‘Cognitive Legos’ help the brain build complex behaviors Research How the brain understands language may be more like AI than previously thought Awards & Honors Arbelaiz awarded Schmidt Science Fellows Catalyst Grant Awards & Honors PNI and affiliated trainees named 2025 Honorific Fellows by the Princeton Graduate School Awards & Honors The Transmitter names Christina Kim '11 a 2025 Rising Star in Neuroscience View All News NIH funding is key to brain research and innovation at Princeton “We need support to do big science. Everything is working, so it’s a good moment for science in the lab. But we’re also on a cliff at the same time.” : Learn More Uri Hasson's lab analyzes real-world data to study language learning and communication in unprecedented detail may lose multimillion-dollar datasets Learn More “Even if this were resolved tomorrow, this has a broad chilling effect. We can lose years of progress when there’s sufficient uncertainty and we just don’t pursue projects moving forward.” : Learn More Fenna Krienen — who's lab explores how brain circuits develop — faces stalled progress toward understanding autism and schizophrenia Learn More “Not having funding would be devastating. It would be like losing the return on the investment we made to make the first map.” : Learn More Mala Murthy — who’s work on how brain wiring drives behavior — risks losing years of investment in brain mapping without federal support Learn More “Think about Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's disease. The dollar cost of these diseases is huge. And the emotional costs are even huger. Can we wait?" : Learn More Sebastian Seung uses AI to map the brains of flies, mice, and eventually humans, but needs federal support for work that may lead to improvements for neurological diseases Learn More “All this uncertainty creates enormous inefficiency. You can’t run a business — or a research lab — if you don't know if you can employ people." : Learn More Research from Catherine Peña's lab on how childhood trauma affects brain development is being impacted by changing research support Learn More “We’re worrying if we should wrap up projects or look for alternative funding sources. Your mind is going in completely different directions instead of just focusing on the how to move science forward to make the biggest impact.” : Learn More Federal grant funding delays and uncertainty is stalling Tatiana Engel’s research on how the brain supports decision-making and attention Learn More 1 / 6 Start animation ▶ ︎ ︎ Director’s Welcome Our commitment to excellence in research is reflected in the diverse and innovative projects undertaken at PNI. As we strive to push the boundaries of neuroscience, we also prioritize education and collaboration. Read Full Letter Neuroscience Seminar Series Thursdays at 12pmAll seminars are in person. Paul Nuyujukian, M.D., Ph.D. Jan 29, 2026, 12:00 pm Location PNI A32 PNI In-House Seminar Feb 5, 2026, 12:00 pm Location PNI A32 Conor Liston, M.D., Ph.D. Feb 12, 2026, 12:00 pm Location PNI A32 PNI Faculty Seminar: Catherine Jensen Peña, Ph.D. Feb 19, 2026, 12:00 pm Location PNI A32 View All Upcoming PNI Events Princeton Neuroscience Institute Princeton Neuroscience Institute is located in the two-building LEED certified building complex. The complex is part of a natural sciences neighborhood at the university, positioned immediately adjacent to the Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics and the Department of Molecular Biology, and across the street from the departments of Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry. The building features state-of-the-art research and teaching facilities, including space for three MRI scanners for neuroimaging, MEG, and cutting edge optical imaging and microscopy facilities.
