Connie Wong is a Research Professor at Monash University , leading the Neuroinflammation Research Group in the Department of Medicine. She is Deputy Director of the Monash Centre for Inflammatory Diseases. Her research focuses on neuroinflammation, stroke mechanisms, and host-pathogen interactions, utilizing advanced techniques like intravital microscopy. She holds prestigious fellowships, including the Level 3 NHF Future Leaders Fellowship (2024-2027), and has secured over $13M in grants. Education: PhD from Monash University, postdoctoral training at the University of Calgary’s Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases. Research Interests: Stroke pathophysiology, neuroinflammation dynamics, gut-brain interactions, and translational immunology. Her work explores post-stroke complications, such as infections and fatigue, and leverages nanomedicine for stroke treatment. Grants & Projects: Leads major initiatives like MEGASCORES (sepsis management) and TISN (nanomedicine for stroke). Her team has grown to 11 members, supported by NHMRC, NHF, and MRFF funding. Awards: Centenary Institute Lawrence Creative Prize (2013), ARC DECRA (2013), and AVBS Achievement Award (2017). Active in editorial roles for Frontiers in Immunology and Frontiers in Pharmacology . Labs & Collaborations: Neuroinflammation Research Group drives interdisciplinary projects on stroke recovery and immune responses. Collaborations span global institutions, focusing on stroke, sepsis, and inflammatory diseases.
Sukhi Shergill is a Professor of Psychiatry & Systems Neuroscience at King's College London's Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), affiliated with the NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). They hold a clinical role as a Consultant Psychiatrist at the National Psychosis Service at Bethlem Royal Hospital. Shergill's research focuses on the mechanisms underlying psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia, leveraging functional neuroimaging, psychophysics, and therapeutics. Their work intersects with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to mental health and well-being. Education: PhD in Psychiatry (2001, thesis on auditory hallucinations using functional MRI). Research interests span schizophrenia pathophysiology, neuroimaging biomarkers, and digital health interventions for psychosis. Key projects include the TEASC study on antipsychotic treatment response and the STOP app-based therapy for paranoia. Shergill has supervised 9 academic works and leads 2 active research grants from the Medical Research Council (MRC). Publications emphasize digital mental health safety, oxytocin modulation in psychosis, and clozapine monitoring. Their labs and collaborations include the CSI Lab and international networks studying neuroimaging and clinical interventions. Grants and partnerships involve MRC, Deloitte, and NHS initiatives addressing treatment-resistant psychosis and cognitive remediation.
Dr. Shekeeb Mohammad is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney, affiliated with the Children's Hospital at Westmead Clinical School within the Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health. He serves as a Paediatric Neurologist specializing in autoimmune neurological disorders and movement disorders in children. His primary research interests focus on: Paediatric Neurology, particularly autoimmune neurological disorders Movement disorders including tics, Tourette syndrome, and dystonia Neuroimmunology and autoimmune encephalitis Pediatric deep brain stimulation Medical education and curriculum development Dr. Mohammad's work shows a strong trend toward understanding the intersection of neurology, immunology, and genetics in pediatric movement disorders, with particular emphasis on autoimmune mechanisms and innovative treatment approaches. His notable scientific awards include: 2008 Major Amir Chand Gold Medal - PGIMER, Chandigarh India 2014 Winston Churchill Fellow 2015 NHMRC postgraduate scholarship 2017 Cerebral Palsy Alliance, Australia - Career Development Grant 2018 Cerebral Palsy Alliance - Research Grant as CI for "Improvement of care delivery and determining best outcome measures in children with dystonic cerebral palsy undergoing DBS" Dr. Mohammad serves as course coordinator for the Master of Medicine in child and adolescent health program. He has supervised research students including Erica Tsang, who is working on "The Ketogenic Diet in childhood epilepsy." His current research projects include "Understanding the utility and yield of Next generation sequencing gene panels for the diagnosis of genetic movement disorders in children," which examines the diagnostic value of genomic approaches for pediatric movement disorders. He is a member of the Brain and Mind Centre and collaborates with international institutions in Bangladesh, the United Kingdom, and other countries on research related to movement disorders, epilepsy, and neuroimmunology.
