I am honored and humbled by the trust you have placed in me as the Director of the Western Institute for Neuroscience (WIN). I want to extend my sincere gratitude to everyone who has supported my vision for the WIN.

My comprehensive strategy for WIN that centers on our core vision of tackling grand challenges by fostering community engagement and building interdisciplinary capacity. It is my firm belief that by adopting an interdisciplinary approach and forging strong partnerships within and beyond our institution, we can drive positive societal impact and propel neuroscience research to new heights of excellence.

To achieve this vision, we will focus on three key pillars:

1. NeuroConnect: We will identify and address the most pressing societal issues that neuroscience can help to solve. These challenges will require interdisciplinary approaches and active engagement with our community partners.
2. NeuroEngage: We recognize the importance of connecting with our broader community to ensure that our research is relevant, accessible, and impactful. By fostering meaningful relationships and collaborations, we can amplify the reach and effectiveness of our work.
3. NeuroDevelop: We are committed to nurturing a culture of collaboration and innovation within WIN. By bringing together experts from diverse fields, we can leverage complementary strengths and perspectives to tackle complex problems more effectively.

How We Get There: Achieving our vision will require a concerted effort from all members of the WIN community. In particular, I am committed to pursuing sustained fundraising strategies to secure the resources we need to support our initiatives. This includes building both internal and external fundraising partnerships to ensure our long-term sustainability and success.  WIN will also ensure that we promote and provide resources to support Open Science.  By adopting Open Science as a core value, we can build community trust through reproducibility, accountability and transparency.

Our Associate Directors at WIN are Dr. Andrew Pruszynski and Dr. Emma Duerden. Dr. Pruszynski oversees internal research initiatives, while Dr. Duerden leads external community engagement efforts. Their expertise and commitment is invaluable as we work together to advance our mission.

I would also like to take this opportunity to highlight the contributions of our exceptional staff members, whose hard work and dedication are instrumental to the success of WIN. Your passion and commitment inspire us all, and I am grateful for the opportunity to work alongside such a talented team.

In closing, I am excited about the journey we are on and the incredible potential that lies within our grasp. Together, we can make meaningful strides toward addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing our society today.