Neuroscience Center of Economic Excellence

Inception:
2003

About the CoEE:

The Neuroscience CoEE researches age-related neurodegenerative problems including dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and stroke. This area of research has a major impact on South Carolina, where more than half the population is over the age of 56.

This CoEE is a strong component of MUSC’s established Neuroscience Institute and

also works in collaboration with the MUSC Center on Aging.

The CoEE has supported the creation of SemiAlloGen, Inc., a biotechnology start-up company that develops therapeutics in the field of neuro-degenerative disorders and cancer. This CoEE is developing a project with Jazz Pharmaceuticals to test mechanisms of action of the drug Xyrem. The CoEE has partnered with Cephalon Pharmaceuticals and Lilly Pharmaceuticals to test brain reward function.

The CoEE has received $4.2 million in research funding, which CoEE Chair Dr. Aston-Jones and his research team have focused on such subjects as drug addiction; a new rat model of depression, and brain circuits involved in circadian regulation of
behavioral processes.

The CoEE has collaborated with research teams at Princeton University, Tamagawa University (Japan), University of Texas at San Antonio, Harvard University, University of Bordeaux (France), and University of Pennsylvania.

Funding level:
$3 million

CoEE endowed chairs:

CoEE Chair Dr. Gary Aston‐Jones studies brain functions involved in learning, addiction, and depression.