Princeton Targets Neuroscience; UCLA Links a DNA Sequence to Cognitive Defects

While stopping short of offering a degree in neuroscience, Princeton University plans to upgrade its research efforts and bring together psychologists and molecular biologists into a neuroscience institute on its campus.

Pending funding approval, the university's efforts, in a proposal approved by the board of trustees last week, will focus on theoretical and quantitative neuroscience, according to a report in the Daily Princetonian, the student newspaper.

The school will pursue an interdisciplinary approach in its neuroscience research efforts in the area and offer more options for those who opt to concentrate in neuroscience while majoring in either psychology or molecular biology.
[See neuroscience entry in Wikipedia]

Additionally in another neuroscience development, UCLA on Wednesday announced the discovery of unique DNA sequence variations associated with increased risk for schizophrenia, impairments in short- and long-term memory, and other cognitive deficits. The research will be published in the journal Archives of General Psychiatry in November.

"I hope this is the opening salvo in a new molecular approach to fighting schizophrenia," Tyrone Cannon, a professor of psychology, psychiatry and human genetics at UCLA, said in a statement.