Center faculty produce vital knowledge to advance understanding and treatment of autism, neurodegeneration including Alzheimer’s and ALS, chronic pain, psychiatric illness, migraine, addiction and epilepsy.
Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science
Center for the Neurobiology of Cells and Circuits
The Center for the Neurobiology of Cells and Circuits advances the understanding of the function of neural circuits, building on a foundation of genetic, molecular and cellular approaches.
Center for the Neurobiology of Cells and Circuits
The Center for the Neurobiology of Cells and Circuits advances the understanding of the function of neural circuits, building on a foundation of genetic, molecular and cellular approaches.
“ Our work in this area provides a crucial foundation to our inquiries in many areas...and our successful recruitment of top faculty from around the country in recent years is making a huge difference. ”
Pioneering Advances
The Center for the Neurobiology of Cells and Circuits was catalyzed by transformative gift of $25 million to investigate the mechanisms underlying diseases and disorders, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis, which have remained resistant to cures or therapies.
The center brings together a broad team of faculty led by Brown, including Center Director Gilad Barnea, an associate professor of neuroscience, who developed a dynamic technology called “trans-Tango” to map and examine brain circuits to understand how they give rise to perception, memory and behavior.
Other collaborators include Alex Jaworski, assistant professor of neuroscience, who is teasing apart the signals that guide growing neurons to their destinations. And Karla Kaun, an assistant professor of neuroscience, uses fruit fly models to study the fundamental molecular biology of the brain that connects with alcohol addiction and rewards.
“With this center, we have an opportunity to explore the function of neural circuits in a way that pulls from a number of academic disciplines, and not just singularly focused with a narrow viewpoint,” said Carney Institute director Diane Lipscombe.