Dr. Aleksi Sihvonen is an Honorary Research Fellow at the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Queensland. His research focuses on neurorehabilitation, music cognition, and the neural mechanisms underlying stroke recovery, aphasia, and neuroplasticity. His work integrates neuroimaging techniques to study structural and functional brain connectivity in clinical populations. Key research areas include the impact of singing-based interventions on communication in chronic aphasia, structural brain plasticity post-injury, and the role of music in chronic pain management. He collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to explore how auditory and musical stimuli influence neural reorganization. Recent studies highlight the differential effects of aging on speech and singing production, as well as the structural connectivity correlates of language recovery after stroke. His findings emphasize the potential of music therapy as a neurorehabilitation tool. Publications span high-impact journals like Brain Communications , Human Brain Mapping , and Journal of Neuroscience , reflecting contributions to understanding brain plasticity mechanisms. No scientific awards are explicitly noted in the provided data.
Dr. Lainy Day is a Professor of Biology and Director of the Interdisciplinary Minor in Neuroscience at the University of Mississippi. Her office is located in 512 Shoemaker Hall. She holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin (1999) and an M.A. in Psychology from the same institution (1994). Her research focuses on the evolution and function of brain regions involved in spatial and motor learning, particularly in birds. Current projects investigate steroid-induced neuroplasticity in the avian cerebellum and non-avian vertebrate models. She explores neural adaptations related to acrobatic courtship displays and their evolutionary implications in manakins and other avian species. Dr. Day has published extensively on topics such as brain size evolution driven by sexual selection, hormonal regulation of neuromuscular systems, and neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying behavior. Her work emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, blending neuroscience, endocrinology, and evolutionary biology. She teaches courses including Introductory Neuroscience, Methods in Comparative Neuroscience, and Functional Neuroanatomy. Dr. Day actively mentors graduate students and undergraduates interested in behavioral neuroscience research.
Dr. M. Natasha Rajah is a Full Professor in the Department of Psychology at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) and holds a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Sex, Gender and Diversity in Brain Health, Memory and Aging. She is also an Adjunct Faculty at McGill University's Department of Psychiatry and an Adjunct Scientist at the Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest. Her interdisciplinary affiliations reflect her leadership in cognitive neuroscience and aging research. Her research focuses on the cognitive neuroscience of memory and aging, particularly how biological sex, sociocultural gender, menopause, and social determinants of health influence brain aging and Alzheimer's disease risk. Using multimodal methods—including fMRI, structural MRI, behavioral testing, endocrine assays, and genetics—she investigates normative memory maintenance and risk factors for cognitive decline. The recent publications highlight a consistent focus on neuroimaging, memory systems, sex differences, and aging. Her work spans high-impact topics such as hippocampal mediation in aging, functional connectivity differences by sex, and genetic risk factors like APOE4. The research integrates clinical neuroscience with population diversity, aiming to develop equitable biomarkers and interventions. Scientific honors include: Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Sex, Gender and Diversity in Brain Health, Memory and Aging CIHR Sex and Gender Research Chair in Neuroscience, Mental Health and Addiction Dr. Rajah has held major administrative roles, including Director of the Douglas Brain Imaging Centre (2011–2021) and Assistant Dean (Academic Affairs) at McGill’s Faculty of Medicine. She advises through her BHEAM Lab and leads national initiatives such as Team 9 (Developing Novel Biomarkers) and the IDEAS Committees in the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA). She is Editor-in-Chief of Aging, Neuropsychology and Cognition and Associate Editor of Psychological Science . She leads the Brain Health Equity in Aging and Memory (BHEAM) Lab at TMU, which conducts cutting-edge research on dementia prevention and brain health equity. Her team integrates cognitive testing with advanced neuroimaging and biomarker analysis to study diverse populations across the adult lifespan.
