Priyanka Shah-Basak

Priyanka Shah-Basak, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Her research focuses on optimizing neurorehabilitation approaches for cognitive disorders in acquired and neurodegenerative diseases, particularly using non-invasive brain stimulation (e.g., TMS, tDCS) combined with advanced neuroimaging (fMRI, MEG). She is a member of the Neuroscience Research Center and the Wisconsin Institute of NeuroScience (WINS).

Education:

• PhD, Biomedical Engineering, Neurology and Neurosciences, Rutgers Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 2012
• MS, Biomedical Engineering, Bioinstrumentation and Signal Processing, New Jersey Institute of Technology, 2008
• BS, Biomedical Engineering, Bioinstrumentation, New Jersey Institute of Technology, 2006

Research Interests: Neurorehabilitation strategies for post-stroke aphasia, neurophysiological bases of non-invasive brain stimulation, and biomarkers for neuroplasticity. Her work integrates clinical neuroscience, engineering, and translational research to improve treatment outcomes for patients with aphasia and primary progressive aphasia (PPA).

Publications: Dr. Shah-Basak has authored over 30 peer-reviewed articles, with recent work emphasizing genetic and neurophysiological predictors of response to stimulation therapies and novel approaches to targeting language recovery. Her studies highlight the role of BDNF gene polymorphisms and EEG/fMRI biomarkers in guiding personalized treatment strategies.

Awards:

• Albert Dorman Honor’s College Scholarship (2003–2006)
• Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society (2005)
• American Heart Association (2013–present)
• Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery (2017–present)

Collaborations and Labs: She collaborates with institutions like the Wisconsin Institute of NeuroScience (WINS) and the Neuroscience Research Center. Her lab develops and tests novel neuromodulation protocols for language rehabilitation, emphasizing translational applications in clinical settings.