The Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science (Carney) advances multidisciplinary research, technology development, and training in the brain sciences and works to establish Brown University as an internationally recognized leader in brain research. Carney Institute unites more than 100 faculty from a diverse group of departments at Brown, spanning basic and clinical departments, and physical and biological sciences. Carney Institute provides a mechanism to advance interdisciplinary research efforts among this broad group. Carney Institute provides essential support to obtain and administer multi-investigator grants for research, infrastructure, and training. The Institute actively seeks new training funds to support interdisciplinary education that transcends that available in individual academic departments. The existence of Carney as an overall organizing entity for research centers and core facilities demonstrates the university's ongoing support for brain science research at Brown. This commitment will help to attract top faculty and students to Brown, enable higher quality research and establish Brown as a worldwide leader in brain science.

The Data Science Institute (DSI) is a cross-disciplinary collaboration between four core foundational departments (Applied Mathematics, Biostatistics, Computer Science, and Mathematics) to catalyze data-enabled science and scholarship across the campus. It provides essential tools and methodologies that our faculty and students use to analyze complex psychological and neurological data, promoting cross-disciplinary collaboration to address pressing societal challenges​. The DSI includes two research centers, the Center for Computational Molecular Biology (CCMB) and Center for Technological Responsibility, Re-imagination, and Redesign (CNTR).

Brown’s DSI leverages established academic strength to build a campus hub for research and education in foundational methodologies of data science, maintaining an outward focus on application areas and critical engagement with questions of the impact of the data revolution on society, culture, and social justice.

Dedicated to advancing equity and excellence in education, the Annenberg Institute provides a platform for our faculty to investigate cognitive and psychological aspects of learning and educational practices. The institute supports research that informs policy and improves educational outcomes, focusing on closing achievement gaps and promoting high-quality education for all students. By fostering collaborations with educators, policymakers, and community leaders, the Annenberg Institute aims to create a more equitable and effective educational system.

The Nelson Center fosters innovation and entrepreneurial thinking, offering students and faculty unique opportunities to translate their research into real-world applications and entrepreneurial ventures. The center supports the development of innovative solutions to complex problems through mentorship, funding, and educational programs. By connecting academic research with industry and providing resources for startup creation, the Nelson Center helps to cultivate a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem at Brown University.

The Center for Vision Research at Brown University promotes interdisciplinary research on visual perception and its underlying neural mechanisms. Faculty members collaborate with the center to explore innovative solutions and gain new insights into vision science, leveraging advanced methodologies and technologies. The center's research spans a wide range of topics, including the neural basis of visual processing, the development of visual perception, and the impact of visual disorders on cognition and behavior. By integrating knowledge from neuroscience, psychology, biology, and computational modeling, the center aims to advance our understanding of how visual information is processed in the brain and how it can be restored or enhanced in individuals with visual impairments.

Housed within the Carney Institute, the Center for Computational Brain Science (CCBS) harnesses expertise in computation, cognition, and systems neuroscience to develop new brain health solutions. This multidisciplinary center brings together researchers from various fields to understand the brain's complex functions using computational models. CCBS focuses on three primary research areas: computational psychiatry/neurology, computational vision, and neural computation, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. The center fosters collaborations, offers cross-training in computational methods, and supports high-risk, high-gain projects with potential for commercialization, aiming to improve brain health through innovative computational approaches.

Established in 2021 with philanthropic support, this center aims to become a leader in the early detection and individualized treatment of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. It bridges foundational and clinical research, integrating expertise from various disciplines to accelerate the discovery of treatments. The center collaborates closely with Brown’s affiliated hospitals and research facilities to uncover the biological mechanisms underlying Alzheimer’s disease and to develop innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

The Humanity Centered Robotics Initiative (HCRI) at Brown University is a multidisciplinary group of faculty, students, and affiliates dedicated to using robotics to address current global challenges. Beyond technological advancement, HCRI focuses on ensuring that these advancements are economically and socially beneficial. The initiative works across various disciplines to document the societal needs and applications of human-robot interaction research, as well as the ethical, legal, and economic questions that will arise with its development.

HCRI aims to create and understand robots that can coexist harmoniously with humans, enhancing human capabilities and well-being. The initiative's research includes developing intuitive and safe robots for a wide range of human activities, promoting ethical and responsible use of robotic technologies, and exploring the impact of robotics on society. By integrating insights from cognitive science, engineering, and human-computer interaction, HCRI seeks to foster innovative research and practical applications that improve the quality of life through advanced robotics.