Increased Neuroscience Funding Puts Calif. at ‘Epicenter’ of Research
California is "at the epicenter" of national efforts to increase medical research into Alzheimer’s disease, autism, traumatic brain injuries and other brain-related issues, the San Francisco Business Times' "BiotechSF" reports.
The research comes as more military service members are diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries and about five million U.S. residents are living with Alzheimer's disease.
There have been several efforts in recent months aimed at increasing funding for neuroscience research in California, such as:
Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signing a state budget plan that allocated $2 million in neuroscience research grants;
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory obtaining $2.5 million in federal grants to create an implantable device to restore memory in individuals who have experienced traumatic brain injuries; and
UC-Berkeley, UC-San Francisco, Livermore Labs and other California groups receiving a $26 million grant through President Obama's BRAIN Initiative.
Santinderpall Pannu, head of Livermore Lab's center for bioengineering, said California is "becoming this hub" for neuroscience research, adding, "There's a huge wealth of neuroscientists in California."
Pannu said Brown's approval of legislation increasing neuroscience funding "is proof that the legislative and executive branches recognize that and are strengthening the position of California to really be the leader in this area," adding, "It's a really important sign locally and nationally that California has a lot to offer in this area" (Leuty, "BiotechSF," San Francisco Business Times, 7/11).
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