Vision for the Future

The University of Michigan has longstanding strengths in the neurosciences and internationally recognized research programs in key areas of the field. U-M aims to leverage this established foundation and the campus-wide research strengths by means of the Michigan Neuroscience Institute, a Regent-approved institute with both a physical home and a virtual reach across the university.

Functions of the Future

A major opportunity for growth in the neurosciences at Michigan is the creation of an integrated network that achieves synergy in the pursuit of addressing the most pressing questions in neuroscience at the foundational, translational, and clinical levels, while educating the future leaders in the field. 

The Michigan Neuroscience Institute is poised to include, but is not limited to, the following activities:

  • Develop a unifying strategic vision for U-M neuroscience that considers the full depth and breadth of U-M neuroscientists.
  • Cultivate a highly-collaborative, inclusive, and diverse environment that provides rich and dynamic intellectual engagement, support for innovation and multidisciplinary work, and development of new collaborations, initiatives, infrastructure, and services that attract a wide range of outstanding investigators to the institute. Function as a bridge across neuroscience disciplines and neuroscience units on campus.
  • Establish signature research programs/themes to facilitate high-impact research that extends from fundamental discovery to clinical translation and improved prevention and treatment of disease.
  • Actively promote multidisciplinary, multi-school, large-scale grant proposals and provide project management and supplemental unit-based pre- and post-award administrative support.
  • Offer educational opportunities for the broader neuroscience community of learners and faculty (e.g., neuroscience boot camp, short courses on novel techniques, data analysis workshops, lecture/symposium series).
  • Recruit, develop, mentor, and retain outstanding neuroscience faculty in partnership with academic departments. Create a robust system for mentoring early-career faculty.
  • Develop new cores specific to the needs of neuroscientists and establish strong partnerships and service pathways with existing campus cores and resources.
  • Coordinate the campus-wide neuroscience community with a comprehensive website, profiling U-M neuroscience experts to achieve national visibility for U-M neuroscience, MNI, and its affiliated faculty.
  • Lead, in partnership with the Development and Alumni Relations Office, a robust philanthropic program.
  • Elevate Michigan’s reputation and standing as a premier institution in the field of neuroscience.