View source for BRAIN Initiative

{{Short description|Collaborative public-private research initiative announced by the Obama administration}}
{{For|the different project in Europe|Human Brain Project}}
{{Quote box|quote=Understanding how the brain works is arguably one of the greatest scientific challenges of our time.|source=–Alivisatos ''et al.''<ref name=Neuron2012/>|quoted=1|align=right|width=25%|salign=right}}

The [[White House]] '''BRAIN Initiative''' ('''Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies''') is a collaborative, public-private research initiative announced by the [[Barack Obama|Obama administration]] on April 2, 2013, with the goal of supporting the development and application of innovative technologies that can create a dynamic understanding of [[brain]] function.<ref name=NYTimes1>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/18/science/project-seeks-to-build-map-of-human-brain.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0|title=Obama Seeking to Boost Study of Human Brain|first=John|last=Markoff|newspaper=New York Times|date=February 18, 2013|access-date=February 18, 2013}}</ref><ref name=Time/><ref name=NYTimes2/><ref name=NBC>{{Cite news|url=http://vitals.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/02/17565983-white-house-pitches-brain-mapping-project|title=White House pitches brain mapping project|first=Maggie|last=Fox|work=NBC News|date=April 2, 2013|access-date=April 2, 2013|archive-date=August 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804201953/http://vitals.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/02/17565983-white-house-pitches-brain-mapping-project|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=WhiteHouse>{{Cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/04/02/fact-sheet-brain-initiative|title=Fact Sheet: BRAIN Initiative|publisher=White House Office of the Press Secretary|date=April 2, 2013|access-date=April 2, 2013}}</ref>

This activity is a [[Grand Challenges|Grand Challenge]] focused on revolutionizing our understanding of the human brain, and was developed by the White House [[Office of Science and Technology Policy]] (OSTP) as part of a broader [[White House Neuroscience Initiative]].<ref>{{cite web|title=White House Neuroscience Initiative|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/administration/eop/ostp/initiatives|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|work=[[Office of Science and Technology Policy]]|access-date=7 May 2015}}</ref> Inspired by the [[Human Genome Project]], BRAIN aims to help researchers uncover the mysteries of [[brain disorders]], such as [[Alzheimer's]] and [[Parkinson's]] diseases, [[Depression (mood)|depression]], and [[traumatic brain injury]] (TBI).

Participants in BRAIN and affiliates of the project include [[DARPA]] and [[IARPA]] as well as numerous private companies, universities, and other organizations in the United States, Australia, Canada, and Denmark.<ref name="braininitiative.org">{{cite web|url=https://www.braininitiative.org/participants/|title=Participants|website=The BRAIN Initiative|access-date=2019-05-13|archive-date=2021-11-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112070132/https://www.braininitiative.org/participants/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Background==
The BRAIN Initiative reflects a number of influences, stemming back over a decade. Some of these include: planning meetings at the [[National Institutes of Health]] that led to the NIH's Blueprint for Neuroscience Research;<ref>{{cite web|title=NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research|url=http://neuroscienceblueprint.nih.gov/|website=nih.gov|publisher=National Institutes of Health|access-date=7 May 2015}}</ref> workshops at the [[National Science Foundation]] (NSF) on [[cognition]], [[neuroscience]], and [[Emerging technologies|convergent science]], including a 2006 report on "Grand Challenges of Mind and Brain";<ref>{{cite web|title=NSF Report on Grand Challenges of Mind and Brain|url=https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=biorpt080706|website=NSF publication|publisher=NSF|access-date=9 May 2015}}</ref> reports from the [[National Research Council (United States)|National Research Council]] and the [[Institute of Medicine]]'s Forum on Neuroscience and Nervous System Disorders, including "From Molecules to Mind: Challenges for the 21st Century," a report of a June 25, 2008 Workshop on Grand Challenges in Neuroscience.;<ref>{{cite web|title=Workshop on Grand Challenges in Neuroscience |url=http://www.iom.edu/Activities/Research/NeuroForum/2008-JUN-25.aspx |website=Institute of Medicine |publisher=National Academies of Science |access-date=9 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110221031831/http://www.iom.edu/Activities/Research/NeuroForum/2008-JUN-25.aspx |archive-date=21 February 2011 }}</ref> years of research and reports from scientists and professional societies; and congressional interest.

