Researchers at Brown University’s Carney Institute for Brain Science have identified a defect in the motor circuit that may serve as an early signal of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

In honor of Women's History Month and International Women's Day, the Carney Institute invited Sheila E. Blumstein, an outstanding mentor and Brown University professor emerita, to reflect on the changes she witnessed during her 50-year career, as well as her many contributions to creating a more inclusive environment for women scientists.

Light therapy products, touted as treatments for seasonal affective disorder, are steadily on the rise.

Considerably more work remained before the discovery would be formally announced with publication in the journal Neuron in the fall of 2017, but the goal was in sight.

Odors have long been used by animals as cues to navigate their environment, but little is known about the neural mechanisms behind the creation of odor memories. Using genetic tagging, a recent study co-authored by Alexander Fleischmann, a neuroscientist at Brown University, identifies specific populations of neurons in the olfactory cortex that are activated in this process.

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Major accomplishments of 2018

Bioluminescence Hub’s collaborative project allows for specialized labs, increased impact.

The researchers developed a computer simulation, in which digital rodents were given a choice of two levers, one of which was associated with the chance of getting a reward. The lever with the reward was the "correct" one, and the lever without was the "wrong" one.

Two decades ago, the Brown Brain Science Program was born through a pioneering grant from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, supporting graduate students with expertise in the physical sciences and mathematics to tackle problems in brain science. That program grew into the Brown Institute for Brain Science in 2009, which became in 2018 the Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science.

Brain scientists at Brown have bold aspirations. Those aspirations may change our fundamental understanding of the human brain and also transform what’s possible for treating brain-related disorders and diseases.

The VA Career Development Program was established to attract, develop, and retain talented scientists working to improve veteran, health, care, and quality of life.

Visit the UTRA webpage for general information and application instructions. Carney Institute​ UTRA awards follow all Brown University UTRA guidelines.

Gilad’s extensive leadership portfolio as well as his ongoing research and teaching position him well to build on the considerable strengths of the Center, which nucleates interdisciplinary faculty teams to advance our understanding of the function of neural circuits, using genetic, molecular, and cellular approaches as a foundation.

The Dec. 12 event was sponsored by the Brown Club of Boston and the Brown Women's Leadership Council. Photos by Nicole Yankelovich Mordecai '83.

With a new five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health, the Center for Central Nervous System Function will launch five research projects and develop new analysis tools to advance brain science at Brown.

“If we can understand the neurobiological mechanisms of how the brain is developing differently as a consequence of early-life stress, using our animal model, then we can better understand what types of things we need to do to get children back on the right course for healthy brain development.”

“For years, the BrainGate collaboration has been working to develop the neuroscience and neuroengineering know-how to enable people who have lost motor abilities to control external devices just by thinking about the movement of their own arm or hand,” said Dr. Jaimie Henderson.

We seek post-doctoral (MD or MD/PhD) clinician-scientists and post-doctoral (PhD) neuroengineers/computational neuroscientists.

Despite that tool’s widespread use, some researchers say a more empirical approach would better serve both patients and the physicians who provide care.

Current suicide predictors are not powerful, but neuroscience graduate students at Brown University got an exclusive look at novel approaches to suicide prevention.

Through the Innovation Awards program, the Carney Institute seeks to support risky, early stage projects that are too new to attract external funding. Each $100,000 award funds the project for one year, renewable for a second year on a competitive basis. Junior Principal Investigators (those at the Assistant Professor level) receive a $32,000 supplement.

The project is a risky gamble, but it’s one that could reap great rewards. It’s also emblematic of how brain science is practiced at Brown.

The Hyundai Visionary Challenge, hosted by Brown and sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company, is officially open for video submissions. The portal will remain open until Monday, October 15.