Justus Kebschull is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His research bridges neuroscience, genomics, and molecular engineering to understand brain structure, evolution, and function across vertebrates. He is affiliated with the Biomedical Engineering Program and the Neuroscience Training Program, mentoring graduate students and leading a dynamic research lab. Research Interests: Dr. Kebschull's work focuses on neural circuits , connectomics , and molecular neuroscience , with a strong emphasis on evolutionary perspectives. He develops and applies cutting-edge technologies such as MAPseq, BRICseq, in situ sequencing, single-cell RNA-seq, and viral tracing to map brain connectivity and gene expression at single-cell resolution. His lab investigates how brain regions and cell types evolve, how circuits adapt to new functions, and how these principles are disrupted in neurodevelopmental disorders and addiction. Publication Trends: His recent publications highlight a strong focus on comparative connectomics , cerebellar evolution , and high-throughput neuroanatomical methods . His work integrates connectivity data with transcriptomic and functional activity profiles, enabling a systems-level understanding of brain organization. Key themes include circuit duplication in brain evolution, scalability of neural mapping, and cross-species analysis from mice to sharks. Scientific Recognition: While no specific awards are listed, his publication record in top-tier journals such as Science , Nature , Cell , and Neuron reflects significant scientific impact and recognition in the neuroscience community. Advising and Research Support: Dr. Kebschull actively mentors graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. His lab is expanding and currently recruiting PhD students, postdocs, and technicians. His research is supported by competitive funding, enabling the development of novel tools for brain mapping and disease modeling. Research Environment: The Kebschull Lab is a highly interdisciplinary team situated at the intersection of neuroscience, synthetic biology, virology, and computational biology. The lab fosters innovation in molecular tool development and applies these to fundamental questions in brain evolution and disease. Ongoing projects include high-throughput comparative connectomics, developmental mechanisms of circuit formation, and the impact of drugs and disorders on neural architecture.
Anna Marie Pyle is a Sterling Professor at Yale University in the Departments of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology and Chemistry. She is a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator since 1997 and has held leadership roles including President of the RNA Society and Chair of the NIH MSFA Study Section. Her research focuses on RNA structure, RNA remodeling enzymes, and innate immune receptors. She has authored over 190 publications and mentored over 40 students/postdocs. **Education:** B.S. in Chemistry (Princeton University), Ph.D. in Chemistry (Columbia University, 1990). Postdoctoral training at the University of Colorado with Thomas Cech. Joined Yale in 2002. **Research:** Pioneered structural studies of group II introns and the spliceosome. Her lab investigates RNA tertiary structures, viral RNA biology, and RIG-I signaling. Key contributions include understanding RNA helicases, antiviral immunity, and lncRNA structural biology. Collaborates with industry (e.g., Arrakis Therapeutics) on RNA-based therapeutics. **Awards:** HHMI Investigator, National Academy of Sciences member, AAAS Fellow. Recognized for innovations in RNA structure-function relationships. **Grants & Labs:** Leads the Pyle Lab at Yale, funded by NIH and HHMI. Active in developing RIG-I agonists for cancer immunotherapy and antifungal drugs targeting RNA splicing.
Soo Hyun Kwon, MD, is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Yale School of Medicine, specializing in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine. She is affiliated with the Department of Pediatrics and contributes to the Neonatal Transport Program and the NICU Great Results After Discharge (GRAD) Program at Yale New Haven Children's Hospital. University: Yale University School: Yale School of Medicine Department: Department of Pediatrics Academic Rank: Associate Professor Dr. Kwon completed her medical degree at Jefferson Medical College, followed by a residency in Pediatrics at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, and a fellowship in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine at Yale School of Medicine. Her research focuses on neonatology, with key interests in electronic health records, healthcare efficiency, and teaching methodologies in medicine. She investigates cerebral oxygenation, brain connectivity, and neurodevelopment in preterm infants using advanced imaging techniques such as functional MRI and NIRS. Her collaborative work emphasizes the impact of prenatal stress and prematurity on brain organization and long-term outcomes. The trends in her recent publications show a strong focus on neonatal brain development, functional and structural connectivity, and the application of neuroimaging to understand early-life neurological adaptations. Her studies often involve interdisciplinary collaboration with experts in radiology, biomedical engineering, and neuroscience. There are no scientific awards explicitly mentioned in the source material. Dr. Kwon is actively involved in clinical education and teaching rounds. While no formal advisees or grant funding are listed, her role in research and clinical programs indicates active mentorship and scholarly leadership. She collaborates extensively with researchers such as Dustin Scheinost, Laura Ment, and Gordon Sze. She is part of research teams utilizing the Yale Center for Clinical Investigation and advanced imaging facilities such as the Magnetic Resonance Research Center. Her work contributes to interdisciplinary initiatives in neonatal neuroscience and pediatric health outcomes.
