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Judith EisenView profile

Professor

• Neuroscience
• Cell & Developmental Biology
• Molecular Biology & Genetics
• +3 more

Judith Eisen is a Professor in the Department of Biology and affiliated with the Institute of Neuroscience at the University of Oregon. Her work focuses on neural and neural crest development, neuronal-glial fate specification, and axonal pathfinding. She employs cellular, molecular, genetic, and microbiological techniques combined with live zebrafish imaging to study neural circuit formation and the role of microbiota/immune interactions in neurodevelopment. Research Interests: Generation of neuronal diversity Neuronal circuit wiring and synapse formation Microbiota-host immune-neural system interactions Laboratory Team: Includes postdocs (Laura Desban, David James), research staff (Emily Hunt), and collaborators such as Chris Q. Doe (Drosophila neurodevelopment), Adam Miller (synaptic circuitry), Cristopher Niell (visual circuits), and Philip Washbourne (social behavior circuits). Contact: Office 310B Huestis Hall | Lab Website

Yoeri B. van de BurgtView profile

Associate Professor

• Neuromorphic Engineering
• Organic Electronics
• Materials Science
• +5 more

Yoeri B. van de Burgt is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). He holds affiliations with the Institute of Complex Molecular Studies (ICMS), Eindhoven Hendrik Casimir Institute (EHCI), and Eindhoven Artificial Intelligence Systems Institute (EAISI). His expertise spans materials science, organic electronics, neuromorphic engineering, and cell-material interfaces. He leads the Neuromorphic Engineering group , which focuses on optimizing organic neuromorphic devices for smart biosensors, robotics, and adaptive biointerfaces. PhD in Mechanical Engineering from TU/e (2014) Postdoctoral Fellowship at Stanford University (2014–2016) Visiting Professorships at the University of Cambridge (2017) and Georgia Tech (2022) Research interests include neuromorphic computing, biohybrid systems, and low-energy electronic materials. His work contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals related to innovation and sustainable technology. Key awards include the ERC Starting Grant (2018), ERC Consolidator Grant (2024), and TU/e Ground-breaking Researcher Award (2023). He serves on editorial boards for Neuromorphic Computing and Engineering and Frontiers in Neuroscience . His publications emphasize neuromorphic hardware, biosensors, and organic electronic materials, with over 4365 citations. He advises on grants like the 4TU Visiting Research Grant and chairs the Eindhoven Young Academy.

Lun-Ching ChangView profile

Associate Professor

• Statistical Genetics
• Bioinformatics
• Computational Biology
• +6 more

Dr. Lun-Ching Chang is an Associate Professor and Statistics Advisor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Florida Atlantic University. He holds a Ph.D. in Biostatistics from the University of Pittsburgh (2014). His research focuses on statistical genetics, bioinformatics, and computational biology with particular emphasis on developing novel methodologies for analyzing high-throughput genomic data. Key contributions include copy number variant detection algorithms (HCMMCNVs), microbiome analysis frameworks (wiSDOM), and integrative omics approaches for cancer research. Research interests span genotype-phenotype correlations in diseases like cancer, chronic kidney disease, and neurodegenerative disorders. Collaborative work includes psychiatric studies (e.g., DA3 scale development), clinical trial methodologies, and precision medicine applications. Recent studies highlight microbiome-gut-brain interactions and molecular aging biomarkers. Publications emphasize both methodological advancements (e.g., meta-analysis pipelines) and translational research (e.g., biomarker discovery in chronic diseases). Active in software development for bioinformatics, including R packages for genomic data integration. Advises interdisciplinary projects at the intersection of statistics, computational biology, and clinical research.

Michael J HawkenView profile

Professor

• Visual Perception
• Neural Circuits
• Connectomics
• +4 more

Michael J. Hawken is a Professor of Neural Science at New York University's College of Arts & Science. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Otago. His research focuses on understanding how visual perception arises from neural circuits in the primate visual cortex, combining connectomics, functional characterization of receptive fields, and computational modeling. Key areas include neuronal population dynamics, functional clustering in cortical layers, and long-range circuit motifs. Research emphasizes structural connectomics (e.g., thalamic inputs to V1 layer 4C), functional clustering of neurons in layer 6, and computational models simulating cortical dynamics. Collaborations with NYU mathematicians have produced large-scale models of V1 layers, exploring direction selectivity and feedforward information flow. Publications span over three decades, with recent work in Journal of Neuroscience , PNAS , and Current Opinion in Physiology . His studies bridge neurophysiology and theory, addressing how cortical circuits underpin visual perception. Notable contributions include defining laminar distributions of neuronal subtypes (Kv3.1b, PV) and identifying functional clusters through multi-dimensional stimulus analysis. Ongoing projects extend findings to human cortex to compare macaque-human homologies.

