Children, their families, and the scientists who work tirelessly to solve the mysteries of development form the foundation for our work at the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. Advances in diagnostic and research technologies provide unparalleled opportunities for our interdisciplinary scientists to investigate critical issues in behavior, education and neuroscience. We are fortunate to have a community of Vanderbilt researchers who are among the best in their disciplines nationally and globally. We are even more fortunate that the public is committed, as never before, to a research investment.

More than one quarter of our children and grandchildren face some type of disability of learning, mood, emotion, or thinking. If we add to that the number of adults with neuropsychiatric disorders rooted in the disruption of development, the numbers are staggering. The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center holds as its principal responsibility our efforts to engage families and the community at-large in our agenda to develop the best methods to diagnose, intervene with and prevent disorders of human neurodevelopment.

As individuals who care about the health and welfare of our children and grandchildren, we know that the investments that our society makes today will make a lasting difference for generations to come. The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center will be a leader on this wonderful mission.

Pat Levitt, Ph.D.
Director