Accelerate discovery

Stark Neurosciences Research Institute

Bringing together the scientific community in a dynamic, collaborative organization that advances discovery of neuroscience-related disease mechanisms and therapeutic strategies and disseminates and applies this knowledge to prevent, treat and cure disease.

a picture of the Stark Neurosciences building

Mission and Vision

Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, under the leadership of Executive Director Bruce T. Lamb, PhD, is dedicated to improving outcomes for persons suffering from disorders of the nervous system. For more than 20 years, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute has provided a collaborative space on the Indiana University School of Medicine campus in downtown Indianapolis where scientists and clinician-scientists from different disciplines across Indiana University can work together on translational science to investigate devastating disorders, ultimately seeking novel therapeutics to treat patients alongside partnering physicians. Researchers at the prestigious institute have made groundbreaking discoveries in Alzheimer's disease, psychiatric disorders, traumatic brain injury and much else.

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Transformational neuroscience research

Stark Neurosciences Research Institute is at the cutting edge for the role the IU School of Medicine plays locally and globally to shape new treatments for devastating disorders of the nervous system, including Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, as well as addiction, glaucoma, spinal cord and brain injuries, chronic pain and psychiatric disorders.

a researcher works in a lab

Exponential growth in research funding

Stark Neuroscience Research Institute investigators at IU School of Medicine received $98.5 million in National Institute of Health grant funding in 2023, a 35% increase since 2019. Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders related grants comprise a large majority of the funding.

Research at Stark Neurosciences Research Institute is not only reflected across departments at IU School of Medicine and at other IU campuses statewide but at several universities and institutions, such as Purdue University, the Jackson Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh and Sage Bionetworks.

Research Interests

FEATURED NEWS

Selena Wang presents her poster at the 2025 Spring ADRC meeting in San Francisco.

IU researcher seeks to solve 'black box' nature of AI, presents groundbreaking research at Spring ADRC

IU School of Medicine's Selena Wang is trying find the answer to many complexities of the brain and Alzheimer's disease using artificial intelligence.

May 06, 2025

Professional headshot of Brian Pierchala atop a colorful digital microscope image

ALS researcher aims to discover hidden causes of neuromuscular disease on quest for new therapies

ALS Awareness Month: Brian Pierchala, PhD, is growing ALS research at IU School of Medicine through the Motoneuron Club and collaborative science.

May 02, 2025

a physician shows a folder with documents to a patient

Brain health program fuels clinical and research advancements of new Alzheimer’s disease treatments in Indiana

Indiana patients are among the first people in the country to receive new disease-modifying drugs for Alzheimer's disease, contributing to the work of IU School of Medicine researchers actively studying the long-term effects of the treatments.

April 24, 2025

Upcoming Events

May 16 12:00pm - 1:00pm

AIR Seminar Series Session 7: Semi-Quantitative Imaging

Goodman Hall, 355 W. 16th St. Indianapolis, IN 46202

May 30 12:00pm - 1:00pm

AIR Seminar Series Session 8: Small Animal Imaging

Goodman Hall, 355 W. 16th St. Indianapolis, IN 46202

Jun 03 12:00pm

Membership Seminar:

SNRI Core Series: Summer 2025

NEUROSCIENCES RESEARCH BUILDING

American Brain Coalition

American Brain Coalition LogoStark Neurosciences Research Institute is proud to be a member of the American Brain Coalition, a nonprofit umbrella organization of nearly 200 leading professional neurological, psychological and psychiatric associations and patient organizations, along with clinicians, researchers, academia, industry and government agencies in the United States. The coalition's goal is to increase awareness and understanding and to advocate for increased research and resources — to improve a person's quality of life and enhance a national commitment toward cures for patients with brain disorders. Stark is one of 10 academic institutions in the country dedicated to advancing brain research as members of the American Brain Coalition.