The goals of the Institute are: (1) To educate the public about neuroscience; (2) To encourage young scientists to pursue neuroscience research; and (3) To increase funding for research in neuroscience.

• To increase public awareness about neuroscience, the Institute maintains an ongoing effort to educate the public about the critical importance, and the promising future of neuroscience research. This includes a regular newsletter and public symposia.
  
  
• To encourage young scientists to pursue neuroscience research, the Institute supports Fellowships at the Harvard Medical School.
  
  
• To increase funding for neuroscience, the Institute seeks to increase the awareness of the government and the private sector of the need for increased support.

The Harvard Mahoney Neuroscience Institute maintains it is important to increase training of young neuroscientists and to put energy and effort into a strong appeal to the public on behalf of the neurosciences.