On February 28th 2000, MIT’s President Charles M. Vest announced the formation of the McGovern Institute for Brain Research, made possible by the vision and generosity of Patrick J. McGovern ’59 and Lore Harp McGovern, whose pledge is one of the largest philanthropic gifts in the history of higher education. The McGoverns envisioned an institute whose ultimate goal would be to understand the human brain in health and disease. The McGovern Institute has gone from strength to strength, as seen in the following selected highlights.