GET INVOLVED

JOIN US IN ADVANCING BRAIN SCIENCE

Read the CNLM Case Statement to see how we’re advancing brain research and education.

Imagine a world where...

The intricate workings and formidable potential of human memory are unlocked, so that memories can be enhanced or recovered to help countless patients continue to live meaningful lives.

Memory-based interventions allow our minds to age gracefully, protected from dementia and cognitive decline.

Discoveries in learning and memory revolutionize the educational landscape for individuals living with learning disabilities.

The extraordinary power of human memory ushers in a new era of artificial intelligence, working alongside humans to solve resource shortages and other global challenges.

At the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, this is our moonshot. With your partnership, we can make it a reality. I invite you to read on to see how we can shape the future, together.

With gratitude,

Michael A. Yassa, Ph.D.

Director and James L. McGaugh Chair

Photo of graduate student Gerardo Sandoval in the laboratory of CNLM Faculty Fellow Dr. Javier Diaz Alonso, Assistant Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology

Our Vision For Tomorrow

At the CNLM, we have a bold vision for the future of brain science and how it can make a positive impact on the lives of millions of people across the globe, including those who are living with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, people who have been diagnosed with epilepsy or traumatic brain injury, individuals living with depression and anxiety disorders, those who struggle with learning disabilities, and many more.

Our three pillars of excellence:

Accelerating Groundbreaking Research

Our goal is to lead high-risk, high-reward research programs that reside on the cutting edge. Unfortunately, this research is often considered to be too novel or is too unconventional for traditional government funding.

With your support, we can:

Our researchers will be empowered to explore visionary ideas and develop proofs of concept for transformative technologies. During this promising stage of research, an infusion of funds will serve as the catalyst for substantial growth, allowing us to reach heights that could transform lives.
We will establish endowed chairs to attract additional world-class scientists with exceptional expertise in precise areas of need to further accelerate our ambitious research agenda.
We will expand our scientific core facilities and team science resources, fostering advancements in next-generation microscopy, animal behavior, and large-scale computation. New funding will allow us to pursue innovative opportunities we might otherwise be forced to pass up, and thereby uphold our leading status in the field, further propelling us toward transformative discoveries.

Training the Next Generation of Leaders

Our mission is clear: to provide our students with unparalleled opportunities for success in the dynamic landscape of brain science and to prepare them for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

At the CNLM, we are globally renowned for developing the brightest scientists and cultivating innovators equipped with advanced skills sought by academia and industry alike. Our commitment to training the nation’s future leaders in brain science starts at the earliest stages of education. We partner with K-12 schools in Orange County to ensure that neuroscience education is within reach to students at all levels and from all backgrounds. Additionally, we have built world-class programs at the CNLM, including a top-ranking graduate training program for doctoral students and the highly coveted Summer Institute in Neuroscience for undergraduates, which attracts brilliant student scholars from all around the country.

Finally, the CNLM is developing innovative postdoctoral training opportunities that bridge the gap between science and society and redefine the training and career landscapes in neuroscience. We aspire to become the nation’s leading institute for training postdocs, equipping them with the skills and experience needed to excel as top brain scientists in both academia and industry.

Partnering with Our Communities

The CNLM has been successful in introducing our community to the world of brain science. Our Office of Outreach and Education, led by Dr. Manuella Oliveira Yassa, is a world-class leader in neuroscience education and engagement. The office has developed pioneering and impactful programs including the Brain Explorer Academy and the highly sought after UCI Brain Camp.

The Office of Outreach and Education supports the Distinguished Lecture Series on Brain, Learning and Memory. Since 1995, this free public lecture series has featured brain science luminaries, including Nobel laureates, and educated more than 50,000 community members.

Finally, we recently embarked on a groundbreaking endeavor – the creation of the world’s first university-based community neuroscience research laboratory. Our goal is to continue to offer authentic and meaningful neuroscience experiences to individuals of all ages and backgrounds. We are investing resources to sustain these educational partnerships and amplify their impact within the Orange County community.

Join Us in Advancing Neuroscience

Gifts and Giving

The CNLM is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public institution and accepts gifts of all sizes as we take the next step to guarantee our future and the future of so many people worldwide. Your gift is an opportunity to help unlock research that will change lives and to inspire and train the next generation of researchers eager to tackle these grand challenges over the next several decades.

There are many ways to contribute to the CNLM’s vision and help shape the future of neuroscience. Explore the opportunities below to learn how you can make a lasting impact.

Learn more

Friends of the CNLM

The Friends of the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory is the Center's official support group. The Friends group supports various priorities including pursuing high-risk, high-reward research, purchasing or developing new state-of-the-art technologies, and supporting graduate student and post doctoral training.

The purpose of the Friends of the CNLM is to regularly engage individuals in the community and university with a particular interest in learning and memory research and education.

Learn more

Memory Keepers

When you join the Memory Keepers, you create a lasting legacy that will help tomorrow's leaders in brain science shape the world for the better. You will also become a member of the UC Irvine Legacy Society. Legacy Society members enjoy invitations to attend all our special events and lectures, invitation to an annual luncheon at the UCI Chancellor’s home as well as exclusive Legacy Society mailings, containing information on planned giving.

Learn more about planned giving and the ways you can make a lasting impact at the CNLM.

Learn more

"It’s so awesome that there are donors out there who care about undergraduate researchers such as myself. We get the validation of being recognized for research, allowing us to keep contributing to the field.

Morgan Sky Lu
Undergraduate Student, UCI CNLM

"The Friends of the CNLM group is our special ingredient. Your membership powers the research, training, and outreach that define the center, while strengthening the vital bridge between scientific discovery and the community it serves."

Manuella Oliveira Yassa, Ph.D.
Director of Outreach and Education, UCI CNLM

"The CNLM is the world’s premier institute for the study of the brain. We strive to make breakthrough advances in research that tackle humanity’s most significant challenges, improving lives locally, regionally, and worldwide. We invite you to join us.

Michael A. Yassa, Ph.D.
Director, UCI CNLM

"But now that there's a lot of decreases in federal funding, it’s really important for community members that have a desire to advance science to be able to donate to programs like the CNLM."

Erica Ramirez
Ph.D. Student, UCI CNLM

"With all these donations, we're able to secure the resources we need to spread our findings and help scientists discover new things to help us find cures for cancers or neurodegenerative disorders..."

Jorge Mendoza
Ph.D. Student, UCI CNLM

GET INVOLVED

JOIN US IN ADVANCING BRAIN SCIENCE

Imagine a world where...

Our Vision For Tomorrow

Our three pillars of excellence:

Join Us in Advancing Neuroscience

Gifts and Giving

Friends of the CNLM

Memory Keepers

If you have questions about giving to the CNLM, please contact Cece Martz, Center Administrator at (949) 824-5193 or c.martz@uci.edu