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Mass General Brigham

Neuroscience Institute

The Neuroscience Institute provides specialized neurological and neurosurgical care, conducts research in areas like neurotechnology and ALS, and trains future leaders in neuroscience. Our community programs expand access to care, bringing critical services to underserved populations.

Alexandra J. Golby, MD

Leading the future of neuroscience

At the Mass General Brigham Neuroscience Institute, we are redefining what’s possible in brain and nervous system care. As a global leader in the research and treatment of complex neurological conditions, we unite world-class clinical expertise, groundbreaking science, and deep commitment to expanding access for underserved populations.

With one in three people worldwide now affected by neurological disease, our mission has never been more urgent. We are focused on improving patient outcomes and advancing scientific discovery through expertise across various subspecialties.

What is an institute at Mass General Brigham?

An institute at Mass General Brigham brings together specialized care, research, education, and community engagement into one unified framework. This model allows us to focus on advancing innovation within specific fields while fostering collaboration and community engagement to address complex health challenges.

This model is part of Mass General Brigham’s four-part mission to:

  • Provide comprehensive patient care, from routine visits to complex cases, supporting our patients every step of the way.
  • Lead the next era of research and medical discovery, advancing knowledge and developing innovative treatments that directly improve patient care.
  • Recruit, support, and educate the next generation of leaders, strengthening the talent pipeline to meet current and future workforce needs.
  • Strengthen local health through community partnerships, outreach programs, and investments in services that address the needs of the diverse communities we serve.

Our institutes collaborate with clinicians, researchers, educators, and industry partners both within Mass General Brigham and beyond. Through collaboration and funding, we are able to expand our impact and deliver cutting-edge care.

Advancing neuroscience through care, research, education, and community engagement

Patient care

Merit Cudkowicz, MD, MSC with patient

At the Neuroscience Institute, we deliver the most advanced, comprehensive care for both common and rare neurological conditions. With more than 500 neuroscience providers, our team includes top specialists from neurology, neurosurgery, pain management, psychiatry, rehabilitation, and more, all of whom collaborate to create personalized care plans for each patient. We provide patients with access to expert, team-based care 24/7.

Our collaborative model means each patient benefits from a personalized care plan, developed by a multidisciplinary team that draws on the latest diagnostics, innovative treatments, and clinical trials. Every year, we perform over 9,000 neurosurgeries, from minimally invasive procedures to advanced brain and spine surgeries, giving us the experience to refine care approaches and deliver strong outcomes.

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Patients also benefit from our close connection to world-class research and education, which helps bring the most promising therapies and evidence-based practices directly to the bedside.

Examples include:

  • Deep brain stimulation (DBS): A treatment option for patients with Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, and dystonia, DBS involves implanting a device that sends electrical impulses to specific parts of the brain, improving motor function and reducing symptoms.
  • New Alzheimer’s therapies: New therapies like lecanemab and donanemab target amyloid plaques in the brain, showing promise in slowing disease progression and improving cognitive function for patients in the early stages of Alzheimer's.
  • Advanced AVM treatment: Our experts use a range of therapies, including embolization, microsurgery, and radiosurgery, to treat arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), guided by advanced imaging and multidisciplinary planning.

Examples of successful interdisciplinary programs include:

  • Interdisciplinary Facial Pain Clinic: Combines expertise from neurology, neurosurgery, pain management, otolaryngology, psychology, and oral and maxillofacial surgery to treat conditions like trigeminal neuralgia and neuropathy.
  • Brain-Computer Interface Clinic: The first of its kind in the U.S., this clinic supports patients with paralysis from spinal cord injury, stroke, ALS, and more. Clinicians and researchers work together to connect patients with interventions that may restore lost neurological function.
  • Women’s Epilepsy Program: Offers specialized care for women with epilepsy, with a focus on pregnancy planning, seizure management during pregnancy, and postpartum support, clinicians provide personalized treatment and counseling to help safeguard the health and safety of both mother and baby.
  • Neuromodulation therapies: Neuromodulation therapies such as deep brain stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and MRI-guided focused ultrasound allow us to directly target brain circuits and improve symptoms in ways not possible with medication.

Patient stories

Research

Ryoichi Suzuki in a lab

The Neuroscience Institute is one of the world’s leading hubs for neuroscience research and innovation. With $439 million in research revenue and more than 400 active clinical trials, we support cutting-edge studies in high-impact areas like neurotechnology, gene therapy, and immunotherapy.

Researchers at Mass General Brigham benefit from an ecosystem that fosters collaboration across disciplines and accelerates the path from lab to clinic. Our Neurological Clinical Research Institute (NCRI) and Clinical Trials Network and Institute are among the most advanced clinical trial coordination centers in the world. In 2024 alone, our researchers published over 2,000 scientific papers.

These centers offer unparalleled expertise in trial design and execution, making the Neuroscience Institute a premier partner for academic investigators, industry sponsors, and biotech innovators alike.

Centers of Excellence

Our disease-focused centers bring together world-renowned experts to improve diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes for patients with both rare and common neurologic conditions:

Technology & Infrastructure

Our researchers also benefit from programs that enable discovery, experimentation, and clinical translation:

Through these efforts, the Neuroscience Institute is at the forefront of advancing medical knowledge and delivering innovative, research-driven care to our patients.

Education and training

Dr. Frederic Racicot and Colin Galvin

We are dedicated to training the next generation of neuroscience leaders. Across our hospitals, we offer world-class training grounded in mentorship, career development, and hands-on experience with some of the most complex and challenging cases in the field.

Our programs include:

  • 36 fellowship programs providing advanced training in specialized fields of neuroscience.
  • 105 residents gaining experience in clinical neuroscience.
  • 91 fellows further developing their expertise in various areas of neurology.

With access to internationally renowned mentors, cutting-edge research, and a culture of collaboration, trainees are empowered to become innovators and leaders in neuroscience.

Explore training opportunities at Massachusetts General Hospital

Explore training opportunities at Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Communities

Nirav J. Patel, MD

The Neuroscience Institute is part of an integrated network of care that includes five academic medical centers and multiple community-based hospitals. Our experienced specialty providers deliver high-quality neurological care in both settings, bringing world-class expertise closer to where people live and work.

As part of Mass General Brigham, providers and patients benefit from seamless coordination across locations and specialties. Shared electronic health records, dedicated care navigators, and digital tools like Epic and patient-facing apps support continuity of care.

Providers are also able to offer their patients cutting-edge clinical trials and emerging therapies, as new treatments are continually researched, developed, and tested across our academic medical centers and research institutions, offering options not yet widely available elsewhere.

Another example of our commitment to community engagement is the monthly neurology clinic at Boston Healthcare for the Homeless. Hosted by our Mass General-based residents and faculty, this clinic provides critical care for homeless individuals, helping them manage a wide range of outpatient neurological conditions, including seizures, movement disorders, stroke, and headaches. By bringing care directly to those who need it most, we ensure that even the most vulnerable populations receive the support they need for their neurological health.

Through these and many other efforts, the Neuroscience Institute continues to expand access to cutting-edge care and research throughout the communities we serve.

Join us

Whether you are a prospective fellow or trainee, a healthcare professional seeking to advance your career, or a philanthropic partner looking to support transformative neuroscience innovation, the Neuroscience Institute offers a dynamic environment where your contributions can make a global impact.

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