• Age-Related Cognitive Decline
• Cognitive Interventions for Dementia
• Neurodegenerative Diseases
• +5 more

Elena Carbone is an Assistant Professor at the University of Padova, specializing in cognitive aging and dementia interventions. Her research focuses on age-related cognitive decline, individual differences in cognitive mechanisms, and the efficacy of cognitive stimulation programs for older adults and dementia patients. Key research interests include working memory, spatial cognition, and the role of training features in intervention efficacy. She has also explored the psychological impacts of the pandemic on older adults, sleep-related metacognition, and the neuroprotective effects of pharmacological compounds. Her work emphasizes translational research, combining clinical trials (e.g., Primacare_P3 study) with theoretical contributions to cognitive reserve theory via the 2CR survey. She investigates environmental design (e.g., dementia-friendly care home navigability) and innovative interventions such as music therapy, outdoor horticultural programs, and transcranial direct current stimulation. Notable contributions include systematic reviews on dementia drug efficacy and metacognitive memory training interventions. Publications span 2007–2025, reflecting sustained engagement in gerontology, neuropsychology, and translational research. While no awards are explicitly listed, her work demonstrates impactful contributions to improving cognitive health in aging populations. Her research integrates multidisciplinary approaches, addressing both biological mechanisms (e.g., neurodegeneration models) and socio-behavioral factors (e.g., personality influences on spatial learning).

Sanne MoormanView profile

Assistant Professor

• Neurosciences
• Behavioral Sciences
• Auditory-Vocal Learning
• +5 more

Sanne Moorman is an Assistant Professor in Neurobiology at the University of Groningen, affiliated with the Faculty of Science and Engineering and the Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences. Her research focuses on auditory-vocal learning and memory mechanisms in songbirds as models for human speech acquisition. She completed her PhD under Johan Bolhuis at Utrecht University, studying neural activity in songbirds using immediate early gene expression techniques. During postdoctoral work, she employed in vivo calcium imaging, pharmacological manipulations, and anatomical tracing to investigate neural connectivity and song performance. She currently leads the Moorman Lab - Behavioural Neuroscience. Her research interests include the behavioral and neural underpinnings of vocal learning, memory formation, and brain lateralization. She has contributed to understanding how songbirds encode and retain auditory templates for vocal imitation, with implications for human speech disorders. Key achievements include an NWO Rubicon Fellowship (2014) and over 10 peer-reviewed publications. She teaches courses such as The Neurobiological Basis of Behaviour and supervises students in the BCN Master program. Collaborations span institutions like Boston University and Tufts University, focusing on cortico-basal ganglia interactions and neural plasticity. Media engagements include public talks on birdsong and speech disorders, reflecting her commitment to science communication. Her work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to advancing knowledge and innovation in life sciences.

• Ophthalmology
• Neuroscience
• Stem Cell Research
• +4 more

Biju Thomas, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Research Ophthalmology at the University of Southern California. His work focuses on retinal regeneration , neural stimulation , and vision restoration through advanced technologies like ultrasound neurostimulation and stem cell therapies . Recent research highlights include: Using ultrasound arrays for high-resolution retinal stimulation Developing stem cell-derived retinal grafts to repair degenerative damage Exploring electrical stimulation to enhance photoreceptor survival Investigating epigenetic changes in degenerating retinas His publications span biomedical engineering , neuroscience , and ophthalmic research , addressing challenges in retinal transplantation, functional recovery, and noninvasive neuromodulation.

Todd C HolmesView profile

Professor

• Neural Circuit Mapping
• Synaptic Connectivity
• Visual Cortex
• +3 more

Todd C. Holmes, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Physiology & Biophysics at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) School of Medicine. His research focuses on the structural and functional organization of neural circuits, particularly in the visual cortex and hippocampus. Dr. Holmes employs advanced techniques like laser scanning photostimulation and viral tracing to map synaptic connectivity, emphasizing the balance between excitatory and inhibitory inputs in cortical microcircuits. His work has revealed layer-specific synaptic wiring diagrams and redefined understanding of how inhibitory connections mirror excitatory pathways in the mouse visual cortex (V1). Dr. Holmes is affiliated with the UCI Center for Neural Circuit Mapping, contributing to interdisciplinary studies on Alzheimer’s disease models, optogenetic tools, and neurovascular interactions. He has secured funding from NIH grants (e.g., MH105427, R01NS095355) and collaborates on projects involving genetic engineering and high-resolution brain imaging techniques. His research extends to circadian rhythms, Drosophila neurobiology, and neuropsychiatric disorder models, leveraging transgenic approaches and behavioral analyses. Recent studies explore microglia’s role in synaptic connectivity and the application of novel viral vectors for circuit tracing.

