Sunday, May 22, 2011

Brain research new 'moon shot,' Patrick Kennedy says

In a push to advance brain science, luminaries from the world of health, politics, business, Authentic Soccer Jerseys and the non-profit sector will gather next week in Boston to create a 10-year plan that many hope will lead to a deeper understanding of brain conditions and new treatments.
Former U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.), son of late Mass. Sen. Edward Kennedy and the nephew of President John F. Kennedy, is co-chairman of the One Mind for Research Scientific Forum, which runs Monday through Wednesday.

The forum, which Kennedy calls a "moon shot into the mind," arsenal jersey launches on the eve of the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy's challenge to send a man to the moon within a decade.

"We're trying to introduce a new paradigm bringing in the metaphor of my uncle's call-to-action for going to the moon," says Patrick Kennedy, chelsea jersey 43, who retired from Congress in 2010. "We're trying to repurpose that branding to something I believe is equally important."

Kennedy, who has grappled with depression and addiction and whose father died of brain cancer two years ago, says he and his family have always had an interest in brain issues. "My family's entire legacy has been interwoven with advocacy for destigmatization of these illnesses, as well as advancing research into these illnesses."

He hopes the meeting will generate a 10-year plan that speeds the path to cures and treatments for brain diseases, barcelona jersey and spurs collaboration between those in the neurosciences.

The brain health of war veterans is at the top of the agenda, he says.

"Whether it's literally saving our vets from their tragic suicide rates — which some months are greater than the number of soldiers we're losing in battle — or addressing Alzheimer's or autism, what we're saying essentially is science is the only means to taking care of the people we love," says Kennedy.

Among big names planning to attend: National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins, spain soccer jersey vice president Joseph Biden, Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin, and actor and health advocate Martin Sheen, among others.

Attendees look forward to the diverse group the conference is attracting and the chance to address a spectrum of neurological problems that still have limited treatments, including schizophrenia and depression.

"This is a wonderful opportunity … a kind of forum to interact with advocacy groups, bench scientists,brazil soccer jersey clinical researchers, coalitions, the NIH, and those who have been affected," says Maurizio Fava, executive vice chair of the department of psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital and professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. "I think it would be great if we came up with a plan of action where we come out with ideas on what the next steps should be, what we should focus on in next decade."

Kennedy says shrinking funding for brain research is a major concern, but connecting leaders and patients can help streamline the current "fragmented" approach to understanding and treating brain conditions.

"The knowledge we do possess — which is vast — is isolated in silos, brazil soccer jersey and incentives for research and collaboration are lacking," he says.

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