About

About the Institute for Applied Neuroscience

The Institute for Applied Neuroscience (IAN) is a pioneering organization dedicated to bridging the gap between cutting-edge neuroscience research and its application in various sectors, both public and private. Our mission is to use the latest scientific insights to help improve decision-making processes, create healthier communities, and drive evidence-based policy reform.

Our Leadership and Vision

Co-founded by Dr. Melina Uncapher, a MacArthur Scholar and esteemed neuroscientist, the Institute's work is rooted in her groundbreaking research at Stanford Memory Lab. Dr. Uncapher’s studies on how human memory affects the criminal justice system have provided critical insights for judges and attorneys dealing with biases in eyewitness identification, as well as the use of neuroimaging to differentiate between true and false memories or even detect concealed memories.

Building on this research, the Institute aims to extend these scientific discoveries into other areas, including:

• Healthcare: Enhancing patient safety, improving doctor-patient communication, and aiding patient decision-making through a better understanding of how the brain processes information.

• Education: Addressing challenges like motivation to learn, information overload, and enhancing student-teacher communication through neuroscience-informed strategies.

• Law Enforcement and Juvenile Justice: Applying brain science to create more effective and fair interventions in policing and juvenile justice systems.

• Leadership and Business: Supporting leaders in government, community organizations, healthcare, and corporate environments to create high-trust, high-performance cultures by aligning leadership practices with human behavioral science.

Bridging Science and Society

At IAN, we are committed to bringing together scientists and thought leaders from a wide range of fields to spark dialogue and collaboration. We focus on:

• Identifying gaps where current policies and practices conflict with established neuroscientific principles.
• Generating evidence-based solutions that ensure sustainable, ethical, and effective practices in policy and everyday life.
• Training leaders on the implementation of these solutions, ensuring that science-based approaches take root in sectors such as healthcare, education, and law enforcement.

Co-founders Rick Foster and Greg Hicks bring nearly two decades of experience as organizational strategists, having led high-impact behavioral programs across seven continents. Their work emphasizes the importance of translating research findings into practical strategies that organizations can use to foster healthy, high-performing cultures.

Our Commitment to Everyday Neuroscience

Beyond institutional change, IAN is dedicated to empowering individuals with actionable, neuroscience-based strategies to improve daily life. We offer science-backed advice on simple habits, lifestyle choices, nutrition, and nootropics that support cognitive health and performance. Through our programs, we aim to give individuals the tools they need to make informed decisions about their own well-being.

By turning complex neuroscience into practical, accessible knowledge, the Institute for Applied Neuroscience is leading the way in improving lives, communities, and institutions through science.