Center for Integrative Brain Research
Our Vision
To raise the international stature and research productivity of neuroscientists at Seattle Children’s Research Institute, contributing to the research institute's aim of becoming a worldwide leader in pediatric research.
The Center
To understand and ultimately cure neurological disorders, we will unravel the dynamics of genetic, molecular, cellular, network, behavioral and environmental interactions and the regulatory mechanisms that influence these interactions.
The Center for Integrative Brain Research (CIBR) is unraveling the mechanisms beneath neurological, neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. CIBR’s approach is to integrate knowledge at the genetic, molecular, cellular, network, and behavioral levels to better understand a wide spectrum of neuronal functions and brain-related diseases. This knowledge will lay the foundation for innovative therapies that prevent or cure these disorders.
Collaborating to cure neurological disorders
In contrast to conventional therapies that alleviate symptoms, the center’s goal is to identify and correct the underlying causes of neurological disorders. To accomplish this, the center’s researchers integrate knowledge at the genetic, molecular, cellular, network and behavioral levels to better understand a wide spectrum of neuronal functions and brain-related diseases. By unraveling how these facets work together to spawn disorders, our researchers are setting the stage for innovative, comprehensive therapies that cure those disorders.
For example, center researchers are investigating the cellular and molecular factors that trigger epilepsy, with the goal of correcting those factors and disarming the disease. This is in contrast to drugs that temporarily alleviate epilepsy’s symptoms, but can open the door to intractable epilepsy by causing the brain to adapt until the drugs are ineffective.
State-of-the-art infrastructure accelerates research
With more than 35,000 square feet of laboratory space, the center’s research facility in downtown Seattle houses the latest technologies and has access to core infrastructure including flow cytometry labs, a 5,000-square-foot pediatric clinical research center and an upcoming, multi-million-dollar cell manufacturing facility. The opportunity to draw upon these facilities and work alongside health care providers at Seattle Children’s Hospital – a U.S. News and World Report top children’s hospital – is one of the center’s key strengths, allowing its faculty to harness diverse disciplines and technologies.
Building a world-class neuroscience team
Since his arrival at Seattle Children’s in 2008, center director Dr. Nino Ramirez has been assembling a team of renowned neuroscience experts. As midcareer researchers, these investigators bring not only established expertise and funding, but also a willingness to work together toward cures that improve the lives of children and families worldwide.
By piecing together the basic science of brain function, we’ll reveal mechanisms that will lead to cures.
Dr. Jan "Nino" Ramirez
To learn more about the center and our members, interested faculty and postdoctoral researchers are encouraged to email Dr. Nino Ramirez or call 206-884-1025.