Neuroscience is at an inflection point where industry and investors believe research will profoundly advance products and services. With its robust research infrastructure, thriving bioscience industry, and growing neurotechnology ecosystem, St. Louis is uniquely positioned to lead brain health and neuroscience innovation. World-class local research assets have already produced technology such as the PET scan and the only FDA-approved brain-computer interface for stroke patients. Neuro360 seeks to boost existing infrastructure to accelerate further breakthroughs, with enormous potential for human prosperity.
NEURO360 will help St. Louis continue to grow while aligning with stakeholder priorities, particularly to create jobs, build wealth in the community, and reduce healthcare disparities in neuroscience.
NEURO360’s tech innovation plan focuses on four Innovation Nodes that align academic research, industry collaboration, workforce training, and community engagement.
Advancing brain-computer interfaces, neural imaging tools, and stimulation devices
Bridging neurogenomics, neurodegenerative disease research, and molecular therapeutics
Harnessing AI, neuromorphic computing, and mobile health applications
Ensuring neuroscience innovations benefit the workforce and public health applications
Each area of focus is co-led by regional universities and supported directly with input from stakeholders, scientists and experts, ensuring Neuro360’s efforts and integrated and fully leverage St. Louis’ assets.
St. Louis is poised to become a national leader in neuroscience and neurotechnology, with substantial potential for commercialization and equitable job creation. NEURO360 will accelerate the developing neuroscience innovation ecosystem across the St. Louis Region, which includes the City of St. Louis and 14 surrounding counties.
For more than two decades, BioSTL, a nonprofit coalition, has driven the region’s innovation economy through the creation of critical infrastructure like the Cortex Innovation District, over $1 billion in venture capital funds, and the BioGenerator commercialization center.
The region boasts significant research strength, including a new $616 million neuroscience research building at
Washington University, one of the largest in the world. St. Louis University and the University of Missouri-St. Louis also contribute critical research and support through their respective neuroscience and mental health institutes.
Industry support is strong, with major firms like MilliporeSigma and Pfizer, biotech companies such as C2N, and startups like Avadel Pharmaceuticals driving innovation. The planned $1 billion expansion of the John Cochran VA Medical Center, including a specialized neuroscience unit, further underscores the region’s capacity for advancements in neuroscience applications and commercialization.
NEURO360 is a multi-sector coalition of 40+ institutions and stakeholders, and this network continues to expand. Partners contribute the research, commercialization expertise, workforce development infrastructure, and capital to make St. Louis a national neuroscience hub. NEURO360 builds off the convening infrastructure of the BioSTL Coalition, a broad civic partnership of 50+ business, science, academic, philanthropic, and public-sector leaders, to coordinate activities across the region of service. NEURO360 will deepen long-standing partnerships between strategically relevant stakeholders across the regional neuroscience ecosystem, building on St. Louis’ world-class bioscience sector.
