The Brain Initiative—Implications for a Revolutionary Change in Clinical Medicine via Neuromodulation Technology

Abstract Launched in April 2013, the goal of the White House Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative is to catalyze the development of neurotechnology to provide new insights into the fundamental mechanisms of disease process. This ongoing international effort spans both the public and private sectors and has produced a number of specialized programs intended to facilitate partnerships between engineers, scientists, clinicians, industry, and regulatory agencies to translate new neuromodulation technologies into initial clinical studies. In this chapter, the history behind the launch of the BRAIN Initiative and the implications of the new BRAIN programs on the development of neuromodulation technologies are described.