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Congressional Neuroscience Caucus

The bipartisan Congressional Neuroscience Caucus promotes a better understanding of how the brain develops, functions, and ages.

Co-chaired by Representative Morgan Luttrell (R-TX) and Representative Mike Thompson (D-CA), the caucus seeks to raise awareness about the millions of Americans afflicted with neurological disorders or mental illnesses.

See if your Representative is a MEMBER of the Congressional Neuroscience Caucus, if they are not listed, we encourage you to ASK them to join today!

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Announcing new Congressional Neuroscience Co-Chair ~ January 3, 2025

Representative Mike Thompson (D-CA) joined Representative Morgan Luttrell (R-TX) as Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Neuroscience Caucus (CNC) for the 119th Congress. Rep. Thompson succeeds Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), who co-founded the CNC in 2010 alongside Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA). View full press release here.

Congressional Neuroscience Caucus Briefings

The American Brain Coalition has teamed up with the Congressional Neuroscience Caucus in hosting and organizing events that focus on neuroscience: sponsoring briefings and information sessions on neuroscience research and findings; collaborating with patient advocacy, physician, and research organizations to build awareness; and distributing congressional communications and information such as Dear Colleagues and Congressional Record statements.

November 17, 2026 - The Era of Neuroscience Innovation: How Federal Investment Seeds Innovation Leading to Cures and Treatments (REGISTER HERE)

  • Moderator: Diane Lipscombe, PhD, Chair, Government and Publics Affairs Committee, SfN Director, Carney Institute for Brain Science, Professor of Neuroscience, Brown University

  • Timothy Miller, MD, PhD, Vice Chair of Research, Department of Neurology, Professor of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

  • Eric Morrow, MD, PhD, Founding Director, Lurie Autism Institute, Professor in Genetics and Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

  • Sunitha Malepati, JD, Vice President, CACNA1A Foundation

September 30, 2026 - The Power of Animals for Clinical Innovation​

The American Brain Coalition is proud to sponsor an upcoming congressional briefing with PEER exploring the future of biomedical research and the role of both animal research and new approach methodologies (NAMs) in advancing innovation for patients. The briefing will examine why animal research remains an essential part of the drug development pipeline while also exploring how emerging NAMs can complement traditional research approaches. Speakers will discuss how these methods can work together to protect patients, advance innovation, and support responsible research as new approaches continue to be validated.

September 16, 2026 - Psychedelics in Brain Health: From Promise to Practice
View Summary/View Recording 

  • Introductions & Moderator: Mark M. Rasenick, PhD, Past Chair, American Brain Coalition

  • Keynote Address: Jaclyn “Jax” Scott, U.S. Special Operations Veteran

  • Tiffany Farchione, MD, FAPA, Director of the Division of Psychiatry, FDA Center for Drug Evaluation & Research

  • Harriet de Wit, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience,The University of Chicago

  • Ivan Montoya, MD, MPH, Director of the Division of Therapeutics & Medical Consequences, National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA)

  • Daniel Karlin, MD, MA, Chief Medical Officer, Definium Therapeutics

  • Steve Levine, MD, Chief Patient Officer, Compass Pathways

June 16 2026 at 3pm ET- Accelerating Breakthroughs in Brain Research Through the NIH BRAIN Initiative
(View Summary/View Recording) 

  • Moderator: John J. Ngai, PhD, Director, The NIH BRAIN Initiative

  • Welcome: Jennifer French, Chair,  American Brain Coalition

  • Opening Remarks: Tish Hevel, Founder/CEO, The Brain Donor Project

  • Sandeep Robert Datta, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School

  • Patricia Janak, PhD, Bloomberg Distinguished Professor, Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

  • Ed Lein, PhD, Executive Vice President & Director, Allen Institute

  • Martha Morrell, MD, Chief Medical Officer, NeuroPace, Clinical Professor of Neurology, Stanford University

  • Marina Picciotto, PhD, Charles B.G. Murphy Professor of Psychiatry & Professor in the Child Student Center, of Neuroscience and of Pharmacology, Yale School of Medicine

April 22, 2026 - The NIH BRAIN Initiative: Securing America's Neurotechnology Future
(View Summary)/ (View Recording)

  • Co-Moderator: John J. Ngai, PhD, Director, The NIH BRAIN Initiative 

  • Co-Moderator: Jennifer French, Chair, American Brain Coalition

  • Welcome Remarks: Nick Spitzer, PhD, President, Society for Neuroscience

  • Helen Bronte-Stewart, MD, MSE, John E. Cahill Family Professor, Founder, QDG Health

  • Michael Mager, Co-Founder & CEO, Precision Neuroscience

  • Douglas J. Weber, PhD, Akhtar & Bhutta Endowed Professor, Carnegie Mellon University, Co-Founder, Reach Neuro, Inc.

  • Robert Raike, PhD, Director, Neuromodulation Research & Technology, Medtronic

  • Jacob Robinson, PhD, Co-Founder & CEO, Motif Neurotech

February 4, 2026 - Decoding Stigma - The Neural Science of Mental Health (View Summary) (View Recording)

  • Moderator: Mark M. Rasenick, PhD, Past Chair, American Brain Coalition

  • Keynote Address: Andy Dunn, Author of Burn Rate: Launching a Startup and Losing My Mind, Co-founder of Bonobos, Pie, and Monica + Andy 

  • Andrea C. Beckel-Mitchener, PhD, Acting Director, National Institute of Mental Health

  • Mark Hyman Rapaport, MD, Chair of the Board, Stop Stigma Together

  • Erica Moore, Director of Operations, The STARR Coalition

  • Jeff Winton, Founder and Chairman, Rural Minds

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