Palm Health Foundation Convenes Global Brain Health Leaders to Launch Inaugural Brain Coast Advisory Council
South Florida Positioned as One of Four U.S. Brain Economy Hubs
Poised for National and Global Influence
Leaders in brain science, philanthropy, neuroarts, and community health from across the U.S. and abroad converged in Palm Beach County March 2–4, 2026, for the Brain Coast Advisory Council launch convened by Palm Health Foundation. The gathering marked a pivotal moment in South Florida’s emergence as a nationally recognized brain-forward ecosystem, linking the region’s world-renowned brain science institutions, community assets, and innovation to improve brain health and resilience.
South Florida’s Brain Coast has been identified as one of four regions central to an emerging U.S. brain economy strategy—alongside Houston, California, and Pennsylvania—with its unique differentiator being the ability to unite cutting-edge neuroscience research with community-centered action. That vision drew Council leaders to the table, united by a shared conviction cited by the recent McKinsey Health Institute report, The Human Advantage: Stronger Brains in the Age of AI: “Stronger brains strengthen resilience, productivity, and shared prosperity. It is time to invest accordingly.”
The Council explored three interlocking pillars of the Brain Coast vision: deepening brain science, education, and resiliency through research; engaging community to foster brain health across all ages and backgrounds; and spurring innovation to develop novel interventions for mental health illnesses and neurodegenerative diseases. Participants from the Brain Economy Hub, Marcus Neuroscience Institute at Baptist Health South Florida, Johns Hopkins University’s NeuroArts Blueprint Initiative, the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, the Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, FAU’s Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, Brain Health Network UK, and the Milken Institute’s SPARC initiative, among others, brought local, national, and global perspective to the Brain Coast’s distinctive role across the emerging brain health landscape.
“The opportunity is now," said Palm Health Foundation President and CEO Patrick McNamara. "Our esteemed Council members see the potential to make Palm Beach County and the greater South Florida region a place where brain health is intentionally integrated and prioritized across science, care, education, civic life, and economic development. We invite others to join us in what is one of the most meaningful investments we can make in human potential for our region, and as a model for the nation."
McNamara cites several converging forces that make the moment particularly urgent:
- Nearly everyone is affected. About 8 in 10 Americans say they or someone close to them has experienced a brain health condition, making brain health a universal issue.
- The burden on daily life is massive. Brain conditions drive a large share of disability worldwide, limiting people’s ability to learn, work, care for others, and live independently.
- Brain health drives economic resilience. Healthy brains are core economic assets. Underinvesting in brain health undermines future innovation, productivity, and community prosperity.
Palm Health Foundation has already invested meaningfully to build the region’s brain health ecosystem, committing $500,000 toward the launch of the Center for the Resilient Mind at Florida Atlantic University’s Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, and another $1 million to support the institute’s Program in Computational Brain Science and Health. The foundation has also invested more than $500,000 to launch one of the country’s first named NeuroArts Coalitions, and another $500,000 in community-identified mini-grants to support brain health and well-being.
The Brain Coast reflects Palm Health Foundation’s role not only as a funder, but also as a strategic partner helping to bring together the people, institutions, and philanthropy needed to move the work forward. Early support from the Stiles-Nicholson Foundation and the David Minkin Foundation, along with a recent grant from the Carl A. DeSantis Foundation, is helping to build momentum and attract national attention.
“The science is accelerating, the need is undeniable, and South Florida has the institutions, the community, and the will to lead,” McNamara said. “The brain health choices we make as a region, in how we design our schools, our neighborhoods, our healthcare, and our civic life, will determine the cognitive and emotional health of generations to come. That is an incredible responsibility, and an incredible opportunity."
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About Palm Health Foundation
Palm Health Foundation is Palm Beach County’s community foundation for health. With the support of donors and a focus on results, the foundation builds strong community partnerships, respects diverse opinions, advocates for its most vulnerable neighbors, and inspires innovative solutions to lead change for better health now and for generations to come. The foundation supports health equity for Palm Beach County residents of all backgrounds, heritage, education, incomes and states of well-being. Palm Health Foundation has invested more than $98 million in Palm Beach County health since 2001. For more information about Palm Health Foundation,
visit palmhealthfoundation.org or call (561) 833-6333.
