Charles A. Nelson is professor of pediatrics and neuroscience at Harvard Medical School and director of research at Boston Children’s Hospital’s Developmental Medicine Center.
Charles A. Nelson
Research director
Boston Children's Hospital
From this contributor
How separating children from parents causes irreparable harm
Science teaches us that housing children in institution-like settings is likely to cause severe and permanent damage to their minds and bodies.
How separating children from parents causes irreparable harm
By
Charles A. Nelson
26 June 2018 | 4 min read
Romanian orphans reveal clues to origins of autism
Understanding autism features in children who were deprived of social contact as infants could offer clues to the condition.
Romanian orphans reveal clues to origins of autism
By
Charles A. Nelson
25 April 2017 | 6 min read
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BRAIN Initiative researchers ‘dream big’ amid shifts in leadership, funding
But whether the initiative’s road map for the next decade is feasible remains an open question.
BRAIN Initiative researchers ‘dream big’ amid shifts in leadership, funding
But whether the initiative’s road map for the next decade is feasible remains an open question.
By
Claudia López Lloreda
23 January 2026 | 6 min read
Neuroscience, BRAIN Initiative gain budget in ‘bad’ NIH funding bill
The bill goes before the House of Representatives today and outlines increases for neuroscience-related research—including a 33 percent increase to the BRAIN Initiative—but maintains a multiyear spending approach that could limit the number of grants awarded overall.
Neuroscience, BRAIN Initiative gain budget in ‘bad’ NIH funding bill
The bill goes before the House of Representatives today and outlines increases for neuroscience-related research—including a 33 percent increase to the BRAIN Initiative—but maintains a multiyear spending approach that could limit the number of grants awarded overall.
By
Angie Voyles Askham
22 January 2026 | 4 min read
Prenatal viral injections prime primate brain for study
The approach makes it possible to deploy tools such as CRISPR and optogenetics across the monkey brain before birth.
Prenatal viral injections prime primate brain for study
The approach makes it possible to deploy tools such as CRISPR and optogenetics across the monkey brain before birth.
By
Angie Voyles Askham
22 January 2026 | 5 min read