University of Iowa (UI) researchers are joining forces across disciplines to address some of the most challenging disorders affecting the brain. The newly launched Iowa Program in Experimental Neurotherapeutics (IPEN), supported by a $600,000 award, will combine expertise in neuroscience, pharmacology, engineering, and clinical care to develop new approaches for treating brain disease.

Led by Ted Abel and Aliasger Salem, IPEN will bring together researchers from across the university to integrate molecular, pharmacological, and circuit-based approaches to better understand and treat complex brain diseases. The three-year project builds on Iowa’s strengths in brain science and aims to translate groundbreaking discoveries into next-generation therapies.

The program will address a wide range of neurological conditions, including neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorders and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease. By connecting expertise across disciplines—from chemistry and pharmacology to neuroscience, engineering, and clinical care—IPEN will create a comprehensive approach to identifying more effective intervention strategies.

The collaborative team brings together researchers from three colleges and seven departments, combining deep clinical experience with leading scientific and engineering expertise. This unique partnership will allow investigators to study brain disorders across multiple levels, from the molecular mechanisms that drive disease to the complex neural circuits involved in brain function.

Additional collaborators include Chris Ahern, Physiology; Soura Dasgupta, Electrical Engineering; Kumar Narayanan, Neuroscience; Stefan Strack, Neuroscience and Pharmacology; Joshua Weiner, Biology and Aislinn Williams, Psychiatry.

“Brain disorders are among the most complex challenges in medicine, and no single discipline can solve them alone. Through IPEN, we are bringing together Iowa’s strengths in neuroscience, pharmacology, engineering, clinical care, and drug delivery to accelerate the path from discovery to new therapeutic strategies. This $600,000 investment will help us move promising ideas from molecules to circuits and from the laboratory toward treatments that can improve lives,” said Bighley Chair, Professor and Senior Associate Vice President for Research Aliasger Salem.

Beyond advancing research discoveries, IPEN will strengthen the university’s competitiveness for major external funding opportunities and create opportunities for partnerships with biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical-device companies. The initiative represents a significant step toward translating innovative research into meaningful therapies for individuals affected by neurological disorders.

IPEN was selected as one of several initiatives supported through a competitive campuswide funding opportunity in fall 2025.