New SUNY Brain Institute signals major growth in Neuroscience Research and Education
The University at Albany College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Biological Sciences will play a central role in a major new statewide investment in neuroscience research. Governor Kathy Hochul announced this past October a $10 million appropriation in the 2025–26 state budget to establish the new SUNY Brain Institute. The SUNY Brain Institute is a multi-campus initiative designed to expand SUNY’s research and academic programs in areas of neuroscience. This new investment will fund shared equipment, research infrastructure, and collaborative projects across SUNY campuses including UAlbany and the three fellow University Centers as well as Upstate Medical University, Downstate Health Sciences University, and other research institutions.
Governor Hochul pointed out that the SUNY Brain Institute will utilize the breadth and expertise of SUNY’s more than 600 active neuroscience researchers to gain a better understanding of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, stroke, and other cognitive disorders. The institute will also work to develop new treatments to prevent, slow, or manage these conditions. State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. and the SUNY Board of Trustees praised the initiative as a major step forward that will advance research on mental health, neurodegenerative diseases, and cutting-edge technologies and therapeutics.
Dr. Annalisa Scimemi, an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences received one of the inaugural Brain Institute Awards. Dr. Scimemi’s award is to investigate the earliest biological changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease, as well as the impact of circadian rhythms on learning and memory. Scimemi’s team, an international and interdisciplinary group of scientists spanning biology, engineering, computer science, and neuroscience, studies how different brain cells communicate and how disruptions in those signals may lead to cognitive decline. Different types of brain cells have distinct roles and having a better understanding of the chemical signals they use to communicate is essential. Her team works to detect early signs of disease by studying how the brain’s electrical activity changes before memory or thinking issues appear.
Dr. Scimemi’s lab studies how bred mice with Alzheimer’s-like changes behave differently from healthy mice. By looking at subtle patterns of brain activity, Scimemi’s team hopes to develop noninvasive ways to detect the disease early. Early detection is critical as more than 7 million Americans currently live with Alzheimer’s and that number is expected to rise sharply in the coming decades.
The lab is also investigating how circadian rhythms might influence brain function and behavior. By focusing on the hippocampus, a region critical for learning and memory, Scimemi’s team has found that the brain’s ability to learn new information changes at different times of the day. They are studying how these natural daily rhythms affect learning and whether disruptions in the body’s internal clock may contribute to diseases like Alzheimer’s. Understanding this potential link could help researchers figure out whether changes in circadian rhythms cause brain degeneration or are a result of it.
The University at Albany is set to become a hub on advancing discoveries, training the next generation of neuroscientists, and contributing to the health and well-being of communities across New York State and beyond.
UAlbany, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Department of Biological Sciences congratulate Dr. Scimemi and her team on their remarkable accomplishments and the significant impact they are making on neuroscience research and scientific discovery.
Original article of Governor Hochul’s announcement of new SUNY Brain Institute: Governor Hochul Announces Launch of SUNY Brain Institute With $10 Million Investment to Fuel SUNY Excellence in Life-Saving Research | Governor Kathy Hochul.
Original UAlbany featured article on Dr. Annalisa Scimemi: Scimemi Lab Explores Early Alzheimer’s Progression, how our Internal Clock Affects Learning and Memory | University at Albany.
Information on Dr. Annalisa Scimemi’s Research Program: Annalisa Scimemi | University at Albany
Information on UAlbany Department of Biological Sciences Programs: Department of Biological Sciences | University at Albany