One important activity was the [[Brain Activity Map Project]]. In September 2011, molecular biologist Miyoung Chun of [[Kavli Foundation (United States)|The Kavli Foundation]] organized a conference in London, at which scientists first put forth the idea of such a project.<ref name=NYTimes2/><ref name=BostonGlobe>{{Cite news|url=http://bo.st/17htYTC|title=Local Scientists on Brain Mapping Dream Team Reflect on Challenges, Opportunity|first=Carolyn|last=Johnson|newspaper=Boston Globe|date=April 5, 2013|access-date=April 11, 2013}}</ref> At subsequent meetings, scientists from US government laboratories, including members of the [[Office of Science and Technology Policy]], and from the [[Howard Hughes Medical Institute]] and the [[Allen Institute for Brain Science]], along with representatives from [[Google]], [[Microsoft]], and [[Qualcomm]], discussed possibilities for a future government-led project.<ref name=NYTimes1/>

Other influences included the interdisciplinary "Decade of the Mind" project led by James L. Olds, who is currently the Assistant Director for Biological Sciences at NSF,<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Olds|first1=James L.|title=For an International Decade of the Mind|journal=The Malaysian Journal of Medical Studies|date=Apr–Jun 2011|volume=18|issue=2|pages=1–2|pmc=3216206|pmid=22135580}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=NSF Selects James Olds to head Biological Science Directorate|url=https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=132477|website=NSF.gov|publisher=NSF|access-date=9 May 2015}}</ref> and the "Revolutionizing Prosthetics" project at [[DARPA]], led by Dr. [[Geoffrey Ling]] and shown on [[60 Minutes]] in April 2009.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Pentagon's Bionic Arm|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-pentagons-bionic-arm/|work=CBS News|date=10 April 2009 |access-date=9 May 2015}}</ref>

Development of the plan for the BRAIN Initiative within the [[Executive Office of the President]] (EOP) was led by OSTP and included the following EOP staff:  [[Philip Rubin]], then Principal Assistant Director for Science and leader of the White House Neuroscience Initiative; [[Thomas Kalil]], Deputy Director for Technology and Innovation; [[Cristin Dorgelo]], then Assistant Director for Grand Challenges, and later Chief of Staff at OSTP; and Carlos Peña, Assistant Director for Emerging Technologies and currently the Division Director for the Division of Neurological and Physical Medicine Devices, in the Office of Device Evaluation, Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), at the U.S. [[Food and Drug Administration]] (FDA).<ref>{{cite web|title=White House OSTP staff|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/administration/eop/ostp/about/leadershipstaff|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|work=[[Office of Science and Technology Policy]]|access-date=9 May 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=BRAIN Grand Challenges Conference|url=http://gcbme.embs.org/brain2014/speakers/|website=IEEE EMBS|publisher=IEEE|access-date=9 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151203065054/http://gcbme.embs.org/brain2014/speakers/|archive-date=2015-12-03|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Announcement==
[[File:BRAIN Initiative announcement.png|thumb|right|[[NIH]] Director Dr. [[Francis Collins]] and President [[Barack Obama]] announcing the BRAIN Initiative]]
On April 2, 2013, at  a White House event, President [[Barack Obama]] announced The BRAIN Initiative, with proposed initial expenditures for fiscal year 2014 of approximately $110 million from the [[Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency]] (DARPA), the  [[National Institutes of Health]] (NIH), and the [[National Science Foundation]] (NSF).<ref name=NYTimes2/><ref name=NBC/><ref name=WhiteHouse/> The President also directed the [[Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues]] to explore the ethical, legal, and societal implications raised by the initiative and by neuroscience in general. Additional commitments were also made by the [[Allen Institute for Brain Science]], the [[Howard Hughes Medical Institute]], and [[Kavli Foundation (United States)|The Kavli Foundation]]. The NIH also announced the creation of a working group of the Advisory Committee to the Director, led by neuroscientists [[Cornelia Bargmann]] and [[William Newsome]] and with ''ex officio'' participation from DARPA and NSF, to help shape NIH's role in the BRAIN Initiative. NSF planned to receive advice from its directorate advisory committees, from the [[National Science Board]], and from a series of meetings bringing together scientists in neuroscience and related areas.<ref name=NYTimes2>{{Cite news|title=Obama to unveil initiative to map the human brain |first1=John| last1=Markoff| first2=James| last2=Gorman |newspaper=New York Times |date=April 2, 2013 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/02/science/obama-to-unveil-initiative-to-map-the-human-brain.html|access-date=April 2, 2013}}</ref><ref name=NBC/><ref name=WhiteHouse/>

