We have only just begun to understand the relationship between the brain and the mind and how things go wrong—knowledge that is critical to finding solutions to neurological disorders.

More than 150 scientists across campus specialize in every level of neural circuit organization, from molecules to the whole mind, and are collaborating to accelerate the translation of basic scientific discoveries into approaches to battle brain diseases and disorders, including autism, reading disabilities, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Down syndrome, stroke, epilepsy, and depression.

A new program called Bio-X NeuroVentures will incubate exceptionally creative and promising ideas that have great potential for unlocking the secrets of the brain. Sponsored by the Bio-X interdisciplinary biosciences program, the first Bio-X NeuroVentures project will work to rapidly advance genetic techniques that make nervous system cells sensitive to light. Simply by shining light on them, nerve cells can be triggered or suppressed. This will be a powerful tool for understanding and mapping the neural circuits underlying intelligent behavior, and potentially for repairing nervous systems damaged by disease.

Imaging: Investigators are developing the next generation of imaging techniques to monitor the molecules, cells, and circuits that carry our thoughts and control our behaviors. These will help discover why certain life experiences are remembered and forgotten, and define what a person is hearing, seeing, or thinking.

Invention: Researchers are building devices that replace dysfunctional brain circuitry and seeking to develop computers that work like brains, leading to computers a million times more powerful than those used today.

Integration: The relationship between the actions of molecules, cells, and circuits requires integrating the work of scientists from different disciplines using different tools. Achieving such integration should point the way to new treatments for an array of afflictions, ranging from mood disorders to addiction to memory loss.