The University of Pennsylvania has a very rich tradition in the brain sciences. In 1953, Penn founded the nation’s first university-wide institute devoted exclusively to neuroscience research, the Mahoney Institute of Neurological Sciences. Since then, Penn has developed multiple communities to support some of the world’s leading neuroscience research, including the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, the Center for Functional Neuroimaging and the Penn Comprehensive Neuroscience Center. Last year Penn announced plans to build a new Neural and Behavioral Sciences Building and has launched a $50 million initiative to recruit Penn Integrates Knowledge professors who take an interdisciplinary approach to neuroscience.

Yesterday, UPenn took another broad step into the future by announcing the founding of the Penn Center for Neuroscience and Society. The Center is cross-disciplinary endeavor to increase understanding of the impact of neuroscience on society through research and teaching and to encourage the responsible use of neuroscience for the benefit of humanity. The reach of the CNS will extend beyond academia and engage policy makers, advocacy groups, industry and professionals in the full range of fields affected by progress in neuroscience such as business, the military, law and education.

In an email yesterday, Martha Farah, Director of the CNS, described the aims of the center as being "very much aligned with the aims of your organization [NIO], and the social and historical perspective you present in your excellent new book are also very consistent with ours. So, I welcome your participation as we embark on the mission of the Center: to increase understanding of the impact of neuroscience on society."

Not only does the Center's development underscore the continuing evolution of The Neuro Revolution but it also supports our case up on Capitol Hill as we lobby Congress to pass the National Neurotechnology Initiative Act which contains over $10M/year in neuroethics related research funding.