Institutes, Divisions & Centers
Neuroscience Research

An image of Schwann cells and myelin proteins.

Scientists test experimental molecular therapy in the mice that restores nerve insulation and improves limb function following nerve injury.

An image highlighting TAZ/YAP in human nerve tumors.

This microscopic image uses immunostaining to highlight the presence of TAZ/YAP in human malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors that grew from Schwann cells.

This image uses viral tracing to map connected neurons.

Researchers report that molecular signaling from the Bax/Bak’s pathway is important for maturing mice to develop synergistic connections between the brain and opposing muscle pairs.

Bringing Innovative Neuroscience Discoveries to the World

The Neuroscience Research Center brings together basic scientists conducting fundamental, hypothesis-driven research with translational scientists developing new therapies and clinician-scientists working to advance these treatments for patient use.

The center recognizes and capitalizes on the bidirectional nature of the discovery process. While clinical needs inspire translational and basic science research, pure discovery-based research brings transformational ideas and approaches to the clinic.

Our team of neuroscientists uses a broad range of tools and technologies to study many aspects of neuroscience. Our team includes over 85 faculty members and spans more than two dozen departments and divisions throughout Cincinnati Children’s and the University of Cincinnati (UC), including Allergy and Immunology, Anesthesiology, Audiology, Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Biological Sciences, Biomedical Informatics, Cancer Biology, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Developmental Biology, Engineering and Applied Science, Environmental Health, Experimental Hematology & Cancer Biology, Human Genetics, Molecular Genetics, Molecular & Cellular Biosciences, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Ophthalmology, Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, Pharmacy, Psychiatry, Radiology, and Rehabilitation Medicine. The NRC includes over 200 MD-PhDs, PhDs, MDs, DOs, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, research assistants, data managers, MBAs, and others with an interest in neuroscience.

Our Research

Our research faculty perform extensive work to increase our understanding of neurodevelopmental disorders, neuroscience disease mechanisms, and responses to injury. We strive to improve outcomes and the quality of life for patients and their families by creating new and more effective treatments for conditions such as autism, cancer, chronic pain, depression, epilepsy, and traumatic brain and spinal cord injury.

The goal of our research is to understand the nervous system, bringing fundamental and innovative neuroscience discoveries to the world, and transformative care to patients. To do this, we:

Perform hypothesis-driven, discovery-based research in cellular, molecular and functional neuroscience to uncover fundamental mechanisms in nervous system development, repair and function.
Identify and characterize genetic and environmental alterations that lead to nervous system disorders.
Train and mentor the next generation of basic- and clinical-neuroscience researchers. A world-class neuroscience program is defined by world-class faculty. Our center is committed to recruit, support and retain top faculty.
Create bidirectional relationships with clinical neuroscience programs to translate basic research findings into innovative treatments for nervous system disorders, and to elucidate basic mechanisms underlying novel clinical findings.

We perform basic, clinical and translational research that provides fundamental insights into brain development and function. We apply this information to techniques and therapies that treat neurological disorders and injury.

Research by the Numbers

The basic scientists at the Neuroscience Research Center are highly successful at building grant support for their work and publishing their results in top scientific journals. Our research team secures funding from many organizations, including division/department heads at Cincinnati Children’s and the University of Cincinnati whose faculty are members of the Neuroscience Research Center. We also receive funding from the National Institutes of Health, US Department of Defense, several private foundations and pharmaceutical companies.

Statistics at a Glance

85+

Faculty

155+

Peer-Reviewed Publications
in FY23

$50M

Grant Funding
in FY23

Future

The Neuroscience Research Center team continuously works to increase its knowledge of neuroscience mechanisms, push the envelope on innovative ideas, and encourage collaboration and feedback among faculty and staff.

We organize frequent seminars, including:

Monthly seminar series. These sessions (organized in collaboration with the Neuroscience Graduate Program) feature eminent national and international speakers doing groundbreaking neuroscience research. Researchers lecture on topics such as basic mechanisms of nervous system development and novel translational therapies for neurological disease.
Neuroscience research talk and discussion. These neuroscience (and pizza) meetings provide an opportunity for students, faculty and postdoctoral fellows to present new research ideas, pending grants or finalized projects for feedback from a friendly audience of colleagues.

We also organize a yearly retreat for NRC members and their collaborators to share their research, discuss collaborations, and network with others in the neuroscience field.

Science Blog

In the News

Neuroscience Research News

Our Research Horizons Science Blog features news and insights about the latest discoveries and innovations developed by scientists from the Neuroscience Research Center.

Institutes, Divisions & CentersNeuroscience Research