The Krasnow Institute is a 20-year old research unit which uses the complexity science tool kit to conduct research in the areas of neuroscience, computer sciences, social systems, and human disease, especially that involving the brain or nervous system.

The Institute houses two traditional academic departments: The Department of Molecular Neuroscience, which plays an active role in the Neuroscience PhD program; and the Department of Computational Social Science, which offers the Computational Social Science PhD and a graduate certificate. The department will also sponsor the Computational Social Science concentration in the Masters of Interdisciplinary Studies (MAIS) program beginning Fall 2011.

In conducting research, the Institute has at its disposal three core instrumentation facilities: A molecular-engineered mouse facility, a 3T Siemens Allegra MRI brain imaging facility, and a Nikon confocal cellular imaging facility.

Institutional partners include Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Janelia Farm; the Santa Fe Institute; the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA; and Inova Health System.

The Krasnow Institute faces the challenge of maintaining a high level of respected research and academic support in the current economic downturn which has featured repeated budget cuts. The recent and planned future growth noted below will present the challenges of integration and accommodation of new staff and facilities.

In Fiscal Year 2011, the Institute has grown to approximately 100 in personnel and will take possession of new construction bringing the Krasnow building to 55,000 sq. ft. in facility space and a further increase in personnel. The Institute hopes to grow the MAIS master’s program in Computational Social Science which will begin Fall 2011. A longer term goal is to expand the Krasnow building to 65,000 sq. ft. in space by FY16 so as to bring Computational Social Science and Center for Social Complexity staff, currently housed elsewhere, into the Krasnow building.