Marco DaddaView profile

Associate Professor

• Animal Cognition
• Behavioral Asymmetries
• Lateralized Brain Functions
• +3 more

Marco Dadda is an Associate Professor at the Department of General Psychology, University of Padova. His research focuses on the evolution of behavioral asymmetries and lateralized brain functions in vertebrates, alongside studies on animal cognition. He investigates mechanisms underlying perception, learning, and decision-making in species like zebrafish, guppies, and plants. Key interests include lateralization costs/benefits, numerical cognition in fish, and environmental enrichment effects. Research highlights include groundbreaking work on plant communication via volatile compounds and perceptual completion in pea plants. His studies on zebrafish explore early learning, anxiety modulation through environmental factors, and operant conditioning methodologies. He also examines laterality's role in spatial navigation and simultaneous task performance across species. Publications consistently bridge behavioral biology with neuroethology, emphasizing cross-species comparisons (e.g., plant-fish cognition parallels). Ongoing work investigates how developmental experiences (light exposure, predation cues) shape lateralization patterns and cognitive capabilities. His lab employs innovative tools like automated behavioral tracking systems and minimally invasive testing protocols for neonatal fish.

Alex NordView profile

Associate Professor

• Neuroengineering
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Gene Regulatory Networks
• +3 more

Alex Nord is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior at the University of California, Davis. His primary affiliation is within the Center for Neuroscience and the School of Medicine. Nord’s research focuses on neurodevelopmental disorders, gene regulatory networks, and the intersection of genomics with psychiatric and neurological conditions. His work integrates molecular, genetic, and systems-level approaches to understand brain development and dysfunction. Key research interests include the molecular mechanisms underlying autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, and other neurodevelopmental conditions. Nord’s lab employs transgenic mouse models, genomic sequencing, and functional genomics to study enhancer activity, transcriptional networks, and epigenetic regulation. His recent work has explored the role of genes like CHD8, SYNGAP1, and DLX in neurodevelopmental pathways. Publications from 2022-2025 highlight advancements in therapeutic LSD analog design, molecular pathways in autism, and the impact of genetic mutations on neuronal function. Nord’s team collaborates on translational projects, including AAV-based gene therapy approaches for neurological disorders. His lab is affiliated with the Genome Center and the School of Medicine, emphasizing interdisciplinary research in neuroscience and genomics. While no specific awards are listed, Nord’s contributions to neurodevelopmental genomics have advanced understanding of gene-environment interactions and translational therapeutics. Ongoing work includes longitudinal studies of traumatic brain injury and maternal immune activation effects on neurodevelopment.

Bernardo RudyView profile

Professor

• Neuroscience
• Neurophysiology
• Molecular Neuroscience
• +6 more

Bernardo Rudy is a Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Care, and Pain Medicine, and holds the Julius Raynes Professorship of Neuroscience and Physiology in the Department of Neuroscience at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. He earned his PhD from Cambridge University and MD from the National University of Mexico. His research focuses on the organization and function of neocortical circuits, emphasizing how neuronal activity regulates behavior through cortical circuits, ion channels, and neuromodulation. Research interests include the role of GABAergic interneurons in shaping cortical information processing, mechanisms of cholinergic modulation in sensory perception and learning, and top-down/bottom-up integration in neocortical layer 1. His lab employs electrophysiology, optogenetics, imaging, and genetic techniques in vitro and in vivo. Recent work investigates layer 1 interneuron subtypes, the impact of cholinergic projections from the nucleus basalis, and the functional diversity of cortical inhibitory circuits. Collaborations with teams like Machold, Buzsáki, and Fishell highlight multidisciplinary approaches to neural circuitry. Lab: Rudy Lab . No scientific awards explicitly listed.

