About us

Our aim is simple yet ambitious — to transform how neurological conditions are diagnosed and treated worldwide. Through cutting-edge research, strategic funding, and collaboration with leading neuroscientists, we’re pioneering new approaches that harness the power of music and sound to unlock the brain’s potential and improve outcomes for millions living with neurological and mental health.

The story of The Chris Jagger Foundation is one of science, sound, and a shared belief in the power of creativity to change lives. It brings together researchers, musicians, and innovators who share a common goal: to unlock the healing potential of the human brain through the fusion of neuroscience and sound.

It began in 2019, when Dr. Patrick Kwan and his research team at Monash University began recording the electrical signals of neurons grown from human stem cells. Their goal was to better understand how the brain communicates — and how that understanding could lead to new treatments for people living with neurological conditions.

In 2022, Patrick collaborated with software engineer and musician Dr. Matthew Walsh, who transformed these neural signals into sound. The project, called Neusic, revealed a fascinating connection between brain activity and music, opening up new ways to study and experience the human mind. For the first time, brain activity could not only be measured — it could be heard.

A year later, in 2023, Patrick was introduced to Clive Hines, a Director at Rewire, through Professor Sarah Wilson at the University of Melbourne. That meeting sparked an idea: to unite science, sound, and creativity in a way that could make a lasting difference to brain health and mental wellbeing.

In April 2024, musician Chris Jagger generously donated a blood sample through Professor Ley Sander at University College London. From that sample, Professor Henry Houlden’s team extracted cells that were sent to Patrick’s laboratory at Monash University to be grown into stem cells and then into neurons — connecting Chris personally to the groundbreaking research his name would soon inspire.

By December 2024, Clive and Patrick had begun shaping a shared vision: to create a foundation dedicated to supporting innovative neuroscience research and exploring how sound and music can improve mental health and wellbeing. What began as a scientific curiosity had evolved into a movement — one grounded in compassion, collaboration, and creativity.

In May 2025, that vision became reality. A founding board was formed, bringing together Clive Hines, Dr. Patrick Kwan, Carrie Keller, Bruce Christie, Sherry Daly, Sharon Roux, and Matt Smith. Together, they established The Chris Jagger Foundation — an organisation built on the belief that science and sound can work in harmony to transform lives.

Today, The Chris Jagger Foundation continues to support pioneering research at the intersection of neuroscience, sound, and mental health. Its mission is to inspire new ways of thinking about the brain, foster collaboration across disciplines, and bring hope to those affected by neurological and mental health challenges.