Local CEO Invited to White House Speech
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
By: Ann Ahlers

President Obama Unveils BRAIN Initiative to Map Human Brain

Washington, D.C.—President Obama announced today plans for an initiative to map the human brain and develop treatments for brain disorders and injuries, such as stroke. National Stroke Association’s Chief Executive Officer, Jim Baranski, was invited to the White House for the presentation.

The president gave his address in front of a room full of researchers and others who work in brain-related fields. “I’ve invited the smartest people in the country,” said the president.

The Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies initiative will support labs and universities and fund grants for research in brain science. The president’s budget, set to be revealed next week, will include investments for brain research through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), along with other organizations, both in the government and private sectors. This initiative is especially important in light of sequestration, which cut roughly $1.5 billion from the NIH budget.

“A commitment such as this is truly historic,” said Baranski after the address. “The brain is the next frontier in terms of healthcare and this is an important first step to get the brain on the radars of leading scientists across the country.”

Because of the complexity of the brain, no two stroke survivors have exactly the same experience. Stroke survivors such as Diana Green, a resident of Aurora, may experience aphasia, a disability that causes difficulty in speaking, understanding spoken language, reading or writing. Many, like Diana, regain at least some of their abilities through therapies after stroke. New research on the brain could help improve therapies, thereby improving recovery outcomes for survivors.

National Stroke Association is headquartered locally in Centennial. It is the only national organization in the U.S. that focuses 100 percent of its efforts on stroke by developing compelling education and programs focused on prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and support for all impacted by stroke. Visit www.stroke.org for more information.