With your help, we can expand brain science research, education and community engagement.

Support Our Mission to Energize the Brain Sciences at Duke

Momentum is everything. Join us as we work nonstop to advance neuroscience and improve lives. The generosity of external donors helps the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences achieve its mission to promote interdisciplinary brain science and translate discoveries into solutions for health and society.

Facilitate innovative science, outstanding education, and community outreach.

Help us make it possible for more faculty and students to conduct innovative research and engage with the community to solve real-world problems such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Click Here to directly support initiatives at DIBS

To learn more & get involved, contact Marc Sommer, Ph.D., Director, Duke Institute for Brain Sciences

To learn about giving opportunities, contact Morgan Pope, Director of Interdisciplinary Development

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Your Funding Directly Supports

Research

We bring together scientists and doctors from across the University and Medical Center to solve the biggest mysteries of the brain and mind.

Our seed grants yield a 7:1 return on investment, netting labs the external funding they need for sustained impacts.

Learn more about research initiatives

Education

We are invested in training the next generation of brain scientists, physicians, scholars, entrepreneurs and policy makers.

Our impact extends from undergraduates through PhD students, enhancing their classroom learning, building lab skills and guiding their careers.

Learn more about educational initiatives

Community Engagement

We promote brain science in service to society.

Everything we do is for people, on and off campus.

Outreach efforts include high school research training, public brain events, global education and local Duke-Durham alliances.

Learn more about community engagement initiatives

Join our External Advisory Board

The DIBS External Advisory Board (EAB) are members of the community who provide guidance and vital funding support for DIBS programs.

Currently, the EAB includes 16 members from across fields including medicine, science and technology, and business, and recent Duke undergrads.

Goals for new members:

Eager to advance research that will bring about new treatments and solutions to help families navigate the most urgent brain-based disorders and diseases, such as Alzheimer's, autism, Parkinson's, substance use disorder, depression and more.
Passionate about STEM education, workforce development, and inspiring the next generation of neuroscientists, psychiatrists, surgeons, engineers, policy-makers and poets. Our initiatives engage learners at all levels across Duke, including undergraduates, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.
Promote the Institute’s mission and vision.
Willing to contribute intellectually and philanthropically.
Exemplify and support a range of career trajectories for our students, including industry, nonprofits and government service.
Open networks to connect others to the mission of DIBS and brain sciences at Duke.
Attend two meetings per year in Durham, NC, and engage in committee work, conversation and advocacy in between meetings.

Interested applicants should contact Morgan Pope, Director of Interdisciplinary Development: morgan.pope@duke.edu

Anatomical Gifts

The Duke Institute for Brain Sciences is dedicated to advancing research on neurological diseases and disorders. As such, we are often asked how people can provide anatomical gifts for research. While we are unable to accept such generous donations, people interested in donating their or a loved one’s brain for research may contact the following groups. Thank you for considering this kind gesture.

Duke Neuropsychiatric Brain Bank

Email Dianne Cruz, who oversees the Duke Neuropsychiatric Brain Bank at the Duke School of Medicine, and may be able to help coordinate donations when/if possible.

Duke University School of Medicine Anatomical Gifts Program

The Duke University School of Medicine’s Anatomical Gift’s Program provides an opportunity to use the entirety of a donor’s physical remains to shape the future careers of the students privileged to benefit from the gift. The faculty who oversee the anatomical dissection take care to ensure that students honor the dignity and humanity of the donor and their loved ones, as do the students we admit, educate, and entrust with such precious anatomical gifts.

Brain Donor Project

The Brain Donor Project is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that aims to increase the supply of human post-mortem brains donated for scientific research, and receives expert guidance from researchers affiliated with the National Institutes of Health (NIH).