Rice University launches Brain Institute to advance research
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Rice University has launched an institute to accelerate discoveries in brain science and health.
Why it matters: As rates of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other neurological disorders rise globally, Rice leaders say universities must take the lead in finding solutions that protect memory, movement and mental health.
The big picture: The Rice Brain Institute is an interdisciplinary hub that will bring together engineers, scientists and social researchers to understand the human brain better.
- The RBI combines three major efforts: the Neuroengineering Initiative, which merges engineering and neuroscience to develop brain-sensing and rehabilitation technologies; the Neuroscience Initiative, focused on brain biology from cells to cognition; and the Brain and Society Initiative, which links research to education, technology, policy and justice.
The latest: The announcement lands just ahead of Texas' vote on Proposition 14, which would dedicate $3 billion to statewide dementia research.
By the numbers: The institute builds on Rice's $78 million in neuroengineering research funding and more than 50 collaborations with the Texas Medical Center.
- Brain and mental health disorders cost the global economy an estimated $5 trillion a year, a number projected to triple by 2030.
What they're saying: "Few areas of research have as direct and profound an impact on human well-being as brain health," Rice President Reginald DesRoches said in the announcement this week.
- "We all know someone who has been affected by a brain-related health issue, so this research is personal to all of us."
What's next: The RBI aims to make Rice a global leader in brain health innovation — from molecular discoveries to real-world interventions.