As momentum builds around the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (DPRIT), Rice University is reinforcing its support for faculty whose work is helping advance research in dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and related neurological disorders.
The Rice Brain Institute (RBI) assisted the Office of Research in the selection of 12 projects that will obtain funding through the Rice DPRIT Seed Grant Program, an internal initiative created by the Office of Research to help faculty launch pilot studies, strengthen collaborations and prepare for emerging opportunities tied to the new state program. Most of the funding for this initiative came from the Office of Research, but the Amyloid Mechanism and Disease Center also contributed, increasing the number of awards provided. The process was facilitated by the Educational and Research Initiative for Collaborative Health (ENRICH) office at Rice.
The seed grants are the latest sign of how deliberately Rice has been organizing around this area. Last fall, ENRICH and the Rice Neuroengineering Initiative convened an internal DPRIT summit to assess the university’s strengths in brain and neuro-related research, identify strategic priorities and begin shaping a universitywide approach for the state initiative. The summit brought together faculty and leadership from across campus to examine where Rice is best positioned to contribute and how it can build on existing collaborations within the Texas Medical Center and beyond.
Rice has a substantial and growing cluster of expertise in brain-focused research. The RBI is helping connect brain-related work across the university via its three pillars: the Neuroengineering Initiative, the Brain and Society Initiative and the Neuroscience Initiative, the latter of which harbors the Amyloid Center, which adds significant strength in neurodegeneration research. Faculty involved in these broad and interdisciplinary efforts span engineering, biosciences, chemistry, psychological sciences, social sciences and the humanities.
These efforts align closely with Rice’s strategic plan, which identifies leading innovations in health as one of the university’s defining ambitions.
“DPRIT is a historic initiative with transformative impact potential and at Rice we are very well equipped to contribute to its mission and help make Texas a leader in brain health and innovation,” said Behnaam Aazhang, Rice’s J.S. Abercrombie Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and director of the Neuroengineering Initiative and the RBI.
The funded projects reflect that cross-disciplinary foundation. Several of the selected projects also include collaborators from Texas Medical Center institutions, including Baylor College of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch and McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston.
“As many proposals were very exciting, my center stepped in with additional funds to increase the number of awarded proposals. The goal is to boost a range of pioneering efforts in brain health,” said Pernilla Wittung-Stafshede, Rice’s Charles W. Duncan Jr. Welch Chair in Chemistry, professor of chemistry and biosciences and executive director of the Amyloid Mechanism and Disease Center.
The seed grant program is meant to help researchers to generate preliminary data, test ideas and build the kinds of teams that will be needed as DPRIT begins its activity. It also signals that Rice intends to be an active contributor to the state’s efforts in brain health with a model that brings together discovery, engineering, community engagement and translational partnerships.