Fattah: Penn, Temple to join three others in neuroscience collective

WASHINGTON -- The University of Pennsylvania and Temple University will sign a cooperative agreement with two New York research institutions and one from Israel on Monday, bringing together the five entities to share information and research about neuroscience in general and fighting diseases such as Alzheimer's, according to the office of U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah (D., Pa.).

Fattah and U.S. Rep. Steve Israel (D., N.Y.) helped bring the groups together, said Fattah chief of staff Maisha Leek. Fattah, the senior Democrat on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, has a deep interest in brain research and Israel has focused on research related to Alzheimer's, Meek said.

"What this partnership does is it brings academic institutions, private institutions and international private industry together," Leek said. "It's a great opportunity, especially for an institution like Temple that doesn't have these partnerships naturally, that will allow researchers to work together."

Along with Penn and Temple, the partnership includes the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories, both based on Long Island N.Y,, and the Israel Brain Technologies, a non-profit research institution.

The five entities will formally sign a memorandum of understanding Monday at the Feinstein Institute, in Israel's district.

The goal, Leek said, is to make formal connections between the groups so they can share research and help bring potential neurological treatments to market.

"Bringing them together really formalizes a direct pipeline of opportunity," she said.

You can follow Tamari on Twitter or email him at jtamari@phillynews.com.