The Kavli Institute for Neuroscience at Yale University studies the neurobiological basis of human thought. Following a broad multidisciplinary strategy, it examines how the nerve cells and synaptic circuits of the cerebral cortex enable humans to learn about the outside world and to remember what they already have learned.

Toward this end, it fosters discussion and innovative research among Yale neuroscientists from multiple disciplines, enabling them to contribute novel ideas and approaches in research on cortical evolution, development, organization and function.

 

Web Information

Kavli Foundation web page: http://www.kavlifoundation.org/yale-university

Kavli Institute for Neuroscience website: http://medicine.yale.edu/neurobiology/kavli/

About Kavli Institute for Neuroscience

From the Kavli Foundation page

Founded in 2004, the Institute is directed by Pietro De Camilli, M.D., and vice-director David A. McCormick. The inaugural director was 2008 Kavli Prize laureate Pasko Rakic, M.D., Ph.D. It includes other Yale faculty members from disciplines such as neurobiology, cell biology, molecular physics and biochemistry, neurology, and developmental biology. Their research is focused on four themes:

 

 

 

Development and evolution of the cerebral cortex. How does the circuitry that supports the highest cognitive functions develop in each individual? Institute scientists seek answers to this question, one of the most fundamental in biology, by using highly advanced approaches of molecular genetic and ...

 

Summary

Yale University’s neuroscience research and academic programs are located in the Faculty of Arts and Science and the School of Medicine. 

The interdisciplinary research programs of Yale neuroscience faculty are central to Yale’s Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program (INP). Other major groups are the Kavli Institute for Neuroscience which awards grants to Yale faculty to support new research initiatives and the Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Research which is dedicated to molecular and cell-based discoveries.

Information

Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program website: medicine.yale.edu/neuroscience Kavli Institute for Neuroscience website:  kavli.yale.edu/research Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Research website: medicine.yale.edu/cnrr/ BRAIN Initiative Grant– “Development of Protein-based Voltage Probes” BRAIN Initiative Grant – “A Novel Approach for Cell-Type Classification and Connectivity in the Human Brain” BRAIN Initiative Grant – “Three Dimensional Holography for Parallel Multi-target Optogenetic Circuit Manipulation”

 

Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program

The interdisciplinary research programs of Yale neuroscience faculty are central to Yale’s Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program (INP). This unique, broad-based training program can best be described as a “department without walls,” with the primary purpose of providing students with a maximum of diversity and depth in the most important areas of neuroscience research.

 

Academics

The interdisciplinary research programs of Yale neuroscience faculty are central to Yale’s Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program (INP). This unique, broad-based training program can best be described as ...

Principal Investigator: Nenad Sestan Yale Neuroscience

The Sestan Lab’s research centers on understanding the molecular and cellular basis of how neurons acquire distinct identities and form proper synaptic connections in the cerebral cortex, a part of the brain that is critical for cognition, perception and behavior. The Lab also studies how these complex developmental processes have evolved and become compromised in human disorders, such as autism. An important element of our research is the integration of complementary approaches.

 

Web Information

Website:  medicine.yale.edu/lab/sestan/ BRAIN Initiative Grant – “A Novel Approach for Cell-Type Classification and Connectivity in the Human Brain”

Contact Information

Email: sestanlab@yale.edu Phone: 203.737.1435 Address: Sterling Hall of Medicine 333 Cedar Street, SHM C-316C New Haven, CT 06510

Research Interests

Our research centers on understanding the molecular and cellular basis of how neurons acquire distinct identities and form proper synaptic connections in the cerebral cortex, a part of the brain that is critical for cognition, perception and behavior. We also study how these complex developmental processes have evolved and become compromised in human disorders, such as autism. An important element of our research is the integration of complementary approaches that combines 1) analyses of evolutionarily conserved developmental mechanisms using the genetically tractable mouse model, 2) comparative genomic and cellular analyses of non-human primates and humans to identify human-specific features of ...

 

Professor of Neurobiology, of Genetics and of Psychiatry, Yale University Director, Sestan Lab

Research Interests- the evolution and development of neuronal circuits of the human cerebral cortex. Research in the Sestan Lab investigates how neurons acquire distinct identities and form precise connections in the developing cerebral cortex, a part of the brain involved in a variety of higher cognitive, emotional, sensory, and motor functions. The Lab also studies how these developmental processes have changed during evolution and in human disorders.

Web Information

Webpage:  medicine.yale.edu/neurobiology/people/nenad_sestan.profile Yale Neuroscience BRAIN Initiative Grant – “A Novel Approach for Cell-Type Classification and Connectivity in the Human Brain”

Contact Information

Email: nenad.sestan@yale.edu Phone: (203) 737-2190 Address: Department of Neurobiology PO Box 208001 333 Cedar Street New Haven, CT 06520-8001

 

Biography

PhD Yale University School of Medicine (1999) MD University of Zagreb (1995)

 

Research Summary

Research in our laboratory investigates how neurons acquire distinct identities and form precise connections in the developing cerebral cortex, a part of the brain involved in a variety of higher cognitive, emotional, sensory, and motor functions. We also study how these developmental processes have changed during evolution and in human disorders. We study these problems for primarily two reasons. The first reason is to explore what it is about our brain that makes us human. The most important distinction between humans and other ...