South Middlesex Times

Members of the Rutgers Brain Health Institute (BHI) recently gathered to celebrate a decade of advancements in brain health research. The institute, which boasts one of the largest concentrations of neuroscience labs globally, includes over 300 faculty and 900 trainees from various departments and schools within Rutgers University.

In its ten years, BHI has established five Centers of Excellence and initiated two new centers focusing on pain and neurotechnology. These centers are engaged in studying complex brain disorders. For instance, the Center for Autism Research collaborates with Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Children’s Specialized Hospital to provide clinical services for autistic children facing severe behavioral issues. Other centers focus on Alzheimer’s disease, addiction, advanced human brain imaging, and computational cognitive neuropsychiatry.

Since its founding, BHI has increased neuroscience funding at Rutgers significantly. Faculty recruited by BHI have secured more than $80 million in extramural funding through 2024. In August, a notable achievement was the awarding of a $16 million Silvio O. Conte Center P50 grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to faculty from Rutgers and Princeton.

Rutgers Health Chancellor Brian Strom commented on the institute's impact during the 10th Annual BHI Symposium held in mid-November: “In its first decade, the Brain Health Institute has not only strengthened Rutgers Health but also brought real benefits to the people of New Jersey and beyond.”

The institute celebrated its milestone with an awards ceremony at the Zimmerli Art Museum in New Brunswick on December 10th. The event recognized faculty for their contributions to research and service:

- Anna Konova received the Early Career Faculty “Rising Star” Research Excellence Award.

- Victoria Abraira was honored with the Mid-Career Faculty “Shining Star” Research Excellence Award.

- Dipak Sarkar and Laszlo Zaborszky were awarded Senior Faculty “Super Star” Research Excellence Awards.

- Chiara Manzini received the BHI “Outstanding Service” Award.

Gary Aston-Jones, director of BHI, emphasized the significance of these achievements: “These awards and our 10th anniversary highlight the transformative impact of BHI’s faculty and programs. Our faculty’s research continues to address critical challenges in brain health, and our interdisciplinary approach fosters collaboration across Rutgers and beyond.”