Bronowski Institute of Behavioural Neuroscience

Bronowski Institute of Behavioural Neuroscience

Logo: Ancient Greek Psi, Neuros, Logos centred on the broken symbol for infinity
Motto	Science in the service of humanity
Founder(s)	Dr. Gregory L. Willis Elizabeth J. Chapman
Established	1991 (1991)
Mission	Medical research
Focus	Biomedical Science; Biological Science; Behavioural Neuroscience; Comparative Neuroethology; Environmental Toxicology
Director	Dr. Gregory L. Willis
Location	Macedon Ranges, Victoria, Australia
Website	www.bronowski.org

The Bronowski Institute of Behavioural Neuroscience is an Australian independent not-for-profit medical research institute that is financially supported entirely by philanthropy, that undertakes clinical and basic research into disorders of brain function and addresses problems of altered biological function in animals and man.

It is fully licensed by state and federal governing bodies to undertake scientific research. As funding has been provided by private means, the Institute can be referred to as an Independent Research Organisation (IRO) and the founder, Dr. Gregory Willis, an independent scientist.

The research laboratories are located in the State of Victoria, in the Macedon Ranges, north of Melbourne, with The Bronowski Clinic operating in Woodend and at the Coliban Medical Centre in Kyneton. Projects covering a diversity of areas in behavioural biology are carried out with research staff, collaborators and students from academic institutions within Australia and overseas.

History

The Bronowski Institute of Behavioural Neuroscience was established in 1991 in response to a perceived need for scientists to be able to undertake important work in the absence of reliable support from funding bodies and governments. After more than a decade of research and teaching at the Monash University Department of Psychiatry at Prince Henry’s Hospital, the founder set out to establish premises and obtain funding to investigate the cause and treatment of Parkinson's disease and to undertake research in other areas of biological science.

The original work was undertaken at a very modest facility which underwent gradual conversion from 1991 to the present. Personal investment by the founder, and allied supporters, has been the key behind transformation of the facility from little more than a shed to modern premises where significant discoveries have been published in major biomedical journals.^[1][2][3][4] This is of particular significance in the historical context of scientists who emerged from the most humble beginnings (Albert Einstein) or have been forced to pursue their work at whatever cost, wherever they can (Marie Curie, Galileo). Hence, the twin motifs for The Bronowski Institute (shown below) depict and thereby acknowledge the accomplishments of scientists such as Marie and Pierre Curie, Albert Einstein and Galileo Galilei in a most improbable environment for achieving scientific success.

Principles

The Institute was named in honour of Dr. Jacob Bronowski, renowned mathematician and academic, who made significant inroads in the history and philosophy of science. His publication, Science and Human Values, remains one of the mascot publications of The Bronowski Institute as it portrayed the rules by which science endeavours to serve mankind and depicts how scientists work cooperatively for human benefit. In addition, while science is being practised more and more on a collective basis, the Bronowski Institute of Behavioural Neuroscience acknowledges the inherent importance of the individual scientist as the moving force in the advancement of scientific knowledge, over the sponsoring institution.

On this basis, the Bronowski Institute has adopted the following principles:

• To improve the human condition, advance human knowledge and alleviate human suffering.
• To promote the true meaning of the academic spirit (Homo Universalis; Polymath) by encouraging participation and developing expertise in a significant number of academic areas.
• To provide, promote and foster the development of a sincere sense of constructive critique in an informal and relaxed atmosphere of scientific cooperation, friendship and comradery. This is based on the axiom that "Dissent is the native activity of the scientist…" (J. Bronowski, 1972; Science and Human Values)
• To provide, under the auspices of translational neuroscience, novel methods of treatment for various diseases and conditions by implementing carefully executed, thorough and scientific exploration of minimally invasive treatment methods which improve the quality of life in those experiencing suffering.
• To provide a place of scientific practice where the underlying bureaucracy can be expedited, minimised or eliminated.
• To permit the undertaking of special areas of scientific research that would not be ordinarily funded by government or universities, that are chosen by the researcher on the basis of interest as opposed to those undertaken in upon demands made by funding bodies.^[5]
• To permit student participation in an accelerated program of scientific research to which they would not be routinely exposed during the course of university training and to afford students the opportunity to publish during their undergraduate career.
• To ensure that the credit for scientific achievement is appropriately attributed to scientists who actually contributed to a specific work, to avoid formal publication in "least publishable units" and to discourage unjustifiable, honorary authorship.

Research organisation

Self-funding by scientists was common in the post-renaissance period and up until the 20th century. After this time (circa 1900), governments and universities took on the responsibility of funding major research. By definition, independent scientist^[5] are defined as those pursuing scientific study without direct affiliation with or funding from universities, government institutions or granting bodies. It is a rare phenomenon for a self-funding scientist to form a bona fide IRO without traditional means of financial support. The ability to achieve this varies from culture to culture, being particularly difficult in countries such as Australia where tertiary education is more socialised.

Seven years after inaugural work commenced at the Bronowski Institute of Behavioural Neuroscience, significant funding was received from an independent source to aid in the development of a novel class of drugs for treating Parkinson's disease. Continued work led to subsequent discoveries in the areas of circadian function and Parkinson's disease,^[2][6] supported by funding from private sources in Australia, the United States and Europe.

In 1996, The Bronowski Clinic was established on the basis of findings from preclinical models of experimental Parkinson's disease showing that exposure to 24 hours of light enhanced recovery from the disease.^[2] Due to the non-invasive nature of the treatment, a science-based program for light administration in Parkinson's disease was developed with more than 250 patients treated at the Clinic to date, with many travelling from around Australia, the United States and Europe to be treated. Studies involving formal collaborations on double blind, randomized, placebo controlled trials are underway in Australia, at Harvard University, The V U University Medical Centre, Amsterdam and The Aspen Clinic in Utah, and these are being coordinated by The Bronowski Institute. Justification for such trials arises from work that was undertaken exclusively at the Bronowski research laboratories and The Bronowski Clinic and published in major biomedical journals.^[2][3][4][7]

Achievements, advances and directions

The major advances made at The Bronowski Institute have emerged from the concept that Parkinson's disease is a disease of the retina. The Institute has undertaken numerous studies demonstrating that Parkinson's disease begins in, progresses from and can be treated from the retina.^[1][6] This finding has been the impetus of successful ongoing collaborations in Australia, the United States and Japan. This has also led to the speculation that melatonin is toxic,^[2][6] and that dopamine overdosing during chemotherapy presents a major problem in treating Parkinson's disease.^[4] This work has also been instrumental to the development of non-invasive treatments that involve the eye and to recent work attempting to reduce the total drug burden contributing to polypharmacy, life-threatening adverse effects and poor quality of life.^[3][4]

Additional areas of study at The Bronowski Institute include behavioural and neuroendocrine studies in comparative neuroethology as well as issues relating to environmental toxicology.

As an IRO, The Bronowski Institute has provided work-study programs, partial stipends and full scholarships to enable current and prospective students to study and learn advanced research techniques and it also provides funding for international scientists to engage in collaborative work.

See also

• Health in Australia

References