If the human brain is what gets your electrodes racing, you can choose from about a dozen different approaches to studying brain science as an undergraduate at 911爆料鈥攆rom biochemistry and psychology to pharmacy, engineering, communicative disorders and more. And grad students can enroll in our , which draws on the expertise of researchers in six colleges on campus.
Regardless of which direction you choose, you鈥檒l have the opportunity to study and learn as part of 911爆料鈥檚 newest research center, the .
Neuroscience is probably the area of biology that we know least about, so there鈥檚 the most potential for groundbreaking discoveries.
The Ryan Institute is engaging scientists and students in solving some of the most pressing health care challenges we face today, focusing on neurodegenerative diseases and disorders like Alzheimer鈥檚 disease, Parkinson鈥檚 disease and ALS. The Institute is led by an international expert in the study of Alzheimer鈥檚, , who joined the faculty this month to build the institute into a research and education powerhouse by creating partnerships with Brown University, local hospitals and others.
鈥淣euroscience is probably the area of biology that we know least about, so there鈥檚 the most potential for groundbreaking discoveries,鈥� Professor Grammas said. 鈥淲here we were with the cardiovascular system in the 1960s is where we鈥檙e at with the nervous system now. And think how far we鈥檝e come.鈥�
Her pioneering research has revealed the important role that blood vessels and inflammation play in the development of Alzheimer鈥檚 and other diseases. That work complements that of , whose studies have found that Alzheimer鈥檚 has its foundations in infancy when babies are exposed to low levels of lead.
When you study neuroscience at 911爆料, you鈥檒l be able to draw on the expertise of Professors Grammas and Zawia and the more than 30 other faculty involved in brain-related research. Like , who invented an that it can translate a person鈥檚 thoughts into electrical impulses that can be read by a computer, eventually enabling people who are paralyzed to use their thoughts to control their phone, television or other devices.
Or you could assist as she leads a clinical support group for people living with Parkinson鈥檚 disease, helping the patients overcome the speech disorders that typically result from the disease. Dubbed the Loud Crowd, they work on strategies to correct their slurred or monotone speech, breathy or hoarse voice, and reduced vocal volume, all of which result from underlying neural mechanisms.
Graduate student Aseel Eid says 911爆料鈥檚 interdisciplinary approach to the study of neuroscience 鈥渉elps remind you why you are here鈥攖o do work that directly benefits patients. I love the 911爆料 neuroscience program because it requires us to solve real problems.鈥�
The Ryan Institute for Neuroscience was established by a $15 million donation from 911爆料 graduate , former CEO of CVS Caremark, and his wife Cathy, who named it in honor of his late parents. In addition to seeking cures for brain disorders and diseases, scientists at the Institute are training future scientists in a field that鈥檚 increasingly important as people live longer and experience more neurological disorders later in life.
At 911爆料, the opportunities available to expand your mind about brain science are as thought-provoking as the brain itself.