Basmah Safdar, MD, is a Professor of Emergency Medicine at Yale School of Medicine, where she also serves as Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs and Development, Director of Women’s Health Research at Yale (WHRY), and Medical Director of the Chest Pain Center at Yale New Haven Hospital. She leads the Yale CMD Registry and Biorepository, focusing on sex and gender-specific research in microvascular health. Norma Weinberg Spungen and Joan L. Bildner Professor of Emergency Medicine Director, Women's Health Research at Yale Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs and Development, Emergency Medicine Medical Director, Chest Pain Center Dr. Safdar earned her MD from Aga Khan University, completed residency and chief residency at Yale New Haven Hospital, and holds an MSc in Cardiovascular Epidemiology from Harvard University. She is a 2024 Fellow of the Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) Program. Her research centers on microvascular dysfunction in the heart, brain, and its implications in conditions like chest pain and COVID-19. She investigates sex-specific differences in cardiovascular disease, aiming to improve diagnosis, reduce healthcare disparities, and develop precision medicine approaches. Her work spans clinical trials, translational research, and biomarker discovery, with a strong emphasis on emergency medicine settings. Her recent publications highlight trends in identifying novel biomarkers (e.g., renalase), understanding systemic microvascular disease, addressing gender and race bias in healthcare, and advancing clinical diagnostics for coronary microvascular dysfunction. Her research integrates machine learning, epidemiology, and clinical cardiology to improve patient outcomes. Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine® (ELAM®) Program (2024) Women Executive Leadership Program, Impact Center (2022) AWAEM Midcareer Award, Society of Academic Emergency Medicine (2020) Momentum Leadership Award, Academy for Women in Emergency Medicine (2014) Best Clinical Science Research Award, Resident Category (2005) Dr. Safdar is deeply committed to mentorship and faculty development. She mentors medical students, residents, fellows, and junior faculty and led the national organization AWAEM as President. She has secured grants from the NIH, CDC, and foundations to support her research and leadership programs. She champions equitable clinical and academic systems, advocating for transparent advancement and compensation practices in emergency medicine. She leads the Safdar Lab, which conducts interdisciplinary research on sex and gender-specific microvascular health, collaborating with experts in cardiology, neurology, epidemiology, and biomedical data science. The lab leverages clinical data, biorepositories, and advanced analytics to drive innovation in women’s health and emergency care.
Marco Pizzolato is an Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), specializing in Visual Computing with a focus on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), particularly diffusion MRI and biophysical modeling. He is also affiliated with the inter-departmental Microstructure & Plasticity (MAP) research group and has held visiting positions at the University of Verona, EPFL, and DRCMR. His educational background includes a PhD in Signal and Image Processing from INRIA Sophia Antipolis, a Master’s in Bioengineering from the University of Padua, and a Bachelor’s in Biomedical Engineering from the same institution. He previously served as an Assistant Professor at DTU and was a postdoctoral researcher under the Marie Curie COFUND Eurotech programme. Dr. Pizzolato's research centers on image and signal denoising, inverse problems, optimization, diffusion MRI, tractography, and Monte Carlo simulations. He actively contributes to the development of microstructural models for brain imaging, with applications in neurodegenerative diseases and brain connectivity. His work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in advancing education and health through imaging technology. The recent publications reflect a strong trend in advancing diffusion MRI techniques, including ACID imaging, microscopic propagator modeling, myelin integrity mapping, and multi-scale white matter organization. These works emphasize biophysical accuracy, model validation, and integration across imaging modalities and species. Magna Cum Laude , ISMRM 2020 Magna Cum Laude , ISMRM 2022 First Place , Macaque Validation Challenge at ISBI 2018 First Place (Overall and HCP) , IronTrack Challenge 2019 (MICCAI) MICCAI Student Travel Award 2015 He has supervised PhD students such as Thøgersen, T. L. and Corral Bolaños, M. in projects related to microstructure MR imaging and myelin mapping. He has also been involved in significant grants and collaborative projects, including the Multimodal Microstructure-Informed Connectivity (MMINCARAV) initiative between Inria and EPFL, and the Sinergia consortium for Brain Communication Pathways . He co-organized multiple international events, including the MICCAI CDMRI workshops and challenges (2019–2021), and the ESMRMB Leaps in Microstructure Imaging workshop (2024). Dr. Pizzolato is an active member of the scientific community, serving as an editor for MICCAI workshop proceedings, a reviewer for major journals and conferences, and an invited speaker at ISMRM 2025. He leads and participates in several ongoing research projects at DTU focused on quantitative imaging, myelin mapping, and MRI-based connectivity, demonstrating sustained research leadership and external funding success.
