Broadening the Representation of Academic Investigators in NeuroScience (BRAINS) is a national program dedicated to advancing diversity and inclusion in neuroscience. BRAINS uses a unique cohort-based professional development approach to explicitly address the inclusion, retention, and advancement of early career (post Ph.D. and pre-tenure) neuroscientists from diverse backgrounds, including historically underrepresented and marginalized groups.
The BRAINS experience positively impacts participants’ career trajectories, especially in academic neuroscience, and creates a perpetually empowering community.
"Once in BRAINS, always in BRAINS"
As of 2024, the program has had 6 Fellows cohorts and 5 Affiliates cohorts, totaling 231 participants:
- 64% identify as women
- 44% identify as Black
- 48% identify as Hispanic or Latinx
- 16% identify as individuals with disabilities
BRAINS has been funded since 2011 by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and is based at the University of Washington. BRAINS has also received funding support from the Washington Research Foundation, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Program in Public Understanding of Science and Technology, the Simons Foundation, the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, the Allen Institute, and the Dana Foundation.
