Thought for Food

Obama to Unveil Initiative to Map the Human Brain

“President Obama on Tuesday will announce a broad new research initiative, starting with $100 million in 2014, to invent and refine new technologies to understand the human brain. […] The effort will require the development of new tools not yet available to neuroscientists and, eventually, perhaps lead to progress in treating diseases like Alzheimer’s and epilepsy and traumatic brain injury. It will involve both government agencies and private institutions.

The initiative, which scientists involved in promoting the idea have been calling the Brain Activity Map project, will officially be known as Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies, or Brain for short; it has been designated a grand challenge of the 21st century by the Obama administration.” (via kateoplis)

This is so huge! M. shakes with anger when he thinks about the fact that Bush suspended all federally-supported stem cell research upon taking office (which was pretty much all of it).

His ex suffered traumatic brain injury as a result of an aneurysm and stroke when they were living together (you can read a bit about it in Lunch In Paris, actually). The fact that Bush set back by eight years the kind of research that could by now be regenerating key parts of her brain functionality is personally infuriating (in addition to all the generally infuriating things that man did).

Coupled with stem-cell research that has now recommenced on a significant scale, Obama’s directive will certainly lead to cures and treatments for many of the diseases and tragedies that scare me the most.

I’m not someone who particularly cared about the suspension of NASA’s space exploration program. Between the mysteries of our bodies and the degradation of our planet, we have more than enough to deal with at home.