Rebecca Saxe is the John W. Jarve (1978) Professor of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT and Associate Dean of the School of Science. She leads the SaxeLab, investigating how the brain constructs social cognition, particularly theory of mind—the ability to infer others' thoughts, intentions, and emotions. Her work integrates behavioral experiments, neuroimaging (fMRI), and computational modeling to explore social cognition across ages, from infants to adults. Research focuses include moral judgment, power dynamics, and how infants develop social understanding. She pioneered studies on the temporoparietal junction (TPJ) as a neural basis for thinking about others' mental states. Her TED Talk on 'How we read each other's minds' highlights this work's societal implications. Affiliations: McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT School of Science Key Themes: Social neuroscience, developmental cognition, computational models of mind Publications span over 15 years, emphasizing reproducible science and open data practices. Current projects include infant neuroimaging, virtual intergroup contact, and modeling emotion prediction via generative theory of mind frameworks.
Chelsea Ruth, MD, MSc, BSc, FRCPC, is an Associate Professor in Pediatrics and Child Health at the Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba. She is also the Medical Director of the St. Boniface Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Her research focuses on long-term outcomes of infants requiring NICU care, perinatal risk factors, social determinants of health, and maternal substance use. She leads studies at the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy and collaborates with groups like the LEOPARD, iMAPLES, INFORM RARE, and WiSDOM. Her work emphasizes First Nations health equity, particularly in diabetes and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Education: MD, University of Manitoba MSc (Medicine), University of Manitoba BSc (Medicine), University of Manitoba BSc, University of Manitoba Research Interests: Population Health and Epidemiology Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in High-Risk Infants Maternal Substance Use and Diabetes in Pregnancy First Nations Health Equity Recent Research Trends: Her articles analyze opioid use in pregnancy, neonatal outcomes linked to cesarean sections, and disparities in Bell’s palsy among First Nations populations with diabetes. She also explores antiseizure medication safety and the impact of parental separation post-preterm delivery. Labs/Teams: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, LEOPARD Group, iMAPLES, INFORM RARE, WiSDOM.
Douglas M. Teti is a Professor and Department Head in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at the College of Health and Human Development , The Pennsylvania State University. He also holds joint appointments as Professor of Psychology and Pediatrics. His research spans developmental science, focusing on infant and early child development, parenting practices, and the role of sleep in socioemotional and academic outcomes. Education : B.S. in Psychology, St. Joseph's College (1976) M.S. in General Experimental Psychology, Villanova University (1980) Ph.D. in General Psychology (Developmental Psychology), University of Vermont (1984) NIMH Post-Doctoral Fellow, University of Utah (1984-1986) Research Interests : Dr. Teti investigates the interplay between infant sleep and parenting quality , examining how these factors influence attachment security , behavioral competencies , and diurnal cortisol activity . His work emphasizes household chaos , parental mental health , and socioeconomic status in shaping child outcomes. He also explores coparenting dynamics and intervention strategies for improving family sleep practices and transition to kindergarten. Publications and Research Trends : Dr. Teti’s recent work focuses on Project SIESTA (sleep-attachment linkages), Project SIESTA-K (sleep in kindergarten adjustment), and Project SIESTA-FF (coparenting interventions). These studies, funded by the NICHD , utilize longitudinal designs and video-recorded parenting interactions to analyze bidirectional influences between biological factors and environmental contexts . Collaborative publications span journals like Pediatrics , Developmental Psychology , and Journal of Family Psychology , highlighting interdisciplinary approaches integrating Developmental Science , Sleep Medicine , and Family Systems . Grants and Affiliations : Principal Investigator on NICHD-funded R01 grants (R01HD052809, R01HD087266, R01HD088566) Affiliated with the Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center and Child Study Center at Penn State Laboratory and Collaboration : Dr. Teti’s lab trains graduate and undergraduate students in interdisciplinary research, fostering co-authorship opportunities and expertise in attachment theory , sleep assessment , and family dynamics . His team includes co-investigators from Penn State’s departments of HDFS , Psychology , and Pediatrics , as well as the University of California, Davis.
Dr Fiona Challacombe is a NIHR Clinical Lecturer and Senior Clinician at the Maudsley Centre for Anxiety Disorders and Trauma (CADAT), based at King’s College London’s Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN). She holds an academic position in the Department of Health Service & Population Research and specializes in perinatal mental health, particularly obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and anxiety disorders during pregnancy and postpartum periods. She completed her clinical psychology training at IoPPN in 2005 and earned a PhD from King’s College London in 2014, focusing on postpartum OCD. Her research interests include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) interventions for perinatal anxiety, maternal-infant interactions, and paternal mental health. She leads a sub-service at CADAT for parents with anxiety disorders and has published extensively on perinatal OCD, including a self-help book Break Free from OCD . Dr Challacombe is also a patron of the charity Maternal OCD, advocating for awareness among professionals and service users. She provides national training on perinatal mental health to IAPT services and has secured grants from NIHR and the Maudsley Charity for studies on anxiety treatments and paternal perinatal depression. Her work emphasizes translational research, bridging clinical practice and academic inquiry.
