“The institute aims to drive state-of-the-art research to develop improved diagnostic tests and treatments, and, ultimately, cures for a range of brain disorders,” says Dr. Eric J. Nestler, director of the institute. It encompasses disciplines that study conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, autism, drug addiction, and depression. Where traditionally most disciplines have been siloed, the Friedman Brain Institute brings them together. “Scientific discovery is unpredictable, and advances made in one area have unintended advantages for many others. We want to capture those synergies,” says Dr. Nestler. For example, its researchers have found that some genes that play a role in autism are also involved in drug addiction, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. “By having this consolidated effort across the spectrum of illnesses, our scientists and doctors can recognize and learn from common mechanisms,” he says.
The institute also runs clubs that bring together scientists and clinicians across disciplines and roles. Examples include its Neurodegeneration Club, which gathers people from every Mount Sinai laboratory who study why nerve cells degenerate with clinicians to hear about patients. “Our animal researchers are now in the room with neurologists, neurosurgeons, and other clinicians, and we are able to capture common themes and mechanisms, all with the eye on looking for new, better ways to treat these illnesses,” Dr. Nestler explains.