How does HHMI conduct research?
At HHMI, the engines of discovery are powered by about 350 HHMI investigators who direct Institute research laboratories on the campuses of universities and other research organizations throughout the United States. By appointing scientists as Hughes investigators—rather than awarding research grants—HHMI is guided by the principle of “people, not projects.” In 2006, HHMI opened its first freestanding laboratory, the Janelia Farm Research Campus in Ashburn, Virginia. The stunning campus—named for Jane and Cornelia Pickens, whose parents owned the original farm—is home to small groups of researchers who work in a highly collaborative environment. These scientists focus on understanding how networks of neurons enable complex behavior and the development of new tools and computational methods for image analysis..
