One of the most innovative fields in health, neuro-policy seems tailor-made for a university such as Rice, with its deep partnerships in the Texas Medical Center and knack for applying multiple disciplines to big, complex problems. Now, a $1 million gift from Harry Yan and Weiman Gao is helping put Rice at the forefront of this fascinating field. Their gift recently established the Neuro-Policy Program at the Baker Institute for Public Policy, which combines expertise in medicine, neuroscience, public health, economics, architecture, finance and social sciences to revolutionize our understanding of brain function and its economic impact.

Harris A. Eyre, the Harry Z. Yan and Weiman Gao Senior Fellow in Brain Health, helps us unpack how this unique focus on brain capital can reduce mental health and neurological disparities and foster more innovative and resilient communities.

What is brain capital?

Brain capital is the collective brain power of a community, encompassing both the physical health of our brains and the breadth and depth of our skills, including creativity, critical thinking and resilience. It reaches across all elements of society, from public health to economics to education. With brain capital, we take the best of neuroscience and quickly apply it to a broad swath of public policies so we can act on important issues like food systems, education, social media and mental health.

How can more brain capital help us?

Brain capital can go up or down, depending on policies that drive society and our economy. We’re pioneering and advancing a completely new economic transformation — to the brain-positive economy — to improve brain capital for as many people as possible. It’s an economic transformation similar to the clean energy transition. The clean energy economy diversifies our energy mix to include more environmentally friendly sources such as wind and solar. The brain economy will likewise strengthen avenues for developing brain capital. Right now, people in our highest economic strata have strong brain capital, but we need to make it equitable so more people can be creative and productive.

Why is it so important to increase brain capital now?

Brain capital is a critical issue now because significant health and economic challenges are on the rise. Mental and neurological conditions, like depression, anxiety and Alzheimer’s, cost $2.2 trillion a year in lost productivity and health care costs combined, and these costs are increasing at a rate of five% a year. We also have a growing number of people living with brain differences — neurodiversity like dyslexia and autism — and our education systems are not well tuned to personalize education to meet their needs.

What are you doing at Rice, in Texas and beyond to increase brain capital?

Thanks to a recent $1 million gift from Harry Yan and Weiman Gao, Rice is establishing a new Neuro-Policy Program, an interdisciplinary initiative where I’m pioneering data analysis, empirical research and policy applications. I’m also working to create a new institute at Rice for brain capital research, education, policy and innovation. Part of that will hopefully include a Brain and Mind Launch Pad, an investment fund to bring together private investors to accelerate brain capital technologies, much like the Rice Biotech Launch Pad. At the state level, I’m working with legislators to draft a Texas NeuroResearch Initiative (TNI) bill to establish a state-based funding agency for mental and neurological research. At the federal level, I’m working with congressional offices to develop an American brain economy policy package. At the global level, I’m leading the United Nations Brain Days to position the brain economy as a key driver of economic growth. We are also developing a Brain Economy Leadership Executive Education course with Rice Global. At the state level, I’m working with legislators to draft a Texas Brain and Mind Bill to establish a state-based funding agency for mental and neurological research. At the state level, I’m working with legislators to draft a Texas Brain and Mind Bill to establish a state-based funding agency for mental and neurological research.

What inspired you to do this work?

I grew up in the Great Barrier Reef area in rural Australia and went to medical school there. During my medical training, I saw firsthand the challenges of getting high-quality health care to First Nations and marginalized people. I’ve wanted to find a way to help on a grander scale than treating individual patients.

When I met the people at the Baker Institute, I saw a new way to engineer a system change — public policy. Now I’m trying to unify my early days of equity-focused health care in Australia with my advanced neuroscience skills, all in service of helping society.