Neuroscience Innovation Initiative
Vision
The Neuroscience Innovation Initiative is the vision of Dr. Kevin Lillehei, Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery.
The vision: One umbrella entity where all the neuroscience researchers and clinicians can come together, share ideas, collaborate on projects, and communicate effectively. A centralized hub for innovation, translational research and better support for the vastly growing population of those experiencing neurological, psychiatric and neurosurgical/central nervous system issues. As our population ages and lives longer, it is inevitable that many people will experience these debilitating conditions, such as peripheral neuropathy, anxiety, substance abuse, spine injuries and malformations, MS, Parkinson’s, stroke, epilepsy, brain tumor and dementia. There are common threads with all of these conditions (and hundreds of other brain conditions), and it is imperative that we all work together to help all of us live healthier and happier lives.
Mission
The mission is threefold.
- To integrate the clinical and research aspects of Neurosciences on the Anschutz Campus
- To collaborate across departments, centers, divisions and campuses to enhance research efforts and funding
- To communicate the excellent work of those in the Neurosciences at CU across the entire region
Newsroom
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Neurosurgery at the 10th Annual CU Anschutz Block PartyOpens in a new window
Oct 4, 2024Opens in a new window Full story -
NS Symposium Poster Abstracts 2024Opens in a new window
Jul 8, 2024Opens in a new window Full story -
The 6th Annual Glenn Kindt Research SymposiumOpens in a new window
Jun 18, 2024Opens in a new window Full story
Integrate
Collaborate
Communicate
Our broad program areas
- Neurodegenerative Disorders and the Aging Brain
- Neural Engineering / Human-device Interface
- Brain & Spinal Tumors / Neuro-oncology
- Neuro Immunology and Neuro Virology
- Neuro Injury, Stroke, Rehab & Repair / Pain Medicine
- Neuro Circuitry, Seizures, Cerebellar Functioning & Substance Abuse Science
- Psychiatry & Behavioral Health
- Neuro Development, Genetics and Learning / Childhood Developmental Disorders
Contact
For more information about any aspect of the NII, please contact:
Tami Lack, MA
Acting Director
Neuroscience Innovation Initiative
Tami.lack@cuanschutz.edu
Phone: (303) 907 8977
Message from the Visionary/Founder
Welcome! I am Kevin Lillehei, current Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. More than 80% of the research being done at our University is somehow related to the Neurosciences and we have more than 150 Principal Investigators with active projects that include the basic sciences, genomics, clinical trials, new human-device interfaces and more. It’s an exciting time to be on this campus and also a challenging opportunity to pull together and de-silo some of our programs and departments while we tell the world about all the great work being done here!
To that end, my vision is the “Neuroscience Innovation Initiative,” an umbrella term and “placeholder” for what we hope will eventually become an Institute-like model that pulls together all aspects of both research and clinical care within the broad field of Neurosciences on this campus.
Much work must be done! We are building the infrastructure, forming alliances and collaborations, fundraising, grant-writing, hosting special events and educational conferences. If you’d like to be a part of any of this – as a researcher, clinician, student, patient, community member or donor, jump on board! We need you! We want Colorado to be the healthiest brain & spine state in the country!
Kevin Lillehei, MD
Ogsbury Kindt Chair
Department of Neurosurgery