==Experimental approaches==
{{Further|Brain mapping|Neuroinformatics|Nanobiotechnology}}
News reports said the research would map the dynamics of neuron activity in [[animal testing|mice and other animals]]<ref name=Time>{{Cite magazine|url=http://healthland.time.com/2013/02/19/brain-map-president-obama-proposes-first-detailed-guide-of-human-brain-function/|title=Brain Map: President Obama Proposes First Detailed Guide of Human Brain Function|first=Maia|last=Szalavitz|magazine=Time|date=February 19, 2013|access-date=February 19, 2013}}</ref> and eventually the tens of billions of neurons in the human brain.<ref>Human brains average 86 billion neurons by a recent estimate. Source: [https://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2012/feb/28/how-many-neurons-human-brain How many neurons make a human brain? Billions fewer than we thought]. Notes & Theories. ''The Guardian''. Feb 28, 2012.</ref>

In a 2012 scientific commentary outlining experimental plans for a more limited project, Alivisatos ''et al.'' outlined a variety of specific experimental techniques that might be used to achieve what they termed a "functional [[connectome]]", as well as new technologies that will have to be developed in the course of the project.<ref name=Neuron2012>{{Cite journal|last1=Alivisatos|first1=A. Paul|last2=Chun|first2=Miyoung|last3=Church|first3=George M.|last4=Greenspan|first4=Ralph J.|last5=Roukes|first5=Michael L.|last6=Yuste|first6=Rafael|title=The Brain Activity Map Project and the Challenge of Functional Connectomics|journal=[[Neuron (journal)|Neuron]]|date=June 2012|volume=74|issue=6|pages=970&ndash;974|doi=10.1016/j.neuron.2012.06.006|pmid=22726828|pmc=3597383}}</ref> They indicated that initial studies might be done in ''[[Caenorhabditis elegans]]'', followed by ''[[Drosophila]]'', because of their comparatively simple neural circuits. Mid-term studies could be done in [[zebrafish]], [[laboratory mice|mice]], and the [[Etruscan shrew]], with studies ultimately to be done in [[Animal testing on non-human primates|primates]] and humans. They proposed the development of [[nanoparticle]]s that could be used as [[voltage]] [[sensor]]s that would detect individual [[action potential]]s, as well as [[Nanoprobe (device)|nanoprobes]] that could serve as [[electrophysiology|electrophysiological]] [[multielectrode array]]s. In particular, they called for the use of wireless, noninvasive methods of neuronal activity detection, either utilizing [[Microelectronics|microelectronic]] [[very-large-scale integration]], or based on [[synthetic biology]] rather than microelectronics. In one such proposed method, enzymatically produced [[DNA]] would serve as a "ticker tape record" of neuronal activity,<ref name=Neuron2012/><ref name=PlosCB>{{Cite journal|last1=Kording|first1=Konrad|author-link1=Konrad Kording|title=Of Toasters and Molecular Ticker Tapes|journal=[[PLOS Computational Biology]]|date=December 2011|volume=7|issue=12|doi=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1002291|pmid=22219716|pages=e1002291|pmc=3248391|bibcode=2011PLSCB...7E2291K |doi-access=free }}</ref> based on [[calcium]] ion-induced errors in coding by [[DNA polymerase]].<ref name=PlosONE>{{Cite journal|last1=Zamft|first1=Bradley Michael|last2=Marblestone|first2=Adam H.|last3=Kording|first3=Konrad|author-link3=Konrad Kording|last4=Schmidt|first4=Daniel|last5=Martin-Alarcon|first5=Daniel|last6=Tyo|first6=Keith|last7=Boyden|first7=Edward S.|last8=Church|first8=George|title=Measuring Cation Dependent DNA Polymerase Fidelity Landscapes by Deep Sequencing|journal=[[PLOS ONE]]|date=August 2012|volume=7|issue=8|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0043876|pmid=22928047|pages=e43876|pmc=3425509|bibcode=2012PLoSO...743876Z|doi-access=free}}</ref> Data would be analyzed and modeled by large scale [[computational neuroscience|computation]].<ref name=Neuron2012/> A related technique proposed the use of high-throughput [[DNA sequencing]] for rapidly mapping neural connectivity.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Zador |first1=Anthony M. |last2=Dubnau |first2=Joshua |last3=Oyibo |first3=Hassana K. |last4=Zhan |first4=Huiqing |last5=Cao |first5=Gang |last6=Peikon |first6=Ian D. |title=Sequencing the Connectome |journal=PLOS Biology |volume=10 |issue=10 |year=2012 |pmid=23109909 |doi=10.1371/journal.pbio.1001411 |pages=e1001411 |pmc=3479097 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

