The BRAIN Initiative (Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies), is a collaborative, public-private research initiative announced by the Obama administration on April 2, 2013, with the goal of supporting the development and application of innovative technologies that can create a dynamic understanding of brain function.
The program has seven main goals:
- Identify the different types of neurons in the brain and determine the roles they play in health and disease. Scientists also will search for better ways to directly experiment with these cells.
- Draw diagrams of the brain’s various circuits, ranging from the ones that link comparatively small numbers of neurons to those that involve the whole brain.
- Develop technologies for producing clearer, more detailed pictures of the working brain. Scientists also will seek better ways of using electrodes, optics, genetics and tiny sensors to broadly record the behavior of neurons.
- Link specific brain activities to specific behaviors. Scientists will do this by using highly precise tools to activate and turn off neurons in different areas of the brain.
- Develop new theories of how the brain functions based on better ways of analyzing and interpreting data.
- Create teams of researchers and clinical doctors to use the latest neurotechnologies to alleviate mental disorders.
- Apply all the new techniques to understanding how humans think, feel and understand.
42 opportunities remain open from various funders (public and private). These opportunities along with more information about the program may be found here: http://www.braininitiative.org/opportunities/