Prof. Dr. Dr. Dominik R. Bach is a full Professor and Principal Investigator at the Hertz Chair for Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience (CAIAN) at the University of Bonn , and also leads the Threat Avoidance group at the Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London . He is based in Bonn, Germany, and his research is part of the Transdisciplinary Research Area 'Life and Health' at the University of Bonn. His research focuses on cognitive-computational neuroscience , particularly the computing architecture of the human mind and brain in the context of threat forecasting and avoidance . He employs serious games, virtual reality (VR) , and tightly controlled associative learning setups to study how humans avoid real threats, and how this system malfunctions in conditions like anxiety disorders and PTSD . His theoretical models are inspired by those used in artificial agents . His recent publications, in journals like Nature Communications and Biological Psychiatry , show a strong trend in using neuroimaging (fMRI, MEG) and intervention techniques (e.g., transcranial stimulation) to understand and modulate aversive memory and decision-making under threat. His work bridges computational theory, experimental psychology, and clinical applications. Email: d.bach@uni-bonn.de ORCID: 0000-0003-3717-2036 Lab Website: bachlab.org Twitter: @bachlab_cog He is actively recruiting PhD students and postdocs, indicating a vibrant and expanding research team. He has developed open-source tools like the CogLearn Toolkit for Unity for VR-based avoidance learning, demonstrating a commitment to open science.
Daniel O'Connor is a Professor of Neuroscience and Co-Director of the Neuroscience Training Program at the Department of Neuroscience, Zanvyl Krieger Mind/Brain Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He leads an active research laboratory investigating the neural circuits underlying touch perception in mice. His research focuses on understanding how brain dynamics give rise to sensory experiences by combining quantitative behavior, optogenetics, chemical-genetic perturbations, in vivo two-photon imaging, and electrophysiology. The lab studies how behavioral states such as attention modulate the flow of sensory information through cortical circuits, particularly examining the role of layer 4 stellate cells in early sensory cortex. The recent publications and associated code repositories (e.g., Finkel et al. 2024, Xu et al. 2021) reflect a strong emphasis on computational and systems-level analysis of neural circuits. These works span topics including neural coding, sensory gain control, cortical column dynamics, and the impact of behavioral context on perception. While no formal awards are listed in the provided texts, his leadership role in the Neuroscience Training Program and sustained research activity indicate recognition within the academic community. Daniel O'Connor mentors graduate students through the Neuroscience Training Program and the Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology Graduate Program. His lab provides interdisciplinary training at the intersection of experimental neuroscience and computational modeling. Although specific grants are not mentioned, the technical sophistication of the research implies substantial funding support. The O'Connor Lab is located on the second floor of Krieger Hall on the Homewood Campus of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD. The lab fosters a collaborative environment integrating experimental and computational approaches to unravel fundamental principles of mammalian brain function.
Philip Askenase is Professor of Medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine at Yale School of Medicine, with a focus on Immunology. He is affiliated with the Cancer Immunology program, the Center for Brain & Mind Health, and the Center for RNA Science and Medicine at Yale. Research Interests: Immunochemistry and cellular immunity B-1 B cell functions in T cell immunity Regulatory T cells and antigen-specific suppression Exosome-mediated transfer of miRNA (e.g., miRNA-150) in immune regulation Applications in allergy, autoimmunity, cancer, and spinal cord injury Development of exosome-based diagnostics (liquid biopsy) and therapeutics His recent publications highlight the role of extracellular vesicles in psychiatric conditions, pandemic prevention through chromatin vaccines, and systems vaccinology in HIV. These works reveal a strong trend toward interdisciplinary research bridging immunology, neuroscience, and regenerative medicine, with a focus on novel therapeutic delivery systems using exosomes. Scientific Awards: Legends of Allergy and Immunology (Wiley Online Library, 2023) Dr. Askenase has mentored numerous researchers and collaborators, though specific student names are not listed. His work has been supported by extensive research funding, particularly in immunology and exosome biology. He has contributed to major advances in understanding exosome carrier effects and their resistance to phagolysosomal digestion, which enhances targeted delivery. He is a key member of collaborative teams including the Yale Center for RNA Science and Medicine and the Cancer Immunology initiative. His lab investigates how exosomes from mesenchymal stem cells promote functional recovery in spinal cord injury through modulation of macrophage phenotypes and microvascular stabilization.
