Neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders, injuries to the nervous system, and other brain health disorders have become the largest causes of health-related disability around the world. And yet, we have only a limited understanding of the basic mechanisms of brain function that underlie these disorders.
 
To accelerate progress in the fundamental understanding of how brains work and apply this knowledge to develop therapeutic interventions, a UW-led team including chair Jürgen Unützer, MD, is working on a state-wide Washington Neuroscience Initiative (WIN). The goal is to grow and support a diverse pipeline of scientists and clinicians in the field of neuroscience, to improve collaboration between these professionals through multidisciplinary training and joint mentoring from across Washington’s educational institutions, and to engage the broader public in efforts to improve brain health through targeted outreach and education.
 
Using a planning grant from the Washington Research Foundation (WRF), the team is hosting planning and brainstorming sessions with multiple different constituencies over the next few months. These will include sessions specifically for Seattle-area based neuroscience faculty members, staff and trainees. Please reach out to Zulma Garcia (zgarciam@uw.edu) to learn about upcoming townhalls and to learn more.