The Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives, a nonprofit organization composed of more than 265 neuroscientists, observes the week of March 10 as Brain Awareness Week, an annual campaign that includes more than 2,000 organizations.
Organized by James D. Watson, Ph.D., in 1992, the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives (DABI) was created to translate advances in the field of neuroscience to the public. In the 16 years since its establishment, the organization has been involved in the development of numerous organizations, universities, and hospitals in 69 different countries.
The Dana Alliance has an ambitious vision of using neuroscience to detect Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Lou Gehrig's diseases in their early stages when they are still treatable. They seek to perfect the technology of rewiring the neural circuits and re-establishing muscle movement, so that spinal cord injury does not mean permanent paralysis.
There have been advances in the study of mental disorders, such as alcoholism and drug addiction, which affect millions of people. The knowledge achieved through the research can be also used to maximize the benefits of the early learning years. Considering the extraordinary progress that has been made in the neurosciences during the last decade, the DABI believes that their goals can be achieved.
Cognizant of the importance of public confidence in neuroscience, the organization endeavors to reach out to the public by holding events, seminars, competitions, and exhibits that pass down information on brain-related topics.
This year, more than 2,000 partner organizations such as the Society for Neuroscience, universities, patient advocacy groups, and K-12 schools participated in the Brain Awareness Week, with the theme of "Get Connected." One of DABI's most prominent intiatives is their alliance with universities, such as Vanderbilt University in Nashville, which sponsored a seminar series. DABI also held "Brain Bee" events in New York City and Washington, D.C., hoping to better inform children and educators.
There has been an increase in the number of universities and hospitals that are joining the Dana Alliance in the Boston area. Boston University, Brandeis University, Amherst College, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Massachusetts, and Wellesley College have been members of the organization, and Boston College recently joined their number.
BC's participation in the organization reflects the increase of interest in neuroscience on campus. The psychology department has established a Psychology Honor Society (Psi Chi) BC chapter, and with the help of John Mitchell, assistant professor in the department, the group is growing into a strong student organization. Psi Chi has organized a screening of a documentary called "Wired to Win: Surviving the Tour de France" as its Brain Awareness Week event.
Chelsea Jacobs, A&S '11, said that she is very excited to see the increase of interest in neuroscience in BC community. "I think that BC's partnering with the Dana Alliance is very important.
"The students should be aware of the advances in the field of neuroscience, and also should be given the opportunity to make contributions through their research studies," Jacobs said.
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