George Malcolm is an Associate Professor in Psychology at the School of Psychology, University of East Anglia (UEA), where he has been since 2016. His research focuses on visual attention, scene understanding, and developmental aspects of perception. He is a member of the Cognition, Action and Perception and Developmental Science research groups. He is currently accepting PhD students and welcomes research assistants to join his lab. Undergraduate: University of St Andrews Master’s: University of York PhD: University of Edinburgh Dr Malcolm's research centers on how humans convert visual input into meaningful scene categories and use this information to guide eye movements. He investigates differences between adult and child visual processing, particularly in rapid scene categorization and attentional allocation. His work employs eye-tracking, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), virtual reality (VR), and drawing tasks to explore high-level vision and perception. The recent publications highlight a strong trend in understanding how semantic relationships between scenes and objects influence attention, both in adults and young children. There is a growing focus on developmental visual cognition, including studies on infants and children. His work increasingly integrates crossmodal and real-world contexts, emphasizing ecological validity in attentional research. Dr Malcolm has contributed to several collaborative research projects, including an ongoing project titled 'Autism and Biophilia: The impact of natural scenes on anxiety.' He has held administrative roles such as Communications Director and Deputy Research Director, and is actively involved in public engagement through social media. He leads an active research lab and collaborates with institutions such as the University of Essex and Aitrak. His work contributes to broader scientific understanding in cognitive psychology and has implications for neurodevelopmental conditions and human-computer interaction.
Dr. Pauline Scanlan is a Lecturer in the School of Microbiology at University College Cork (UCC), leading the Scanlan Lab at the APC Microbiome Ireland research institute. Her research focuses on the ecology and evolution of the human gut microbiome, including antimicrobial resistance (AMR), bacteria-phage coevolution, and protist diversity. She holds a Royal Society-Science Foundation Ireland University Research Fellowship and previously worked at the University of Oxford and Teagasc. Education : B.Sc. (Plant and Microbial Biotechnology), UCC, 2002 Ph.D. (Medicine), UCC, 2007 Research Interests : Dr. Scanlan investigates how gut microbiota evolve in response to antibiotics, biotic interactions, and environmental factors. Key areas include AMR evolution, phage-bacteria dynamics, Blastocystis prevalence, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) associations. Articles : Her recent work highlights antibiotic impacts on gut microbiota stability, phage-bacteria coexistence mechanisms, and protist diversity in health. Themes include microbial adaptation, community resilience, and evolutionary trade-offs in the gut ecosystem. Awards : Royal Society-Science Foundation Ireland University Research Fellowship (2015) Marie Curie Intra-European Research Fellowship Grants & Labs : The Scanlan Lab explores microbiome evolution using in vitro models and longitudinal human cohort studies. Active projects include IBD-related research and microbial coevolutionary dynamics.
Jon Skranes is a Professor and Chief Physician specializing in pediatrics at NTNU. He holds positions as Senior Consultant at Sørlandet Hospital HF and Head of the Habilitation Service for Children and Adolescents (HABU). His roles include leading the Pediatric Brain Research group within the Agder Brain Circuit (ABCDE) research cluster and serving on the board of FASD Alliance in Europe. His work focuses on neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants, cognitive deficits in pediatric populations, and neuroimaging applications in developmental medicine. Research interests emphasize brain structure-function relationships in children born preterm, including white matter development, cortical thickness trajectories, and long-term neurocognitive outcomes. He has pioneered studies on working memory training interventions for pediatric and elderly populations with cognitive impairments. Collaborations span institutions like Harvard Medical School and the University of Oslo, leveraging advanced neuroimaging techniques and genetic analyses. Publications (2016-2009) highlight work on neurodevelopmental origins of brain changes, preterm birth impacts on brain structure, and molecular genetics of cerebral palsy. His clinical contributions include establishing regional expertise centers for prenatal exposure disorders and evaluating digital health literacy tools for parents of sick children. Key roles: Research Group Leader, Clinical Neurologist, Academic Supervisor Research Foci: Prematurity effects, Neuroplasticity, Cognitive Rehabilitation Notable Projects: Memory Aid Study (working memory training), neonatal brain atlas development
