AMBition is a coalition of four leading neuroscience research institutes aimed at building sustainable bridges between Amsterdam’s top research groups in the fields of brain and mind research. By strengthening collaborations, we will further improve scientific quality, develop novel and original research lines and efficiently translate important fundamental research to the clinic. This will improve Amsterdam’s international visibility as an attractive and inspiring centre for mind and brain research.

AMBition is organized by all relevant stakeholders from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VUA), the Universiteit van Amsterdam (UvA), the Amsterdam Universitair Medische Centra (Amsterdam UMC) and the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience (NIN, KNAW), and associated research centers. In total, we represent more than 1500 investigators in this field. 

Our goal

AMBition aims to build a sustainable collaboration between VUA, UvA, Amsterdam UMC and NIN in the area of brain and mind research. These institutions are home to world-renowned scientists in these fields. There are longstanding collaborations, both on an ad hoc basis, and in the form of research centers such as the Amsterdam Brain and Cognition (ABC) center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, and the Institute for Brain and Behavior Amsterdam (IBBA). AMBition is the overarching institute that will bring researchers together and allow collaborative initiatives to grow into strong competitive research programs. Collaboration will increase our critical mass and thereby our international visibility. In practical terms it will allow us bridge gaps and share the costs of expensive infrastructure, such as high-field MR scanners. As a result, our scientists can rapidly adopt new techniques and stay ahead of the fast developments in the field. It will enable us to perform research at the frontier of knowledge and enhance both quality and quantity of neuroscience and cognitive research in Amsterdam. AMBition will push Amsterdam in joining the league of worldwide leading institutes in this field.

Our strength

The strength of Amsterdam’s brain and mind research is its wide range of study levels, from molecule to society. To name some examples, the city is home to experts in molecular and cellular studies of individual nerve cells, imaging of the human brain and neurocognitive studies. In addition, we host unique expertise in the genetic analysis of behaviour, the effect of psychological interventions on the brain and computational methods including big data analysis. By joining forces, we can bring these worlds together and thoroughly cover the full spectrum from molecule to society. The research excellence is in place and we strongly believe that this is the right time for allied activities to enhance the visibility of this large and excellent research community in brain and mind research in Amsterdam.

In sum

The AMBition is a new flagship program for collaboration in Amsterdam. Its added value is that it will enhance the quality and quantity of research and education on the brain and cognitive sciences by:

• bringing the leading investigators of the two universities, two medical schools and the NIN (KNAW) together;
  
• increasing critical mass and recruiting foreign talent to Amsterdam;
  
• develop new fundamental research lines and translate them to the clinic by exploiting Amsterdam broad range of study levels;
  
• promoting interdisciplinary synergy in genomic, brain and cognitive research, which is essential for answering the big questions in the field;
  
• make policy makers aware of the enormous impact of brain disorders on society and show how investing in excellent brain and mind research can improve this situation.