Advances in our understanding of the brain are leading both to new insights into the ways in which we think and to new opportunities to treat the devastating set of neurological diseases that affect all segments of our population. The Penn State Hershey Medical Center and the Penn State College of Medicine (PSH) intend to establish a comprehensive neuroscience institute that integrates basic, translational and clinical neuroscience research, education of graduate students, medical students, postdoctoral fellows and residents, clinical care of patients with neurobehavioral diseases and disorders and outreach to the local community, state, regional, national and international neuroscience organizations.
With the neurosciences clearly established as a continuing priority in the overall strategic vision of PSH, the leadership of the neuroscience community at PSH is seeking to establish the short and long term vision for excellence and continued growth in neuroscience. The Penn State Hershey Neuroscience Institute (hereafter HNI) will:
• improve collaboration and alignment among Departments focused on neuroscience, (Neural and Behavioral Sciences, Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry), Divisions of other Departments (such as Neuroradiology, Neuroanesthesiology, Neuropathology, Neuro-Ophthalmology, Pediatric Neurology, Rehabilitation Medicine, Pain Management and Neuroscience Nursing) and individual faculty in other basic science and clinical departments who are engaged in neuroscience research, education or patient care.
• recruit a critical mass of faculty into specific Centers of Excellence targeted towards particular neural systems, diseases or methodological approaches.
• serve as an advocate for the neurosciences at PSH to increase our visibility and reputation at the regional, national and international levels.
• work in collaboration with colleagues at other Penn State University campuses, as well as other regional academic institutions and health care providers, to accommodate the growing demand for neuroscience research, education and patient care.
Those academic centers that can achieve the best collaboration and alignment among the various neuroscience disciplines will be best positioned to advance this field. We believe that the formation of the HNI will position PSH to take a leading role in developing neuroscience knowledge and treatment.