Richard E. CarsonView profile

Professor

• Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Imaging
• Tracer Kinetic Modeling
• Medical Imaging Physics
• +7 more

Richard E. Carson is a Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Yale University, with additional appointments in Radiology & Biomedical Imaging. He leads the Yale Positron Emission Tomography Center, focusing on advancing PET imaging technologies and their clinical applications. His research integrates quantitative modeling, physics, and biology to measure in vivo physiology, particularly synaptic density, receptor binding, and metabolic processes in neuropsychiatric disorders, diabetes, cardiology, and oncology. Dr. Carson holds a Ph.D. from UCLA and has pioneered methods for tracer kinetic modeling, image reconstruction, and motion correction. His work with the NeuroEXPLORER PET scanner aims to revolutionize brain imaging with 10x higher sensitivity. Notable contributions include developing SV2A PET tracers for synaptic density quantification and establishing standardized nomenclature for PET biomarkers. His research spans from preclinical models to clinical trials, addressing Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, mood disorders, and cancer. Awards include the 2024 Image of the Year for groundbreaking brain imaging. Ongoing projects explore synaptic density’s role in depression, drug efficacy in neurodegenerative diseases, and novel radiopharmaceuticals for diabetes and oncology.

Adnane AchourView profile

Professor

• Immunology
• Structural Biology
• Molecular Biology
• +3 more

Professor Adnane Achour is a faculty member at Karolinska Institutet's Department of Medicine, Solna, leading the Structural and Biophysical Immunology research group. He obtained his PhD in 2001 from Karolinska Institutet, focusing on structural studies of MHC class I complexes. His research integrates structural biology, biophysics, and immunology to understand pathogen-derived virulence factors and design immunotherapeutic strategies. Key areas include MHC-peptide interactions, SARS-CoV-2 mechanisms, and vaccine development. He has held senior positions, including a Swedish Research Council Rådsforkare (2008–2014), and directs a national mass-cytometry platform. His work spans over 150 publications, with recent focus on viral immune escape, cancer immunotherapy, and structural insights into protein dynamics.

Sylvia VilleneuveView profile

Associate Professor

• Alzheimer's Disease
• Neuroimaging
• Aging
• +4 more

Sylvia Villeneuve is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at McGill University and holds the Canada Research Chair in Early Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease (Tier 2). She leads the Multimodal imaging of the aging brain lab at the Douglas Research Centre, affiliated with the Aging, Cognition, and Alzheimer’s Disease theme-based group. Her research focuses on using MRI and PET neuroimaging to identify cerebral markers for early Alzheimer’s disease detection, study disease mechanisms, and assess risk/protective factors like vascular health and nutrition. Education: PhD from Université de Montréal (2011), followed by postdoctoral fellowships at UC Berkeley (2011–2014) and Northwestern University (2014–2015). She joined McGill in 2015 and is a member of the Ordre des Psychologues du Québec. Research Interests : Alzheimer’s early detection, multimodal neuroimaging (MRI/PET), biomarker development, vascular-cognitive interactions, and preclinical disease progression. Her lab integrates structural/functional imaging, amyloid/tau PET, neuropsychological testing, and vascular assessments to track disease trajectories. Key Achievements : Over 40 peer-reviewed publications, including high-impact studies in Brain and JAMA Neurology . Recognized with awards such as the Human Amyloid Imaging Young Investigator Award (2014) and CIHR Brain Star Award (2012). Leads the PREVENT-AD Cohort and recent grants include Weston funding for sleep-Alzheimer’s links (2024). Team : Supervises graduate students Alexa Pichet Binette and Jacob Vogel. Collaborates on initiatives like the Stop-AD Centre (FRQ-funded) and SCARF2 biomarker studies.

• Neuroanatomy
• Connectomics
• Neural circuits
• +5 more

Professor Hong Wei Dong is a faculty member in the Department of Neurobiology at the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). His research focuses on creating comprehensive connectome maps of the C57Bl/6 mouse brain to understand functional network organization and behavioral output mechanisms. He integrates Connectomics Genetics 3D high-resolution imaging Artificial intelligence to explore the fundamental architecture of the central nervous system. Key research directions include: Classification of mouse brain/spinal cord cell types through anatomic, molecular, and physiological properties Development of microscopy/histological technologies for human brain mapping at axonal resolution Application to neurodegenerative disease models (Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s) Recent publications highlight his work on: Visceromotor cortex networks High-resolution brain atlases Thalamic subnetworks Neuronal diversity analysis Advanced image processing tools Transsynaptic tracing methodologies Awardeeship highlights: Suzanne Eaton Memorial Prize Taylor M. Brown Memorial Award His lab develops scalable technologies like Gossamer for petabyte-scale image processing and Morphohub for multi-morphometry generation, while maintaining affiliations with UCLA Brain Research & Artificial Intelligence Nexus (B.R.A.I.N.) and NIH T32 training grants.