Indian scientist awarded prestigious grant under Obama initiative

August 20, 2014

Partha Mitra, an Indian researcher in the US has been awarded a prestigious research grant under President Barack Obama’s initiative to map the human brain.
The grant will support Mitra’s endeavors to develop a “virtual neuroanatomist”, an artificial-intelligence system that can identify cell types and neural structures in microscopic images of brain slices.
Apart from Mitra, Florin Albeanu is the other scientist at the National Science Foundation who has been awarded Early Concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) under President Barack Obama’s multi-year Brain Initiative.
The award will provide $300,000 over two years for the development of innovative conceptual and physical tools to move forward neuroscience. The awards are intended to fund short-term, proof-of-concept projects with the prospect of high-returns.