Jinwoo Park is an Associate Professor at the Department of Biotechnical and Clinical Laboratory Sciences within the Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo . His research focuses on understanding the role of catecholamines (dopamine, norepinephrine) in stress- and reward-related behaviors, and their dysfunction in disorders like substance abuse and neurodegenerative diseases . Education: PhD in Chemistry (Electrochemistry), Michigan State University (2006) Fellowship in Neurochemistry/Electrochemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2011) His work develops electrochemistry-based sensors for real-time neurochemical monitoring, particularly in the limbic system . Key areas include neurotransmission dynamics in drug addiction , stress responses , and metabolic regulation . He has secured significant grants from NIH/NIDA and NIDDK , including a $3.7M NIH/NIDA grant (2025–2030) to study sex differences in reward circuits . Recent publications highlight advancements in fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) for heterogeneous dopamine signaling in the olfactory tubercle and nucleus accumbens , with applications to methamphetamine and nicotine addiction . He also explores amylin signaling in macronutrient intake and urotensin II modulation of cocaine effects. Scientific Awards Whitehall Foundation Grant (2017) Irwin Kopin Traveling Fellowship (2012) NIDA Travel Stipend (2010) Invited speaker at SFN Nanosymposium (2010) Gordon Research Seminar Travel Stipend (2009) He serves as a Principal Investigator on multiple NIH-funded projects and mentors trainees through roles like Director of the Biotechnology Undergraduate Program (2020–present). His lab employs cutting-edge techniques like optogenetics and flexible microelectrode arrays to map neurochemical pathways in addiction and neurodegeneration .
Dr. Thuy Tran is an Assistant Professor of Medicine (Medical Oncology) at Yale School of Medicine, specializing in melanoma and advanced skin cancers. She cares for patients at Smilow Cancer Hospital and leads translational research on melanoma brain metastases and immune therapy resistance. Her work focuses on overcoming treatment resistance and improving patient outcomes through novel drug combinations and biomarker discovery. Education & Training: MD and PhD from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (2013 and 2011) Internal Medicine Residency at Yale-New Haven Hospital (2015) Hematology/Oncology Fellowship at Yale-New Haven Hospital (2019) Bachelor's in Biology and French from Emory University (2005) Research Interests: Dr. Tran investigates mechanisms of immune resistance in melanoma, particularly targeting the MIF/CD74 axis and blood-brain barrier challenges. Her studies address complications of brain metastases and radiation necrosis, aiming to improve therapies and patient quality of life. Key areas include macrophage migration inhibitor factor (MIF) signaling, tumor microenvironment modulation, and clinical trial development for combination therapies. Clinical Trials: She leads multiple trials, including a Phase II study combining pembrolizumab and bevacizumab for melanoma brain metastases. Her work also evaluates novel agents like mRNA-4157 (personalized neoantigen vaccine) in adjuvant settings. Funding & Awards: Funded by the Yale Cancer Center T32, Calabresi K12 Immuno-Oncology Program, and Skin Cancer SPORE. No named awards explicitly listed, but her grants support clinical and translational research. Advising & Grants: Dr. Tran oversees clinical trials and collaborates with teams on grants exploring immune therapy combinations and biomarkers. She advises trainees in oncology and translational research. Labs & Teams: Associated with the Skin Cancer SPORE program and collaborates with the Janeway Society for physician-scientist development. Active in interdisciplinary teams at the Yale Cancer Center.
Sue Griffin is a Professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences , affiliated with the College of Medicine and the Department of Geriatrics . She holds secondary appointments in Neurobiology & Developmental Science, Pediatrics, Physiology and Cell Biology, and Psychiatry. Her research focuses on neuroinflammation, Alzheimer’s disease, and the role of apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotypes in neurodegenerative pathogenesis. NIH/National Institute on Aging R01AG084472 (2023–2028): Principal Investigator on neuroinflammation, protein aggregates, and autophagy rescue NIH R01HD037989 (2000–2007): Principal Investigator on cytokines in neurodegeneration and Down's syndrome NIH P01AG012411 (1995–2021): Principal Investigator on early events in Alzheimer pathogenesis Her work spans interdisciplinary fields including neuroimmunology, protein homeostasis, and cytokine signaling. Publications highlight connections between inflammation (e.g., IL-1β), amyloid pathology, and genetic risk factors like APOE4. She has contributed to understanding neuroinflammatory mechanisms in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Down’s syndrome. Griffin’s recent articles focus on therapeutic strategies targeting autophagy, neuroinflammatory signaling in glioblastoma, and microbial contributions to Alzheimer’s neuropathology. Her research has been supported by NIH grants for over three decades, with collaborations across neurology, genetics, and pharmacology. She is affiliated with the Institute on Aging and the Center for Translational Neuroscience . Her work has been cited in over 50 scientific concepts, including Alzheimer Disease, Epilepsy, and Apolipoproteins E.
