"Our goal is to understand how different body systems are represented in the brain, and in turn, how the brain coordinates the functioning of the systems. The gift will unify the efforts of scientists across different laboratories and institutions to study brain-body communication and physiology in health and disease"
The K. Lisa Yang Brain Body Center (BBC), based at Harvard Medical School, launched in 2025, and is poised to become a global leader in advancing our understanding of the vital connection between the brain and the body. Our work is focused on how the brain communicates with and regulates key organ systems, including the immune, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal systems. By revealing how these complex interactions shape cognition, behavior, and overall health, the Center aims to open new frontiers in therapeutic innovation.
The Brain Body Center is co-directed by David Ginty, Chair of the Department of Neurobiology and Michael E. Greenberg, the Nathan Marsh Pusey Professor of Neurobiology, at Harvard Medical School.
Through close collaboration with investigators across the Collective at Harvard, our Center drives groundbreaking research and fosters the training of future leaders in the emerging field of brain-body science.
Chair of Neurobiology and Edward R. and Anne G. Lefler Professior, Harvard Medical School
Nathan Marsh Pusey Professor of Neurobiology,
Harvard Medical School
Professor of Neurobiology
Harvard Medical School
Professor of Medicine,
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Professor of Cell Biology,
Harvard Medical School
Leading our community-focused initiatives is Mark Thompson, the Community Engagement Coordinator. Mark is dedicated to building strong relationships with our clients and communities.
Associate Professor of Neurobiology
Harvard Medical School
