Institute for Methods Innovation

The Dana Foundation supports the Institute for Methods Innovation (IMI) for its project Elevate Co-lab. This work features a Neuroscience and Society Design Sprint, a collaborative effort that brings together scientific, policymaking, and civic communities to implement community-driven solutions to challenges at the intersection of neurodiversity and the workplace.  

A community-empowering approach guides the entire process—from identifying challenges during collaboratively planned listening sessions to a participatory, crowdfunded budgeting approach for allocating funds to pilot the strongest solutions proposed during the Design Sprint. By leveraging the unique skills and strengths of each participant, outcomes from these efforts translate neuroscience research into local societal impact that amplifies the voices of neurodiverse individuals, drives meaningful change, and paves the way for a more inclusive and vibrant professional landscape. The project includes an extensive evaluation plan to share evidence-based best practices for community-engaged neuroscience. 

This project supports the Dana Frontiers objective to pilot innovative multidirectional engagement opportunities to embed community perspectives in research, policy, and decision-making.