Svetlana Lajic is an Adjunct Professor in Pediatric Endocrinology and Inherited Metabolic Diseases at the Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet , and a Senior Consultant at Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. She serves as the European Pediatric Chair for the adrenal thematic group in Endo ERN and contributes to the Swedish Pediatric Association as Treasurer. Her research focuses on cognitive functioning and brain development in individuals with rare endocrine disorders, including Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) and Addison's Disease , investigating the long-term effects of prenatal dexamethasone treatment and epigenetic alterations . She leads studies on metabolic outcomes, neural connectivity, and quality of life in patients with inborn errors of metabolism (IEM). Key Research Areas: Cognitive and brain development in CAH and Addison's Prenatal dexamethasone treatment safety Epigenetic effects of glucocorticoid exposure Neonatal screening for IEM Clinical Roles: Senior Consultant, Pediatric Endocrinology European Pediatric Chair, Endo ERN adrenal group
Joana Braga Pereira is an Associate Professor (Docent in Neurosciences) and Principal Researcher at the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, where she leads the Brain Connectomics research group. Her work focuses on brain connectivity measures derived from structural MRI, functional MRI, diffusion tensor imaging, and other neuroimaging modalities in patients with neurodegenerative disorders. Education: Docent in Neurosciences, Karolinska Institutet, 2021 PhD in Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, 2012 Master in Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, 2008 Postdoctoral Fellow in Neuroimaging, Karolinska Institute, 2017 Dr. Pereira's research focuses on understanding brain connectivity and network topology in neurodegenerative disorders, particularly Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Her work integrates multiple neuroimaging modalities with biomarker analysis to identify early signs of disease and track progression. She specializes in applying graph theory, deep learning, and novel imaging sequences to analyze complex brain networks and develop precision medicine approaches. Her research spans multimodal brain connectivity, dynamic brain connectivity, functional gradients, and proteomics to understand disease mechanisms. Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on computational approaches to understanding neurodegenerative diseases, with particular emphasis on the relationship between brain connectivity patterns, biomarkers, and clinical outcomes across aging and various neurological conditions. She has pioneered methods like delayed correlation-based approaches for dynamic connectivity analysis and developed BRAPH 2.0 software for brain connectivity analysis. Scientific Awards and Grants: Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowship Swedish Research Council Alzheimerfonden Hjärnfonden StratNeuro New Technologies Grant 2025 Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research Senior Research Faculty Position Dr. Pereira actively mentors the next generation of neuroscientists, currently supervising 3 PhD students and 3 postdoctoral researchers, with additional co-supervision of 4 PhD students from other institutions. She has successfully guided 4 PhD students to completion of their theses. She also organizes the yearly conference 'Emerging Topics in Artificial Intelligence' since 2020. She leads the Brain Connectomics research group, which is part of the Department of Clinical Neuroscience at Karolinska Institutet. The group is highly interdisciplinary, combining expertise from medicine, engineering, physics, and computer science to tackle complex questions in neuroscience. The group has developed BRAPH 2.0, a comprehensive software for brain connectivity analysis using graph theory and deep learning.
Gordon G is a researcher with a focus on neuroscience, neurobiology, and neurovascular coupling. His work explores astrocyte function, cilia signaling, and stress impacts on synaptic plasticity, as evidenced by publications in journals like Nature Neuroscience and Nature Communications . Collaborations span institutions in Canada, the U.S., and Germany. Research Interests Neuroscience Neurovascular Coupling Astrocyte Signaling Metabolic Regulation Stress-Induced Neurological Impairment Computational Antibody Design Recent Article Trends His 2024-2025 studies highlight primary cilia in astrocytes, lactate biosensors for brain imaging, and computational antibody humanization. Earlier works (2020-2023) address stress-related synaptic plasticity and cerebrovascular dysfunction linked to CD2AP deficiency.
Lijing Xin is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Physics and a research staff scientist at the Center for Biomedical Imaging (CIBM) at Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland. She teaches courses on Biomedical Imaging and Translational MR Neuroimaging, while also contributing to academic administration. PhD in Physics (2010, EPFL) Master's Project (2002-2005) on MRI instrumentation Her research focuses on high-field magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and MRI for studying brain function and neurological diseases. She develops novel acquisition and quantification methods for 1 H, 13 C, and 31 P nuclei, particularly on 7T clinical platforms . Her work bridges preclinical and clinical research , with collaborations in psychiatry to explore pathophysiology and biomarkers for disorders like schizophrenia and mood disorders. Recent publications include studies on epilepsy , Alzheimer's disease , brain energy metabolism , and neurochemical profiling using advanced MRS and deep learning for psychosis classification. She has contributed to RF coil design , macromolecule suppression , and metabolic pathway analysis across multiple disciplines. She advises PhD students and collaborates on interdisciplinary projects involving neuroimaging hardware , metabolic disease research , and psychiatric biomarker identification . Her lab at EPFL CIBM-AIT develops cutting-edge techniques for high-resolution brain metabolism analysis and clinical translation .