Pauline Larrouy-Maestri is a Senior Researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics in Frankfurt/Main, Germany, where she has been working since 2019 after serving as a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Neuroscience Department from 2014-2019. Her interdisciplinary research focuses on how humans categorize acoustic information that unfolds over time to make sense of sounds, working at the intersection of music, speech, and neuroscience. Dr. Larrouy-Maestri holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Liège (2009-2013) and has an unusually diverse educational background including a Bachelor in Music (Piano) from the Royal Conservatory of Mons, a Master in Speech Therapy from the University of Brussels, additional studies in Psychology, Pedagogy, and Music Therapy, and research stays at McGill University and SUNY Buffalo. This multidisciplinary foundation informs her unique approach to studying sound perception. Her research examines how we process ambiguous auditory material that sits at the boundaries between music and speech categories, such as sprechgesang and West-African talking drums. She investigates auditory sequence processing in music, particularly how continuous streams of sound are parsed into meaningful units, and has made significant contributions to understanding the perception of correctness in singing. Her work on vocal communication explores how pitch, timing, and other acoustic features contribute to our interpretation of emotional content and meaning in both music and speech. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a sophisticated integration of behavioral, electrophysiological, and computational approaches to study music-speech interactions, with growing emphasis on cross-cultural perspectives, individual differences, and neural mechanisms. Her work increasingly examines how subtle acoustic variations influence aesthetic judgments and emotional responses to vocalizations. 2023: €20,000 research scholarship for "Humanity of Speech" project 2017: Selected for "Sign Up! Careerbuilding for outstanding female post docs in the MPG" 2016: Young Investigator Award from SEMPRE and ICMPC14 2015: PBEEE Merit scholarship from Fonds de recherche du Québec 2013: Patrimoine de l'Université de Liège and FNRS fundings 2011: Grant from French Community of Belgium Dr. Larrouy-Maestri currently supervises multiple researchers including Camila Bruder, Madita Hoerster, and Zofia Hobubowska. Her research is supported by competitive grants including the recent Imminent scholarship and previous funding from Belgian and Canadian sources. She maintains extensive international collaborations with researchers including David Poeppel, Melanie Wald-Fuhrmann, Marc Pell, and others across neuroscience, psychology, and musicology disciplines. Her work is conducted within the Neuroscience Department at the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics, where she contributes to the institute's interdisciplinary mission of studying aesthetic experiences through multiple methodological approaches. She participates in research groups focusing on auditory perception, music cognition, and the neural mechanisms underlying language and music processing, helping bridge traditionally separate fields through innovative experimental designs.
Professor Anthony O'Neill at Newcastle University is a leading researcher in semiconductor device physics, optogenetic neuroprosthetics, and strained silicon engineering. His work spans silicon carbide MOSFETs, graphene fabrication, and implantable neural interfaces, with a focus on improving device performance through material science innovations. Semiconductor Device Physics Optogenetic Neuroprosthetics Strained Silicon Technology Micromachining Processes Advanced Material Characterization His 15 most recent publications (2018-2024) demonstrate expertise in: 4H-SiC MOSFET optimization Nitridation techniques Implantable neuroprosthetic systems Molecular dynamics simulations for silicon processing High-κ dielectrics in microelectronics Flexible electrode arrays
Robert Britton is a Professor at the Baylor College of Medicine in the School of Medicine , affiliated with the Alkek Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research and the Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology . His Therapeutic Microbiology Laboratory investigates how microbes impact human health through four pillars: Limosilactobacillus reuteri for therapeutics, intestinal hormone-microbiome interactions , synthetic biology for diagnostics , and microbial ecology in infectious disease . Research Themes : Microbiome-Host Physiology, Synthetic Biosensors, C. difficile Pathogenesis, Diet-Microbiome Co-evolution Grants : $12M NIH award (2018) for microbiome-based infection prevention The lab employs human organoid technology and microbioreactor arrays to model microbial interactions. Recent work explores probiotic-mediated oxytocin release and bioengineered Kv1.3 channel blockers for autoimmune diseases. A 2025 FASEB Journal study demonstrates L. reuteri 's role in gut hormone regulation, while synthetic biology projects target ulcerative colitis and radiation injury via engineered probiotics. Scientific Recognition : 2019 Michael E. DeBakey Excellence in Research Award Lab Members include MD/PhD candidates, postdoctoral fellows, and technicians working on microbiome-brain interactions, metabolic health interventions, and C. difficile epidemiology. Key collaborations span the National School of Tropical Medicine and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences .
