UCLA Neuroscience is being chaired by Dr. Kelsey Martin, who also chairs the Department of Biological Chemistry. UCLA’s neuroscience community also ranks among the largest anywhere, with an estimate of around 500 UCLA faculty members engaged in studying the brain from a wide variety of perspectives. Dr. Martin has headed efforts to encourage more cross-disciplinary cooperation within the Neuroscience community, a move that would help attract philanthropy and grants to support brain research. Dr. Martin has stated that “This [national effort] will require an understanding of the emergent properties of the brain — how all of the pieces of the puzzle work — but from a broader perspective, so we can see how it all fits together. That will definitely require a large interdisciplinary effort.” UCLA Today – Taking on Brain-Activity Mapping Initiative