The Johns Hopkins Medicine Brain Science Institute’s mission is to solve fundamental questions about brain development, function and disease and to translate this knowledge into effective therapies to support brain health and healing.

Pedersen Brain Science Institute Programs

  • Neurocognition

    The Neurocognition Program studies complex neural systems and behaviors — including touch perception, motor control, social behaviors, reward, mood and decision-making — to inform the development of therapeutics for nervous system disorders ranging from autism to addiction.

    Digital illustration of a person's face over connected data points.
  • Neurodegeneration

    The Neurodegeneration Program studies the fundamental causes of neurodegenerative disorders — including Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington’s disease and Parkinson’s disease — with a mission to develop interventions to mitigate and cure them.

    Digital illustration of globules on neurons.
  • Drug Discovery

    Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery works with researchers across the university to discover and develop tomorrow’s therapeutics for a wide range of human disorders.

    Researcher holding a vaccine vial.
  • International Arts + Mind Lab

    The International Arts + Mind Lab is a multidisciplinary research-to-practice initiative that is accelerating the field of neuroaesthetics. Its mission is to amplify human potential by addressing intractable problems in health, well-being and learning using the arts.

    Person with multiple colors of paint on their face.

Clinician looking at an hologram of a brain coming out of a tablet computer.

Launched in 2007, the Brain Science Institute unified the tremendous thought leadership across the Johns Hopkins community in the brain sciences and related disciplines. To date, over 50 schools, departments, divisions, centers and institutes participate in this multidisciplinary umbrella organization, the largest and most diverse group in the university.

Learn more