===Timeline===
The timeline proposed by the Working Group in 2014 is:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-embraces-bold-12-year-scientific-vision-brain-initiative|title=NIH embraces bold, 12-year scientific vision for BRAIN Initiative|date=16 July 2015|website=National Institutes of Health (NIH)}}</ref>
*2016–2020: technology development and validation
*2020–2025: application of those technologies in an integrated fashion to make fundamental new discoveries about the brain

==Working group==

The advisory committee is:<ref>{{cite web|title=Advisory Committee to the Director |url=http://www.nih.gov/science/brain/acd-roster.pdf |work=Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Working Group |publisher=National Institutes of Health |access-date=14 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130424042105/http://nih.gov/science/brain/acd-roster.pdf |archive-date=24 April 2013 }}</ref>

{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
* [[Cornelia Bargmann]], PhD (co‐chair), The [[Rockefeller University]]
* [[William Newsome]], PhD (co‐chair), [[Stanford University]]
* [[David J. Anderson]], PhD, [[California Institute of Technology]]
* [[Emery Brown]], MD, PhD, [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]]
* [[Karl Deisseroth]], MD, PhD, Stanford University
* [[John Donoghue (neuroscientist)|John Donoghue]], PhD, [[Brown University]]
* [[Peter MacLeish]], PhD, [[Morehouse School of Medicine]]
* [[Eve Marder]], PhD, [[Brandeis University]]
{{col-break}}
* [[Richard A. Normann]], PhD, [[University of Utah]]
* [[Joshua Sanes]], PhD, [[Harvard University]]
* [[Mark Schnitzer]], PhD, Stanford University
* [[Terry Sejnowski]], PhD, [[Salk Institute for Biological Studies]]
* [[David Tank]], PhD, [[Princeton University]]
* [[Roger Y. Tsien]], PhD, [[University of California, San Diego]]
* [[Kamil Uğurbil]], PhD, [[University of Minnesota]]
{{col-end}}

==Participants==
As of December 2018, the BRAIN Initiative website lists the following participants and affiliates:

* [[National Institutes of Health]] (Alliance Member)
* [[National Science Foundation]] (Alliance Member)
* [[U.S. Food and Drug Administration]] (Alliance Member)
* [[Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity]] (IARPA) (Alliance Member)
* White House BRAIN Initiative (Alliance Affiliate)
* [[Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency]] (B.I. Participant)
* [[Simons Foundation]] (Alliance Member)
* National Photonics Initiative (B.I. Participant)
* [[Allen Institute for Brain Science]] (Alliance Member)
* Janelia/[[Howard Hughes Medical Institute]] (Alliance Affiliate)
* Neurotechnology Architecting Network (B.I. Participant)
* Pacific Northwest Neuroscience Neighborhood (B.I. Participant)
* University of California System Cal-BRAIN (B.I. Participant)
* University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute (B.I. Participant)
* [[Blackrock Microsystems]] (B.I. Participant)
* [[GlaxoSmithKline]] (B.I. Participant)
* Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (B.I. Participant)
* Boston University Center for Systems Neuroscience (B.I. Participant)
* [[General Electric]] (B.I. Participant)
* [[Boston Scientific]] (B.I. Participant)
* [[Carnegie Mellon University ]]BrainHub (B.I. Participant)
* NeuroNexus (B.I. Participant)
* Medtronic (B.I. Participant)
* Pediatric Brain Foundation (B.I. Participant)
* University of Texas System UT Neuroscience (B.I. Participant)
* University of Arizona Center for Innovation in Brain Science (B.I. Participant)
* [[Salk Institute for Biological Studies]] (B.I. Participant)
* Second Sight (B.I. Participant)
* Kavli Foundation (Alliance Member)
* University of Utah Neurosciences Gateway (B.I. Participant)
* Blackrock Microsystems (B.I. Participant)
* Ripple (B.I. Participant)
* [[Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory]] (B.I. Participant)
* NeuroPace (B.I. Participant)
* [[Google]] (B.I. Participant)
* Inscopix (B.I. Participant)
* Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (B.I. Participant)
* Brain Canada Foundation (B.I. Participant)
* Denmark's Lundbeck Foundation (B.I. Participant).<ref name="braininitiative.org"/>

