On April 2, 2013, President Obama announced a science technology initiative named BRAIN (Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies), which paves the way for detailed study and mapping of the human brain.
The technology could lead to new treatments and procedures for brain disorders. The program will receive $100 million in funding throughout 2014 to increase research power, education and jobs in neuroscience.
BRAIN will give scientists the opportunity to produce detailed pictures showing how specific cells and circuits within the brain function at super speeds. Through the program, the Obama Administration hopes that scientists can develop life-changing treatments to prevent or cure brain disorders such as epilepsy and Alzheimer’s.
A White House press release points to key achievements over the past decade through collaborative efforts by researchers as contributing factors to the explosion of emerging technologies in areas like nanoscience and genetics. According to the press release, “significant breakthroughs in how we treat neurological and psychiatric disease will require a new generation of tools.” Development through BRAIN will lead to advanced technologies for understanding how the brain uses information and “shed light on the complex links between brain function and behavior.”
According to the release, the administration urges businesses and research universities to embrace BRAIN, and insists on mounting one of the “Grand Challenges of the 21st Century.” BRAIN is partnering with various private sector entities such as The Allen Institute for Brain Science, a large neuroscience research organization; the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, a biomedical and neuroscience research firm; and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, a high-profile and award-winning research facility.
Employment for medical and life scientists is growing rapidly, according to an article from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Companies similar to those that BRAIN will fund are expected to fuel the growth of medical and life science jobs in the United States. The Bureau of Labor Statistics attributes the growth to expanded research geared toward treatments for Alzheimer’s Disease, AIDS and cancer.
The article references the federal government as a driving factor behind research, indicating research grants from the government impact the career field’s growth. Employment for medical scientists is projected to increase by 36 percent through 2020, and life scientists will see similar growth with a 20 percent increase over the next seven years.
The American Society of Neuroscience reflects the increased interest in the field, saying membership increased to 42,000 in 2012.
[cf]skyword_tracking_tag[/cf]
Please Leave A Comment
Related posts:
Expansion Supports Research Initiatives at Georgia Institute of Technology
Obama Seeks Alternative Energy Research for $2 Billion
Machine Learning Project Opens New Possibilities for Scientific Research, Web Search and University Research Centers
$20 Million for Higher Education Research on Solar Facilities in Nevada
Transdisciplinary Collaboration: The Future of U.S. Research
No Comment