The mandate of National Brain Research Centre (NBRC) is to be a Centre of Excellence in Brain Research with State-of-art facilities, to evolve the centre through a networking approach and generate highly trained human resource.

The vision for NBRC is that it would not only grow into a world-class institute for brain research but also create a vibrant, active neuroscience community by catalysing the overall growth of this discipline in the country. The expected benefit from this initiative would be the generation of skilled manpower in this important area of research who would help India achieve an international leadership in this frontier area of science. This initiative would also help Indian neuroscientists to participate in global research efforts as equal partners. The knowledge base generated from these efforts would help diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies for treatment of brain-related disorders. A unique role for NBRC is that it will act as a node with linkages to other centres carrying out neuroscience research in the country, acting in effect as the "hub of the wheel" rather than the wheel itself.