Caroline Montojo

President and CEO

Caroline Montojo, Ph.D. is President and CEO of the Dana Foundation, where she leads efforts to connect neuroscience with society, from ethics and policy to law and the humanities. Her work focuses on ensuring that advances in brain science are not only cutting-edge, but also inclusive, responsible, and aligned with societal needs.

A recognized leader in neuroethics and public engagement, Dr. Montojo operates at the intersection of science and systems, shaping how emerging neurotechnologies are understood, governed, and applied. She serves on advisory bodies including the U.S. National Institutes of Health BRAIN Initiative Neuroethics Working Group and contributes to global dialogues on the societal implications of neuroscience.

Previously, she was Director of Life Sciences and Brain Initiatives at the Kavli Foundation, where she helped advance major international collaborations such as the BRAIN Initiative and the International Brain Initiative.

Trained as a neuroscientist, she began her career researching neural biomarkers of psychiatric conditions at UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. She holds a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from University of California, Berkeley.

Her work today is centered on redefining the relationship between brain science and society, advancing a more participatory and ethically grounded model for the future of neuroscience.