Jed Elison is a Professor at the Institute of Child Development within the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota . He is renowned for his work in developmental social neuroscience, focusing on neural mechanisms of early social communication and autism pathogenesis. He serves as a co-investigator for the Infant Brain Imaging Study (IBIS) , funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development , and contributes to major neuroimaging projects like the UNC/UMN Baby Connectome Project (BCP) . BA , Psychology and English, University of Utah (2005) PhD , Psychology, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill (2011) Postdoc , Social Neuroscience, California Institute of Technology (2013) Elison’s research centers on developmental social neuroscience, structural brain development, social cognition, and early autism identification using neuroimaging (MRI, DWI). His work explores how visual attention and white matter organization influence social communication in infants and toddlers, with implications for autism and emerging psychopathology. Recent publications emphasize longitudinal trajectories of gestural language, brain-behavior associations, and neurodevelopmental heterogeneity. His scientific accolades include the Irving B. Harris Professor of Child Development and Distinguished McKnight University Professor titles. Elison actively mentors graduate students and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams in the Cognition and Neurodevelopmental Studies Lab .
Shahriar Mobashery is the Navari Family Professor in Life Sciences at the University of Notre Dame, where he has been since 2003. He previously held academic positions at Wayne State University from 1989 to 2003, progressing from Assistant to Professor. Education : Ph.D. in Chemistry (1985), University of Chicago B.S. in Chemistry (1981), University of Southern California B.S. in Biological Sciences (1980), University of Southern California Research Focus : The Mobashery laboratory integrates computation, biochemistry, molecular biology, and organic synthesis to address critical clinical challenges. Key areas include: Elucidating mechanisms of resistance to β-lactam antibiotics in pathogens like MRSA and Pseudomonas aeruginosa Bacterial cell wall biosynthesis and recycling Discovery of novel antibacterials through enzyme inhibition studies Investigating extracellular matrix (ECM) dysregulation in diabetes, pulmonary fibrosis, traumatic-brain injury, and stroke Publications Trends : Recent work focuses on structural characterization of bacterial enzymes (e.g., VldE, MltD, SleC) and their inhibition strategies. These studies span chemical biology, microbiology, and structural enzymology, particularly targeting antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Scientific Recognition : Emil Thomas Kaiser Award (2019) Astellas USA Foundation Award (2007) Fellow of AAAS (2007) and Science Without Borders, Brazil (2014-2016) Charles H. Gershenson Distinguished Faculty Fellow (1999-2001) University of Notre Dame Research Achievement Award (2012) Collaborative Network : Active in multidisciplinary research with collaborators like Prof. Juan A. Hermoso (structural biology) and Prof. James F. Fisher (antibiotic resistance). His lab works with graduate students on bacterial pathogenesis and ECM-related diseases.
Christopher Navara is a Professor of Research in the Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), within the College of Sciences. He serves as the Director of the UTSA Stem Cell Core, a central facility supporting stem cell research across the institution and beyond. His work bridges basic science and translational applications in regenerative medicine. Dr. Navara holds a Ph.D. and B.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Prior to joining UTSA in 2008, he was the Director of the Stem Cell Core at the Pittsburgh Development Center, Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh Medical School. His research focuses on the cellular biology of pluripotent stem cells, particularly in modeling neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. He utilizes both human and non-human primate stem cells to derive functional neuronal subtypes, such as dopaminergic neurons, and tests potential therapies in preclinical settings. His interests include cell cycle regulation, mesenchymal stem cell differentiation, and organoid development. Emerging technologies like CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing and 3D organoids are integrated into his work. The recent publications reflect a strong trend in human pluripotent stem cell differentiation toward functional neuronal phenotypes, with emphasis on electrophysiological validation and disease modeling. His 2016 study demonstrated fully functional dopaminergic neurons derived from iPSCs, expressing key neuronal markers and exhibiting physiological activity. Director, UTSA Stem Cell Core Faculty member, Brain Health Consortium Provider of training courses in human pluripotent stem cells Facilitator of IRB-approved patient sample acquisition and stem cell derivation for collaborative research Dr. Navara leads a core facility that supports numerous grants and collaborative projects, enabling researchers to access stem cell technologies, gene editing, and differentiation protocols. The Stem Cell Core operates with established fee structures for UT and non-UT system users and provides comprehensive services from reprogramming to organoid generation. The core is equipped with advanced instrumentation including confocal microscopy, electrophysiology systems, nucleofection, ultracentrifugation, and biorepository software (Freezerworks), supporting a wide range of experimental workflows.
