Harris Eyre is an Australian neuroscientist, entrepreneur and author. He is focused on advancing the field of brain capital. It is believed the world is increasingly relying on brain capital, where a premium is put on brain skills and brain health (e.g., individual’s cognitive, emotional, and social brain resources), and that investing in building brain capital is fundamental to meet modern societal challenges and to drive innovation.
He is a former Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Listmaker and UCLA Fulbright Scholar. In his work he incorporates insights from precision medicine, clinical care, entrepreneurship, convergence science, consumer participation, workforce development, economics, public policy and diplomacy.
Eyre is a migraineur and recently wrote a short story titled "My migraines are a super power" for the European Federation of Neurological Associations.
Education
Eyre grew up in Mackay, Queensland, Australia and completed his undergraduate medical degree (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) with Honours) at James Cook University in North Queensland, Australia. His medical education specialized in rural, remote, Indigenous and tropical health. He then completed his PhD in neuroscience at the University of Adelaide. During his PhD, he was awarded the W.G. Walker Fulbright Scholarship to study at UCLA. The W.G. Walker Fulbright Scholarship is awarded to the top Australian Fulbright Scholar annually.
Career
Think tanks
Eyre works with leading think tanks including the Center for Health and Biosciences at The Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University, the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, the Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association, The Brookings Institution and the Center for European Policy Studies.
Convergence Mental Health
Eyre is the lead editor of 'Convergence Mental Health: A Roadmap Towards Transdisciplinary Innovation' with Oxford University Press. The book description as outlined on the Oxford University Press website reads "Modern mental health issues are characterized by their complex, multi-systemic nature and broad societal impact, making them poorly suited to siloed approaches of thinking and innovation. Convergence science integrates knowledge, tools, and thought strategies from various fields and is the focal point where novel insights arise. Convergence Mental Health presents a blueprint for leveraging convergence science within the context of mental health in order to improve patient outcomes and health care systems."
This book includes contributions from organizations including the Milken Institute, APEC, OECD, Harvard University, Stanford University and the Mayo Clinic.
Notable chapter contributors include Julio Licinio, Vikram Patel and Reid Hoffman.
Notable quotes of support come from Jeff Cummings, John Arnold, Peter C Farrell, Victor Dzau and Ernestine Fu.
Brain Capital
Eyre is leading the development of the Brain Capital Grand Strategy. This includes exploring and actioning Brain Capital in-all-policies, articulating and actioning the Brain Capital Investment Plan, and developing a Brain Capital Index.
He co-leads the OECD Neuroscience-inspired Policy Initiative. This Initiative seeks to advance brain-based policy and investment innovations. On January 27, 2021, the OECD held a Brain Capital Event on this topic. Notable speakers included Angel Gurria (OECD Secretary General), Admiral William H McRaven, Thomas C Leppert, Megan Greene and Francesca Colombo. On March 26, 2021, the OECD held an event titled 'Innovations to Address Women’s Brain Health Inequalities' Notable speakers included Juan Yermo (OECD Chief of Staff), Maureen Hackett, Antonella Santuccione, Sofia Noori, Sandra Bond Chapman and Megan Green. On June 10, 2021, the OECD held an event titled 'Rethinking Productivity: Insights from Neuroscience'. Notable speakers included George Vradenburg, Andy Keller, Husseini K Manji, Chiara Crisculo and Andrew S Nevin.
He leads the Brain Capital Alliance. This is an expanded, multi-national and multi-organisational programme.
Brain capital has been profiled in the following policy innovation fora: * United Nations General Assembly 2022 * FENS Forum 2022 * Congressional Neuroscience Caucus 2022 * US House Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth 2022 * Lundbeck position statement on brain health 2022 * WHO position statement on brain health 2022 * Brookings Policy Paper proposing a White House Brain Capital Council 2021 * European Brain Initiative convening in 2021 * United Nations Development Programme Human Development Report 2022 * PwC