Brain research is not only the most challenging and cutting-edge science, the most interdisciplinary and developmental discipline, but also the most important applied subject for human health. The translational research of brain science is mainly reflected in the following two aspects:

1. Interdisciplinary technological translation

The rapid development of brain science in recent years has benefited from the breakthroughs in new technologies achieved through the collaboration of various disciplines including molecular biology, genetics, physics, chemistry, information science and so on. The "Brain Project" of the United States to "advance brain research through cutting-edge innovation in neurotechnology" also fully highlights the importance of technological innovation for the development of neuroscience. On the one hand, the translation of technological achievements of interdisciplinary development into brain science has promoted breakthroughs in basic brain research. On the other hand, if the achievements of basic brain research are to be translated into the nervous system regulation and disease intervention, it also needs to be realized through the development of interdisciplinary technology. Simultaneously, the rapid development of artificial intelligence will provide the basis for big data analysis of brain science, and brain-like computation based on the analysis of brain working mechanism will also break through the bottleneck of artificial intelligence development. These mutual translational researches will favor the development of interdisciplinary disciplines and their integration with brain science.

2. Clinical translation

With the acceleration of the pace of life and the increase of competitive pressure, the incidence of mental illness such as anxiety and depression are rising rapidly. With the advent of aging society, senile brain disorders such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease have become diseases with high incidence and disability in our country, and aggravating family and society burden. The economic burden caused by neuropsychiatric diseases has accounted for nearly 30% of the total burden of human diseases. What's more serious is that we lack effective intervention methods for these intractable diseases. Therefore, it is very urgent to promote the translation and application of the basic research results of brain science to the diagnosis and treatment of brain diseases, which has a huge potential market. At the same time, the problems found in the clinics of diagnosis and treatment also provide important guidance for basic research of brain science.

In the area of basic research in brain science, Fudan University hosts a very good research platform and foundation, including the Institute of Brain Science, the State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, and MOE Frontiers Center of Brain Science. With respect to the clinical diagnosis and treatment of brain diseases, the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery of Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University are the most powerful departments in China. Simultaneously, Fudan University has the best domestic research platform and foundation in brain-like computation, including the Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-inspired Intelligence, Brain Chip Research Center. Therefore, Fudan University has great advantages in the interdisciplinary research of brain science.

In order to accelerate the construction of the world-class Zhangjiang-Fudan International Innovation Center, explore a new growth pole for the construction of world top universities, drive Shanghai's comprehensive research strength in the field of basic and translational brain science to reach the domestic leading level and form a global influence, Fudan University establishes the Institute forTranslational Brain Research (ITBR). This new institute relies on Shanghai Medical College, the State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science. The comprehensive strength of brain research at Fudan University is at the forefront of the country. Through the establishment of ITBR, a group of high-end talents will be gathered for integrating resources and developing cutting-edge interdisciplinary technology and translational research, breaking through the bottleneck of major brain scientific issues.Established in July 2019, the new institute is located on the Fenglin campus of Fudan University. The first dean wasProfessor Shumin Duan, a world-renowned neuroscientist and member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. ITBR reports directly to the president of Fudan University, participates in the construction plan of Shanghai’s high-level local colleges and universities, and operates under “Special Academic Region” authorizations. It implements the dean responsibility system, explores an independent, flexible and efficient management support mechanism, and strives to create a secure scientific research environment and a high-level scientific research platform for researchers.

The overall orientation of the Institute for Translational Brain Research is to focus on the major needs of national development and the forefront of brain science development, and actively participate in the China Brain Project. With brain sophisticated functions, intractable brain disorders and translational neuroscience as the directions, ITBR carries out basic and applied researches in combination with medical, pharmaceutical and related engineering disciplines. The Institute is dedicated to developing cutting-edge technologies for brain research, breaking through the bottleneck of brain science development, promoting the translation and integration of brain science and brain-inspired intelligence, and incubating the industrialization of brain-intelligence; taking advantage of clinical research and diagnosis and treatment of brain disorders in Huashan and Zhongshan hospitals, and devoting to applying the basic research results and technological breakthroughs of brain science in clinical diagnosis and treatment and the translation of pharmaceuticals.

ITBR will work with the existing institutes to jointly expand and strengthen the disciplinary advantages of Fudan University (neuroscience and behavior), dock with the construction of Shanghai's Science and Technology Innovation Center with global influence, aiming to be a world-class center for interdisciplinary and translational brain research with distinctive characteristics.

With human brains and model animals as research objects, ITBR explores the basic laws of brain science, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of brain disorders, and conducts interdisciplinary research. Benchmarking the research directions of the China Brain Project, the Institute focuses on two main areas:

1. Basic research in brain science: It’s dedicated to clarifying the neural signal processing, brain development and plasticity, neural circuits and functions, brain disorders and neuromodulatory interventions, neuroimmunity, etc.

2. Translational research of brain science: Through the combination with medicine, pharmacy, engineering and other disciplines, it’s committed to developing cutting-edge technologies of brain science and its translation and application in basic brain research, brain function regulation, artificial intelligence development, and the diagnosis and treatment of brain diseases, etc. For instance, biomaterials, disease interventions, brain-like chips, and brain-computer interfaces.

The Institute for Translational Brain Research warmly welcomes young talents in neuroscience and its intersecting fields at home and abroad to join us!