Fattah to Deliver Address at California Mental Health Symposium

WASHINGTON, Sept. 6, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Congressman Chaka Fattah (PA-02), the lead Congressional appropriator for neuroscience and founder of the Fattah Neuroscience Initiative (FNI), will deliver an address this Saturday, September 7, at the 19^th Annual Music Festival for Mental Health in Rutherford, California.

Fattah is one of several neuroscience thought-leaders, scientists, and researchers who will present during the Scientific Symposium at the two-day event, organized by the International Mental Health Research Organization (IMHRO). Fattah will discuss his work through FNI and the opportunities for public and private sector collaboration within the neuroscience field.

"FNI is about bringing people together to expand the conversation around brain science, while increasing the understanding of brain disease and supporting funding opportunities for the neuroscience community. This event shares these same goals; we are all working towards funding innovative research practices and uncovering cures to brain-related disorders," said Congressman Fattah. "Not only will the festival raise money to support critical research, but it also expands awareness. Both are central to advancing our cause."

The symposium will feature additional presentations on the current state of mental health, including a keynote by Dr. Sophia Vinograd from the University of California, San Francisco (USCF), and introductions by IMHRO/Janssen Rising Star Research Award winners Philip Corlett, Ph.D., and Kafui Dzirasa, M.D., Ph.D.

The Music Festival for Mental Health, created by the Staglin family, is one of the country's most important mental health related fundraisers. Since its inception, and with support from the National Institute of Mental Health, the festival has raised more than $150 million to support cutting-edge mental health research and treatment.

The Fattah Neuroscience Initiative is an innovative, non-incremental policy effort seeking to achieve groundbreaking progress in understanding the human brain. The initiative's major accomplishments to-date include the formation of the Interagency Working Group on Neuroscience (IWGN), housed at The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and a formal collaboration with the pharmaceutical community to substantially increase private sector investment in brain research.

Saturday's neuroscience address comes after a series of recent speeches the Congressman has delivered on the issue. In May, Fattah addressed the Healthy Brain: Healthy Europe conference in Dublin, Ireland. Next month, he is scheduled to deliver a speech at BrainTech Israel 2013, Israel's first-ever international brain technology conference. 

For additional information on the Fattah Neuroscience Initiative visit: http://fattah.house.gov/fattah-neuroscience-initiative/

For additional information on the International Mental Health Research Organization visit: http://www.imhro.org/

SOURCE Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah