr. Justin O’Hare, and colleagues publish landmark paper in Science, finding for the first time that intracellular calcium release plays a key role in how the brain adapts to new environments. 

As a tourist, you might need directions to go from a hotel to a restaurant, but spend a few days in that town, and the task of navigating from the hotel to the restaurant becomes trivial. How our brains learn, remember, and navigate new environments has been an enduring mystery in neuroscience. 

The Office of the BRAIN Director in the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke seeks to recruit a senior bioinformatics scientist with a well-established record of exceptional scientific and technical expertise in data science and data integration.  

A few weeks ago, we announced a new position available in the Office of the BRAIN Director (OBD) and this is a reminder that applications are due on Thursday, May 12!  

This Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) encourages institutions to prioritize inclusion by supporting individuals from diverse backgrounds (NOT-NS-22-012).  

The Shared European Brain Research Agenda has entered its second stage to create a framework for advancing brain research. The European Brain Council is now accepting public feedback until April 30 to incorporate into the draft framework.  

Applications are open now until June 1 to participate in an upcoming workshop and gain in-depth knowledge about two innovative tools for studying the brain – OpenScope and Neuropixels.  

Submission to our Photo and Video Contest has been extended to April 30! This is your chance to show us your beautiful work and be featured in next year's BRAIN Initiative calendar.  

As it is often said: A picture is worth a thousand words. Neuroscience has made a significant leap since the beautiful hand drawings of Ramón y Cajal and their ability to capture the delicate details of neurons and dendrites. Modern technologies and next-generation innovations continue to allow us to capture and adore the intricacy yet beauty of the brain. 

The 2nd annual BRAIN Initiative Challenge is an essay and video contest for high school students which seeks diverse perspectives on ethics surrounding emerging brain technologies.  

What would happen if humans could altogether stop the effects of aging on the brain? What if we could precisely map, record, and simulate the neural activity of memories? What if we could enhance brain function and intelligence?   

The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development has partnered with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to organize the “The Brain Across the Lifespan” online workshop on April 18 and 19.