Fudan University boasts a world-class reputation in higher education and holds significant advantages in the field of brain science, including the clinical resources of its multiple affiliated hospitals, the State Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Brain Disorders, and nationally leading platforms for brain-inspired computing research (such as the Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence and the Institute of Brain-Inspired Chips and On-Chip Intelligent Systems). The Shanghai Academy of Natural Sciences (SANS), established in 2024, is a "wall-less," non-profit private organization that does not operate physical laboratories. It is dedicated to supporting top-tier scientists, advancing original basic research, and serving as a cradle for technological innovation.

In response to the national strategic shift from "following to leading," Fudan University and the Shanghai Academy of Natural Sciences have jointly established the Fudan SANS Neuroscience Center (FSNC, under development). As a secondary-level research entity, the center embodies SANS's mission of pursuing cutting-edge originality and adopts a core positioning of "dual-driven by original innovation and translational application." The center focuses on deciphering brain function and investigating the pathogenesis of major brain disorders such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Parkinson's disease (PD), while developing novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. It strives to achieve "0 to 1" theoretical breakthroughs at the frontiers of neuroscience and systematically construct a new paradigm for a complete translational chain from fundamental discovery to drug development, aiming to bridge the translational gap and propel original discoveries toward clinical and industrial applications.

In serving the national "Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Project" and Shanghai's goal of building a global center for science and innovation, the center will integrate high-quality basic and clinical resources, establish an internationally renowned hub for drug translation and future industries in brain-computer interfaces, and facilitate technology implementation and standard setting. Additionally, as a university-level platform for coordinating neuroscience development, the center will leverage interdisciplinary integration, shared platform construction, and institutional innovation to powerfully empower frontier disciplines such as "brain science and brain-inspired intelligence." It aims to become a "growth pole" within Fudan's academic ecosystem and a "magnet" for attracting and cultivating top-tier talent, providing core support for the university's "Double First-Class" construction initiative.

Located in Building No. 3 for Scientific Research at Fudan University's Zhangjiang Campus, the center draws upon Fudan's profound academic heritage and extensive clinical resources, striving to become a world-class hub for interdisciplinary research. The center is currently developing four advanced shared platforms: Neural Function Mapping, Single-Cell and Spatial Omics, AI-Assisted Drug Design, and Behavioral and Physiological Assays. Built upon these platforms, the center will establish a complete chain of "basic research – technology development – clinical translation," accelerating the translation of cutting-edge life science discoveries into practical applications.

Main Research Directions:

1. Fine-Scale Dissection and Functional Decoding of Neural Networks

2. Pathological Mechanisms and Target Discovery in Major Brain Disorders

3. Development of Neuropharmaceuticals and Construction of Translational Platforms

4. Intelligent Neurotechnology and Interdisciplinary Applications

We sincerely invite outstanding young scholars in neuroscience, biomedicine, and related interdisciplinary fields from around the world to join us. Together, we will build a world-class neuroscience research hub and contribute our wisdom and strength to "Healthy China" and the global advancement of brain science.