The University of Texas Medical Branch, Rice University and Memorial Hermann Health System are proud to announce the formal launch of Project Metis, a groundbreaking initiative led by Center for Houston’s Future to position the Houston/Galveston region as the global leader in brain health and the emerging brain economy.
Project Metis brings together world-class institutions, visionary leaders, and strategic partners to drive human flourishing, innovation and economic growth via a holistic focus on lifelong brain health.
Project Metis, a name inspired by the Greek goddess of wisdom and deep thought, reflects a commitment to advancing understanding, prevention, and treatment across the full life cycle of the brain—from early development to healthy aging.
The initiative is chaired and supported by three pillars of our region, each with unique expertise and depth in brain health, including UTMB’s Moody Brain Health Institute, the Rice Brain Institute, and Memorial Hermann’s comprehensive neurology care spanning stroke, neurotrauma, brain health and more.
“Brain health is the defining frontier of this century, and UTMB is proud to lead it,” said Dr. Jochen Reiser, UTMB president and CEO of the UTMB Health System, who is also the Founding Chair of the Project Metis Steering Committee. “Through the Moody Brain Health Institute, our scientists are unraveling the mechanisms of neurodegeneration, cognitive functioning, and recovery. Our clinicians are part of this initiative to deliver advanced care to patients across the Texas Gulf Coast.
“Project Metis gives us the opportunity to scale this work—uniting research, innovation and clinical excellence across institutions to improve lives and strengthen the emerging brain economy. Together, we can make the Houston–Galveston region the world’s most vibrant hub for brain health discovery and care.”
In addition to Reiser, the project’s steering committee is chaired by Amy Dittmar, Howard R. Hughes Provost and Executive Vice President, Rice University, and Dr. David L. Callender, President and CEO, Memorial Hermann Health System. The committee will work with Center for Houston’s Future President and CEO David Gow and the Center team to guide Project Metis.
“Project Metis will make Houston a national and global leader in advancing lifelong brain health,” said Amy Dittmar, Rice’s Howard R. Hughes Provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “Brain health requires a holistic approach, and that's exactly what Rice offers with the Rice Brain Institute, with excellent researchers from a breadth of disciplines, spanning engineering and computing, natural sciences, social sciences and public policy. Working together, all of the Project Metis institutions will produce discoveries that benefit people here in Houston, across Texas and around the world.”
Added Dr. David Callender, president and CEO, Memorial Hermann Health System: “Through our work, we see both the immense human toll of brain-related illness and the tremendous potential of early intervention, coordinated care and long-term prevention. That’s why this bold new initiative matters so much and why we at Memorial Hermann are so proud to play a role.”
UTMB stands at the forefront of brain health and the emerging brain economy, driven by the strength of its Moody Brain Health Institute and decades of pioneering research in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s and dementia. With Texas voters approving the creation of the $3 billion Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, UTMB is exceptionally well positioned to accelerate discovery, deepen clinical impact, and lead statewide innovation in brain health. This leadership extends onto the global stage: Reiser has represented the institution at the World Economic Forum’s Brain House in Davos, Switzerland, and was recently invited to the United Nations to help shape international dialogue on the brain economy and the future of lifelong brain health.
The Center for Houston’s Future, a 25-year-old nonprofit focused on the region’s future, has a long and successful record of bringing parties together to collaborate on visionary strategic planning and action across disciplines from healthcare to energy to the arts.
“Now is exactly the right time for Project Metis and the Houston-Galveston Region is exactly the right place,” said CHF President and CEO David Gow. “Texas voters, by approving the state-funded Dementia Prevention Institute, have shown a strong commitment to brain health, as scientific advances continue daily. The initiative aims to harness the Houston’s regions unique strengths: its concentration of leading medical and academic institutions, a vibrant innovation ecosystem, and a history of entrepreneurial leadership in health and life sciences.”
Other early Steering Committee members include Lime Rock Resources, bp and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. HKS and American Psychiatric Association Foundation are also Project Metis supporters.
Tentative plans envision over the course of a multi-year effort, that Project Metis will:
- Launch working teams focused on brain health across all life stages (early years, workplace years and healthy aging), science/medical advances, and Innovation & Commercialization
- Develop a regional Brain Health Index to track progress and equity
- Activate and scale by implanting pilot projects in areas such as clinical care, education, and workplace wellness; build an ecosystem; and share Houston’s progress and learnings at major international forums, including Davos and the UN General Assembly
- Communicate and inspire vis high-visibility events and other thought leadership
“Project Metis is more than an initiative—it’s a movement to unlock human potential. By uniting science, innovation, and collaboration, we aim to make Houston the epicenter of brain health for generations to come,” said Gow.