Cross-disciplinary teams transforming our understanding of the brain
Big Ideas are the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute's flagship research projects. These five-year grants catalyze cross-disciplinary teams of researchers to collaboratively tackle fundamental questions that advance our understanding of the mind, brain and behavior in health and disease.
Our Big Ideas projects include bold projects to advance our understanding of the science of addiction and brain rejuvenation, to design new technologies to interface with the brain, and to build research platforms to connect molecular to systems-level neuroscience and advance the study of human brain organoids and assembloids in the lab.
Applying for Big Ideas Grants
Big Ideas grant applications are currently closed. Stay tuned for announcements about our next call for letters of intent.
Funded Big Ideas projects
NeuroChoice: Optimizing Choice - from neuroscience to public policy
Stanford Brain Organogenesis Program (Phase 2)
Developing brain organoids and assembloids – three dimensional brain tissues grown in the lab – to study human brain development, evolution and neuropsychiatric disorders.
Stanford Brain Rejuvenation Project (Phase 2)
The Stanford Brain Rejuvenation Project is an initiative by leading aging researchers, neuroscientists, chemists, and engineers to understand the basis of brain aging and rejuvenation and how they relate to neurodegeneration.
Stroke Collaborative Action Network
Breaches barriers in our understanding of stroke to develop therapies and improve stroke recovery.
Neuro-omics Initiative (Phase 1)
Creating new tools to help neuroscientists bridge the study of genes and proteins operating in the brain to the study of brain circuits and systems, which could lead to a deeper understanding of brain function and disease.
Stanford NeuroTechnology Initiative (Phase 2)
Our goal is to develop the next generation of neural interfaces that match the resolution and performance of the biological circuitry. We will focus on two signature efforts to spearhead the necessary advances: high-density wire bundles for electrical recording and stimulation, and analog and digital bi-directional retinal prostheses for restoration of vision.
Brain-machine interfaces: Science, engineering, and application
Developing technology to interface with the brain and create intelligent prosthetics.
Stanford Brain Organogenesis Program (Phase 1)
Developing brain organoids – three dimensional brain tissues grown in the lab – to study human brain development, evolution and neuropsychiatric disorders.
Big Ideas Award Announcements
Big Ideas Round 2, Phase 2 (2021)
Toolmakers aim to untangle fundamental challenges in neuroscience
Big Ideas Round 2 Phase 1 (2018)
Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute announces the second round of Big Ideas