I've recently joined the advisory board of a new publication called Science Progress which aims to influence US public policy by embracing the best of American scientific and political thought. On the website you can find several interesting articles including a piece by Vint Cerf who reflects forward on our nation’s incredible ability to respond swiftly to complex scientific challenges as well as an op-ed article that I wrote, BrainTech is Here: Neurotechnology Leaves the Nest but Waits for Policy Push, where I attempt to succinctly explain the reasons why we need a National Neurotechnology Initiative. Here is the beginning of the article, I recommend reading the rest on Science Progress.

There’s no mistaking the progress. Neurotechnology—the tools to treat and understand the brain and nervous system—holds the potential to transform nearly every aspect of our lives and revolutionize our conception of the human mind.

Imagine walking into a doctor’s office where an advanced brain scanning system can detect cellular-level changes that signal the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, years before any physical or mental symptoms manifest. You and your loved ones’ quality of life could then be extended by decades with a treatment plan personalized to your specific case. Today, brain imaging technologies such as this are only just beginning to illuminate the causes of brain-related illnesses. But a wide chasm must still be crossed if we are to develop effective treatments for the nearly 100 million Americans and 2 billion people worldwide that currently suffer from brain illnesses such as Alzheimer’s.

The annual national economic burden of brain-related disorders has reached over $1 trillion (see chart) and is growing alarmingly due to an aging population. While research into the brain and brain-related illnesses is moving forward more rapidly than any other science today, our understanding of how the brain works still has many gaps and our ability to repair damage remains limited. Critical unmet medical needs exist in almost every area of brain and nervous system disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, addiction, anxiety, autism, depression, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, obesity, Parkinson’s disease, pain, sensory disorders, spinal cord injury, stroke, schizophrenia, sleep disorders, and traumatic brain injury.

Investigation into the mechanisms and functions of the brain will lead to vastly improved understanding of brain disease and injuries, human cognition and behavior, and will give us an unprecedented ability to treat and heal those in need, as well as begin to reduce this growing burden on our economy. But all of this won’t happen on its own.... (read on)