Institute Partnerships

The Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, located in Jupiter, FL on the Florida Atlantic campus, is a unit of the Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science, a 60-year-old independent, non-profit scientific research organization with its headquarters in Munich, Germany. Since its establishment in 1948, no fewer than 18 Nobel laureates have emerged from the ranks of its scientists, putting it on a par with the best and most prestigious research institutions worldwide. Max Planck scientists conduct basic research in the service of the general public. They make groundbreaking discoveries with worldwide impact; create new medical applications; unearth the basic materials of the future, and advise politics, business and society on urgent questions concerning the development of the world. The interdisciplinary research areas provide many opportunities to work with universities and other research organizations. David Fitzpatrick, Ph.D. was named Chief Executive Officer and Scientific Director of MPFI in 2011. The Florida Atlantic Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute engages with MPFI on many research, education and outreach activities, including our Neurosquad team that provides hands on neuroscience experiences for youth of Palm Beach County and that joins charitable organizations to raise money for mental health research and services. Visit website > >

In 2022, the University of Florida (UF) assumed oversight of Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute Research on the Jupiter campus, creating Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute Biomedical Research (UF-SBR). Steps away from the Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute and MPFI, UF-SBR houses cutting edge research in biochemistry, pharmacology, drug discovery, immunology and neuroscience, as well as outstanding research core facilities open to all scientists on campus and beyond. Neuroscientists at UF-SBR have particular interests in addiction, autism, neurodegenerative disease and neuroplasticity mechanisms. UF-SBR scientists collaborate with Florida Atlantic researchers and trainees, as well as colleagues and students at MPFI, to provide rich environment for research and education unlike any other in the world. Visit website > >

Nikon is a world-renowned brand, firmly established as a market leader in optical instrumentation and the only microscope company to manufacture its own glass, ensuring the very finest quality assurance throughout production. Now celebrating 100 years of expertise in the field, Nikon has always been at the forefront of optical and technological innovation, promoting creativity and trustworthiness as part of the company's global mission statement. In 2017, the Florida Atlantic Brain Institute was designated a Nikon Center of Excellence, with Randy D. Blakely, Ph.D. serving as Center Director. This designation supports collaborations in instrumentation design and implementation. Centers of Excellence represent partnerships and exchange of knowledge with specific research centers to provide access to advanced Nikon instrumentation, giving senior and young investigators use of cutting edge imaging platforms at reduced cost. In addition to providing access to their faculty of state-of-the-art instrumentation, Centers of Excellence provide training courses on basic and advanced microscopy techniques and act as a training location for Nikon staff. Visit website > >

syGlass, a scientific software company developing and exploiting advances in virtual reality (VR) programming and was built from the ground up to solve the problem of imaging complex neuroscience data sets from large image files (1GB - 20TB). syGlass renders 3D datasets from almost any source, from the microscope to medical imaging devices and provides a suite of tools for data visualization, collaboration, and education, where multi-user interaction can occur local or remotely. syGlass focuses its efforts to supercharge scientific discovery and communication with the new medium of VR, and seeks to build tools that equip and inspire the next generation of scientists. The Brain Institute houses multiple syGlass workstations and provides training with the technology to provide for cutting-edge education and research. Visit website > >

The Cox Science Center, formerly the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium, operates as a "best-in-class," community based science center providing visitors with engaging and interactive science education experiences. Since originally opening its doors, the Cox Science Center has hosted over five million visitors and are on track to serve 215,000 in 2017, with 65,000 public and private school children from Palm Beach, Martin, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties. With the help of the DAU Brain Institute, the Cox Science Center opened in March of 2019 Journey Through the Human Brain, an ~2500 sq. ft. permanent exhibit on brain science, technology and health. Florida Atlantic Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute leaders, Drs. Blakely and Baganz, were formal members of the exhibit advisory board and continues to work closely with museum leadership on exhibit activities. Visit website > >

The Stiles-Nicholson Foundation was formed in 1992 in memory of William John Stiles and William Nicholson, the father and step-father of David John Stiles Nicholson with the mission to improve and enhance the education of citizens to better understand the benefits of the free enterprise system and how best to cope and succeed in the real world. The mission presently includes 4 major initiatives and we are excited to utilize our rapid growth to help create a better more opportunistic America with equal opportunity for all to be the best that they can be. The Stiles-Nicholson Foundation has provided a $780,000 gift to the Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute to create the ASCEND (Advancing Stem-Community Engagement through Neuroscience Discovery) Program which brings middle schoolers of Palm Beach County in close contact with professional neuroscientists and their trainees to gain exposure, experience and excitement with brain science. Visit website > >

Palm Health Foundation is Palm Beach County’s leading community foundation for health. With the support of donors, they build strong community partnerships, advocate for our most vulnerable neighbors and inspire innovative solutions to lead change for better health now and for generations to come. They believe everyone should be afforded a fair and just opportunity for a longer and healthier life. Palm Health Foundation has invested more than $83 million in Palm Beach County health since 2001. Palm Healthcare Foundation was created in July, 2001 as the successor to Good Samaritan Medical Center Foundation and St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation. The foundation changed its name to Palm Health Foundation in July, 2018. Staying true to our heritage, grantees of Palm Health Foundation represent the diversity of needs and ideas in Palm Beach County. Train the Brain is one of Palm Health Foundation’s annual community health campaigns and empowers residents to take charge of their brain health. The goal of the campaign is to help Palm Beach County residents understand that taking care of the brain is just as important as taking care of the body. Participants are invited to make changes in their thinking, integrate self-care into their daily routines and show compassion to individuals with acute and persistent mental health conditions. Palm Health Foundation is an annual sponsor of the Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute's Brainy Days series of community lectures and educational events and has co-sponsored a number of our outreach activities. The Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute thanks Palm Health Foundation for their many charitable activities in Palm Beach County, including their support of the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium’s Journey through the Human Brain Exhibit, co-sponsored by Quantum Foundation and the Stiles-Nicholson Foundation. Visit website > >