On Nov. 2, 2015, University of Nebraska Medical Center  (UNMC) and its clinical partner, Nebraska Medicine, announced the creation of the Mind and Brain Health Labs. The labs are a linchpin of a broader Mind and Brain Health Initiative to further establish UNMC/Nebraska Medicine as a national and global force in the neurological sciences.

Located on the first and second floors of the Clarkson Doctors Office Building North at 44^th and Farnam streets, the labs support a suite of advanced research tools including driving simulation and real-world data recording systems unlike those in any other medical institution, Dr. Rizzo said.

The simulators, in combination with the VENUS, the black boxes and other tools and technologies, will allow UNMC/Nebraska Medicine to study the effect on performance and mobility of many neurological, medical and surgical conditions, as well as effects of sleep deprivation, shift work, and medications.

The initiative will bolster research, education and community outreach efforts in behavioral health, movement disorders, neuromuscular diseases, caregiver support and neurotechnology.

Start-up support for the simulator and instrumented vehicle came from a $1 million grant from the Nebraska Research Initiative.