Penn announces $50M Penn Integrates Knowledge neurosciences initiative

PHILADELPHIA –- The University of Pennsylvania will make a major investment in neuroscience, the interdisciplinary study of brain/behavior relationships and nervous-system diseases, with a $50 million contribution from Penn's Health System to endow five new Penn Integrates Knowledge (PIK) professorships.

A portion of this contribution will supply start-up funds for each PIK professorship in neuroscience and will support interdisciplinary neuroscience initiatives involving the School of Medicine and other schools of the University.

The announcement was made by Penn President Amy Gutmann and Provost Ronald Daniels.

"This landmark contribution by the Health System represents an extraordinary commitment toward strengthening Penn's academic programs." Gutmann said. "With our commitment to integrating knowledge and our formidable teaching and research capacity in medicine and the neural and behavioral sciences, Penn can drive progress in the path-breaking fields of brain science.

"This $50 million contribution, coupled with Penn's collaborative cross-school team approach, helps empower Penn to develop the knowledge needed to improve our understanding of the neural basis of behavior, including human cognition and emotion and ultimately to improve the health and well being of people around the globe."

The $50 million adds to the Health System's existing funding for new centers and institutes, support toward the construction of a new research building and aggressive faculty recruitment efforts in the School of Medicine.

PIK professorships, a University-wide initiative launched by Gutmann in 2005, are awarded to exceptional faculty members whose research and teaching exemplify the integration of knowledge across fields of study.