Virginia Sturm

Virginia Sturm, PhD, is a Professor of Neurology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), affiliated with the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences and School of Medicine. She directs the Clinical Affective Neuroscience Laboratory and collaborates with the UCSF Memory and Aging Center and Global Brain Health Institute. Her research focuses on emotion processing, neurodegenerative diseases (particularly frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's), and autonomic nervous system function.

Education:

• Georgetown University: BA
• University of California, Berkeley: PhD
• University of California, San Francisco: Postdoctoral Fellowship
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training (2019)

Research Focus: Dr. Sturm investigates neural mechanisms of emotion and social behavior in neurodegenerative conditions. Her work integrates neuroimaging, physiological monitoring, and behavioral analysis to identify biomarkers for disease progression. Key areas include: autonomic dysfunction in dementia, emotion recognition deficits, neuroanatomical correlates of empathy, and therapeutic interventions like 'awe walks' for emotional well-being.

Publication Trends: Her recent articles (2022-2025) demonstrate a focus on: 1) Neuroimaging biomarkers for frontotemporal and semantic dementia, 2) Emotion-autonomic nervous system interactions, 3) Cross-cultural neuroscience of social behaviors, and 4) Developmental disorders like dyslexia. Studies consistently link specific brain atrophy patterns (e.g., insular, temporal) to clinical symptoms using advanced multimodal approaches.

Awards:

• John Douglas French Alzheimer’s Foundation Endowed Professor (2019)
• Association for Psychological Science Rising Star Award (2013)

Grants & Leadership: Principal Investigator on multiple NIH R01 grants studying emotion networks in neurodegeneration (totaling ~$10M+). Leads the Clinical Affective Neuroscience Lab, mentoring teams in neuroimaging analysis and clinical assessment. Collaborates internationally on FTD genetics and biomarker validation.