==Reactions==
Scientists offered differing views of the plan. Neuroscientist John Donoghue said that the project would fill a gap in [[neuroscience]] research between, on the one hand, activity measurements at the level of brain regions using methods such as [[Functional magnetic resonance imaging|fMRI]], and, on the other hand, measurements at the level of [[single-unit recording|single cells]].<ref name=Time/> Psychologist Ed Vul expressed concern, however, that the initiative would divert funding from individual investigator studies.<ref name=Time/> Neuroscientist Donald Stein expressed concern that it would be a mistake to begin by spending money on technological methods, before knowing exactly what would be measured.<ref name=NYTimes2/> Physicist [[Michael Roukes]] argued instead that methods in nanotechnology are becoming sufficiently mature to make the time right for a brain activity map.<ref name=NYTimes2/> Neuroscientist [[Rodolfo Llinás]] declared at the first Rockefeller meeting "What has happened here is magnificent, never before in neuroscience have I seen so much unity in such a glorious purpose."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.science.org/content/article/big-dreams-emerge-big-brain-science-projects|title=Big dreams emerge for big brain science projects|last=Wadman|first=Meredith|date=2016-09-20|website=Science {{!}} AAAS|language=en|access-date=2019-05-22}}</ref>

The projects face great logistical challenges. Neuroscientists estimated that the project would generate 300 [[exabyte]]s of data every year, presenting a significant technical barrier.<ref name=dots>{{cite news |title=Connecting the Neural Dots |first=John |last=Markoff |newspaper=New York Times |date=February 26, 2013 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/26/science/proposed-brain-mapping-project-faces-significant-hurdles.html?pagewanted=all |access-date=February 27, 2013}}</ref> Most of the available high-resolution brain activity monitors are of limited use, as they must be invasively implanted surgically by opening the skull.<ref name=dots/> Parallels have been drawn to past large-scale government-led research efforts including the [[Human Genome Project|map of the human genome]], the [[Apollo program|voyage to the moon]], and the [[Manhattan Project|development of the atomic bomb]].<ref name=NYTimes1/>

==See also==
*[[Allen Brain Atlas]]
*[[Blue Brain Project]]
*[[BrainMaps]]
*[[Brain Mapping Foundation]]
*[[Brain/MINDS]]
*[[China Brain Project]]
*[[Decade of the Brain]]
*[[Decade of the Mind]]
*[[G20 World Brain Mapping & Therapeutic Scientific Summit]]<!--
*[[Human Brain Project]] is already linked at the top of this page. Please do not re-add it here. -->
*[[Human Connectome Project]]
*[[List of animals by number of neurons]]
*[[List of neuroscience databases]]
*[[Organization for Human Brain Mapping]]
*[[Outline of brain mapping]]
*[[Outline of the human brain]]
*[[Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics]]
*[[SpiNNaker]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{doi|10.1038/s41592-018-0210-0}} "The impact of the NIH BRAIN Initiitve", ''Nature Methods'' editorial, November 2018.

==External links==
*{{official|http://www.nih.gov/science/brain}}

[[Category:Government research]]
[[Category:Neural coding]]
[[Category:Neuroimaging]]
[[Category:Neuroinformatics]]
[[Category:Politics of science]]
[[Category:Research in the United States]]
[[Category:Neuroscience projects]]
[[Category:2013 establishments in the United States]]