Professor Ioanna Sandvig is a leading academic at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) , where she serves as group leader of the Integrative Neuroscience Group within the Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science. She is also President of the Norwegian Neuroscience Society (NNS) and actively participates in international societies including the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS), Society for Neuroscience (SfN), ALBA Network, and Clinical-Academic Group for Alzheimer's Disease. Research Interests : Her group investigates neuroplasticity mechanisms in CNS damage and repair , focusing on structure-function relationships in biological neural networks under healthy and pathological conditions. They integrate in vivo , in vitro , and computational models to identify adaptive/maladaptive plasticity in neurodegenerative diseases like ALS and Alzheimer's. The research combines connectomics , transcriptional analysis , and geometric network modeling to decode network behaviors. Scientific Contributions : Recent publications explore topics including synaptic transcript dysregulation in ALS, functional complexity of 3D-engineered networks, and platinum microelectrode technologies. Her work demonstrates interdisciplinary approaches bridging neuroscience , bioengineering , and computational systems . Scientific Recognition : President, Norwegian Neuroscience Society (2024) Member, Federation of European Neuroscience Societies Member, Society for Neuroscience Member, ALBA Network Member, Clinical-Academic Group for Alzheimer's Disease Laboratory & Collaborations : The Integrative Neuroscience Group collaborates across NTNU's neuroscience departments and clinical institutions, developing tools for neuroplasticity analysis and contributing to preclinical disease modeling.
Dr. Patrick A. Randall is an Assistant Professor at Penn State University, affiliated with both the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine and the Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics. His research explores the neurobiology of alcohol and nicotine co-use, focusing on neuroimmune mechanisms and brain circuitry. PhD in Psychology - Behavioral Neuroscience (University of Connecticut, 2013) Postdoctoral Fellowship at Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies (2013-2017) Research Associate at Bowles Center (2017-2019) Key research areas include neuroimmune signaling in addiction, sex-specific differences in drug response, and mesocorticolimbic pathways involved in co-use. His work employs behavioral models and viral techniques to dissect brain circuits. Recent publications highlight 2025 research on central amygdala in alcohol use disorder and 2024 findings on sex differences in co-use mechanisms. Collaborations span neuroscience, pharmacology, and public health domains. 2016: NIAAA grant on medial prefrontal cortex role in interoceptive cues
David Munn is a Professor at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, with joint appointments in the Department of Pediatrics: Hematology/Oncology, Georgia Cancer Center, Pathology, Medicine, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Cellular Biology and Anatomy. He serves as Co-Director of the Pediatric Immunotherapy Program, leading translational research in tumor immunology and immune suppression. His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms tumors use to evade immune detection, particularly through the IDO and BTK pathways. Key areas include: Regulation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and tolerogenic dendritic cells in the tumor microenvironment Development of small-molecule inhibitors targeting immune checkpoints Design and immune monitoring of clinical trials combining IDO inhibitors with chemotherapy and radiation First-in-children trials for pediatric brain tumors His recent publications highlight work on BTK-IDO-mTOR axis inhibition, IDO inhibitor trials in melanoma, and mechanisms of immunosuppression in glioblastoma and aging. His research is supported by the National Institutes of Health and charitable foundations. Scientific contributions and service include: Published in high-impact journals including Science Immunology , Nature Immunology , and Immunity Chair, GCC Internal Promotion and Tenure Advisory Committee (2020) Chair, GCC PRMC (Protocol Review and Monitoring Committee) (2020) Member, GCC Director Search Committee (2019) Reviewer for professional journals (since 2015) Dr. Munn mentors a research team including postdoctoral fellows and research associates, and leads the Munn Lab at the M. Bert Storey Research Building. His work bridges fundamental immunology and clinical application, advancing novel immunotherapies for both adult and pediatric cancers.
