John Ngai, director of the National Institutes of Health’s Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative, visited Pittsburgh on Nov. 21–22, 2024, for an in-depth look at cutting-edge neurotechnology research from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh. Hosted by the Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition (CNBC), Ngai’s visit highlighted groundbreaking advances made possible by the NIH BRAIN Initiative, which has directed over $115 million in research funding to Pittsburgh in the past decade.
The visit began with introductions and opening remarks from CNBC co-directors Julie Fiez and Matthew Smith. Fiez, a professor and chair of psychology in Pitt’s Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, and Smith, a professor of biomedical engineering in CMU’s Department of Biomedical Engineering and Neuroscience Institute, emphasized the impact of cross-university collaboration in neuroscience. “This facility was intentionally designed to bring together the most advanced patient care and groundbreaking research by putting clinical and research spaces side by side,” Fiez said.
Ngai toured Pitt’s UPMC Mercy Pavilion alongside Congressional staff, university leadership, and CNBC faculty, viewing collaborative research aimed at improving the lives of people facing neurological challenges. During the tour, researchers showcased innovations including spinal cord stimulation, brain-computer interfaces, and precision deep-brain stimulation. “Dr. Ngai got to see work that is poised to make a huge difference to patients with epilepsy, tremors, limb amputations, Parkinson’s disease, and more,” Smith said.
At the public talk held in CMU’s Mellon Institute, Ngai emphasized the importance of mentorship and passion in science. “It’s a great time for neuroscience today. How you pursue your passion depends—it’s just a matter of what’s going to get you up in the morning and make you succeed,” he said.
The visit underscored Pittsburgh’s role as a national hub for neurotechnology and interdisciplinary research. The CNBC—a 30-year partnership between Pitt and CMU—demonstrated the profound impact of collaboration across institutions.
Want more details? Check out CMU’s writeup here and Pitt’s writeup here.
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Very special thanks go out to the many, many, many individuals at both institutions who played critical roles in making this visit happen. You know who you are. Particular institutional thanks goes out to CMU’s Neuroscience Institute, Pitt’s Office of Research and Rehab Neural Engineering Labs (RNEL), the Government Affairs teams at both Universities, and the NIH Office of the BRAIN Director (OBD)