A new gift has established an initiative to recruit a new group of brain science scholars.
Duke trustee and alumna Sharon Marcil and her husband, Tom Monahan, have donated $10 million to launch the Marcil-Monahan Family Initiative on Translational Brain Science. Their vision is simple: to bridge the gap between groundbreaking brain research and practical solutions that improve lives.
Duke will use the gift to recruit a team of leading scholars dedicated to translating discoveries about the brain into advances in health care, education and clinical practice. A senior faculty member will be supported by two junior professors to create a permanent hub for translational neuroscience within Duke’s Department of Psychology and Neuroscience. Funding will also support laboratories, research infrastructure, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.
Duke President Vincent Price called the gift “an accelerator for breakthroughs” that can benefit society, while Dean Gary Bennett noted that understanding the brain remains one of science’s greatest challenges. He emphasized that the initiative will help move discoveries beyond academic journals and into real-world applications, particularly for mental health.
For Marcil and Monahan, the investment is about creating lasting impact.
“It’s our hope that our support will help create a seamless bridge between laboratory science and patient care,” said Marcil.
The initiative is also expected to strengthen collaborations across Duke, including partnerships in engineering and business, and support a planned master’s program in psychology and neuroscience.
