Often the gains from research in understanding human disease to finding a treatment to control progression of disease are remarkably slow. The purpose of the MU Center for Translational Neuroscience is to create a very effective and well-structured platform to connect, co-ordinate and support investigators in various disciplines.

The CTN was established in 2010 to facilitate translational aspects of neuroscience research and to bring basic neuroscience findings from bench to the bedside. It focuses on the expertise and skills of leaders in various disciplines to approach a common theme in finding innovative solutions to challenging clinical problems associated with neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases, including but not limited to Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury, and sleep disorders.

The center provides an unhindered atmosphere for productive research enabled by scientists and bioengineers to conceive and execute research problems for accelerated transition from bench to bedside.

The center aims at mentoring clinician scientists, in collaboration with basic scientists, to help them reach their goals. The overall mission is to accelerate scientific discoveries conceived at the laboratory bench to improving and solving human health problems at the bedside with a short lag time.

The interdisciplinary collaboration between neuroscientists, medical professionals and engineers should foster innovation, learning and better therapeutic interventions in the clinics. The CTN provides unique opportunities for undergraduate, graduate, medical students, physician residents and postdoctoral scholars to work with an experienced group of faculty. The CTN is committed to providing hands on training.

The CTN will also attempt to establish a “Friends of the CTN” group interested in supporting and fundraising for the Center.

A number of established investigators have agreed to serve as Mentors for early career basic and clinician scientist at the CTN. Please visit our faculty web pages to find out more about the exciting research programs at MU. 

Sincerely, 

Asgar Zaheer, PhD
Director, Center for Translational Neuroscience
Professor of Neurology
Truman VA Research Career Scientist 
zaheera@health.missouri.edu
573-882-5386