Support Brain Research

Scientists today probe brain function in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago. These new opportunities build on tremendous advances in genetics, genomics, imaging, computer science and technology development over the past decade. We are truly at the threshold, for the first time ever, of being able to probe the secrets of the human brain and to uncover the biological bases of brain diseases. However, the task before us is daunting: deploying this knowledge to develop therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, developmental disorders and psychiatric conditions requires an international, multidisciplinary collaborative effort.

Harvard is home to one of the largest and broadest-ranging communities of basic neuroscience researchers in the world, surrounded by clinician-scientists from affiliated hospitals who are leaders in their fields. At HBI, believing it possible to exponentially stimulate discovery through collaboration and interdisciplinary learning, our vision is to facilitate interactions among these faculty, students and fellows in diverse sectors of our university.

Philanthropy makes a deep and lasting impact on our scientists, often through seed grant programs that allow laboratories to enter new fields, build new collaborations and test innovative hypotheses in ways that may not be possible with traditional sources of funding. Donations to HBI also allow us to develop symposia and community building activities that inspire meaningful exchanges amongst investigators of varied disciplines and nurture the career development of the young scientists who will become the next generation of brain science researchers.