The University of Texas Medical Branch Adopts the World’s First Brain Economy Institutional Model

The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) today announced that it has become the first organization in the world to make building brain capital a core strategic priority across research, care, community, innovation, and the workforce.

The announcement was made in conjunction with the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, where global leaders are increasingly focused on the economic and societal implications of cognitive health, human resilience, and the future of work.

The brain economy is an emerging global framework that recognizes brain health and human cognitive skills as essential infrastructure for long-term economic growth, productivity, and societal well-being, particularly as artificial intelligence accelerates and populations age.

"UTMB is taking a decisive step to prepare our institution and our communities for the future," said Jochen Reiser, MD, PhD, president of UTMB and CEO of the UTMB Health System. "This work builds on the bold vision of the Texas Legislature, state leaders, and voters who recognized-through initiatives like the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas-the critical importance of investing in brain health. By embedding brain health and brain skills into everything we do, from patient care and research to workforce development and community partnerships, we are future-proofing health, talent, and opportunity for generations to come."

The brain economy-infused approach at UTMB is already reflected in major initiatives across the institution, including:

• Research: Breakthrough neuroscience and translational research in neurodegenerative disease led by the Moody Brain Health Institute, alongside a landmark $50 million, two-year multicenter research trial awarded by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Led by The University of Texas Medical Branch in collaboration with UTHealth Houston, the study will evaluate the effects of ibogaine on individuals suffering from addiction, traumatic brain injury, and other complex behavioral health conditions-advancing evidence-based approaches to brain recovery, resilience, and long-term cognitive health.
• Clinical Care: The translation of brain-focused research into innovative, scalable care models, including emerging therapies for addiction, brain injury, and behavioral health, supported by digital health tools and AI-enabled clinical platforms. This includes Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT), through which clinicians from the UTMB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences provide free, school-based mental health services via telemedicine to children and adolescents across participating school districts.
• Community Engagement: Population-level brain health initiatives, including Project Metis, focused on cognitive longevity, social connection, and community resilience.
• Innovation: The inaugural Venture NeuroX summit planned for July and strategic partnerships accelerating commercialization, entrepreneurship, and the application of neuroscience and AI to real-world challenges.
• Workforce: A comprehensive commitment to empathy, well-being, and cognitive health across the UTMB workforce, supported by a customized employee engagement platform and institution-wide efforts to strengthen brain health, resilience, and human skills.

Harris Eyre, senior fellow at UTMB, a Rice University researcher and a leading global voice on the brain economy, said UTMB's announcement represents a major milestone.

"Many organizations are talking about the brain economy, but UTMB is the first to comprehensively operationalize it," said Eyre, who is the co-author of the recent World Economic Forum and McKinsey Health Institute (MHI) report titled The Human Advantage: Stronger Brains in the Age of AI. "This is a landmark moment that signals how institutions can transform to adapt to rapid technological change while strengthening human potential."

The announcement also aligns with growing philanthropic and private-sector interest in brain health which supports initiatives at the intersection of health, innovation, and economic sustainability.

UTMB is a founding partner of the Global Brain Economy Initiative and plans to further advance this work through strategic collaborations, research, and global engagement throughout 2026 and beyond.