NEW ORLEANS - Tulane University has launched a new initiative to support brain-related research of neuroscience endeavors.

The new Brain Institute combines expertise and research from faculty, postdocs and students at the Schools of Medicine, Science and Engineering, Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Liberal Arts, and the National Primate Research Center.

The university said in a news release Friday that Marta and Bill Marko provided the lead gift to jumpstart the initiative, which has set a fundraising goal of $50 million. To date, over $3.7 million has been raised.

The institute's director, Dr. Jill Daniel, says it will provide the infrastructure to allow Tulane to take its research, education and training in the neurosciences to the next level.

The institute will have a physical presence on both the uptown and downtown campuses.