Meredith A. B. Ellis, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Florida Atlantic University. She holds faculty affiliate status with the Peace, Justice, and Human Rights Initiative and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at FAU, reflecting her interdisciplinary engagement. Education: Ph.D. in Anthropology with Distinction, Syracuse University, 2014 M.A. in Anthropology, Syracuse University, 2011 M.A. in English, University of Rochester, 2005 B.A. in Anthropology and English, William Smith College, 2004 (Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa) Research Interests: Meredith Ellis specializes in bioarchaeology with a focus on the 19th century United States, particularly the skeletal remains of subadults (children). Her work lies at the intersection of the biological and the social, exploring how human skeletal systems embody social relationships, environmental conditions, and cultural norms. Key themes include social bioarchaeology, bioarchaeology of childhood, historical bioarchaeology, nutrition and disease (such as rickets and scurvy), trauma, and identity formation. She employs skeletal analysis, archival research, and historical archaeology to reconstruct life histories from the past. Publication Trends: Her recent publications (2010–2024) reveal a consistent focus on childhood in historical contexts, particularly through the Spring Street Presbyterian Church collection and the 1928 Lake Okeechobee Hurricane victims. Her work increasingly explores theoretical dimensions of identity, memory, and embodiment, integrating interdisciplinary perspectives. The articles span bioarchaeology, historical archaeology, paleopathology, and cultural theory, demonstrating a sophisticated blending of empirical analysis and social theory. Scientific Awards: Syracuse University All-University Doctoral Prize, 2015 Advising and Grants: While specific students and grants are not listed, Dr. Ellis teaches graduate-level courses such as ANG 6905 Proposal Development and Writing and Directed Independent Study, indicating her active role in mentoring graduate students. Her research, including NAGPRA compliance work and projects on historical disasters, suggests involvement in externally funded research initiatives, though specific grants are not detailed in the provided texts. Labs and Research Groups: Dr. Ellis is affiliated with the Ethnography Lab at FAU. Her research draws on interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly in historical bioarchaeology and childhood studies, and she has co-edited volumes with scholars like Jane Eva Baxter, indicating active participation in academic networks and research communities.
Daniel K. Kido, MD, is a Professor in the Department of Radiology and the Radiation Research Division at the School of Medicine, Loma Linda University. He also serves as Vice Chair of Academic Affairs in Radiology, reflecting his leadership and administrative contributions to the institution. Doctor of Medicine, Loma Linda University, 1965 Bachelor of Arts, Pacific Union College, 1961 Dr. Kido's research focuses on advanced neuroimaging techniques, particularly susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI), with applications in cerebral microhemorrhages, brain iron metabolism, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and pediatric brain injury. His work bridges radiology and neuroscience, emphasizing the use of MRI to understand neurodegenerative and vascular pathologies. He has made significant contributions to the imaging of tethered spinal cord syndrome and hypoxic-ischemic injury in neonates. The trend in his recent publications (2010–2022) shows a sustained focus on quantitative susceptibility mapping, cerebral oxygenation, stroke imaging, and MRI biomarkers for cognitive decline. His research often involves multidisciplinary collaboration, particularly with experts in neurology, neuropathology, and biomedical engineering. Dr. Kido has served on various institutional committees, including the Promotions Committee, Intellectual Properties Committee, and Board of Trustees at Loma Linda University. He has also contributed to national organizations such as the Radiological Society of North America’s Ethics Committee. Committee Membership at Loma Linda University (2001–2012) Promotions Committee (2004–2011) Board of Trustees - LLUAHSC (2001–2007) Radiological Society of North America, Ethics Committee (2002–2005) While specific grant funding is not mentioned, his extensive publication record and long-term research activity suggest sustained research support. He has advised or collaborated with numerous researchers and clinicians, particularly in pediatric neuroimaging and neurodegeneration. Dr. Kido is also associated with the development and clinical application of advanced MRI techniques such as high-resolution blood oxygen-level dependent (HRBV) venography and SWI.
Susan C. J. Sumner is a Professor of Nutrition at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Gillings School of Global Public Health. She serves as Director of the Metabolomics and Exposome Laboratory (MEL) at UNC Chapel Hill and leads research initiatives in precision nutrition and personalized medicine. Her research spans maternal and child health, diabetes, toxicology, cancer, microbiome, and addiction, with a focus on using untargeted metabolomics/exposome technologies to identify biomarkers for disease detection and intervention strategies. She has received grants from NHLBI, NIGMS, NCI, NIDDK, and NIEHS. Mechanistic insights into environmental chemical metabolites Multi-omics approaches to obesity-related health outcomes Exposome analysis for lifespan health impacts Dr. Sumner earned her B.S. and Ph.D. in Chemistry from North Carolina State University, followed by postdoctoral research at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).
Dr. Deborah K. VanderVeen serves as Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School and practices at Boston Children's Hospital, where she directs both the Pediatric Cataract Service and Retinopathy of Prematurity Service. With clinical expertise spanning pediatric cataract surgery, retinopathy of prematurity, childhood glaucoma, and strabismus management, she provides comprehensive care across multiple locations including Boston and Waltham. Her educational background includes: Undergraduate studies at Kansas State University (1985) Medical degree from University of Kansas Medical Center (1993) Internship at University of Kansas Medical Center (1994) Residency at Boston University Medical School (1997) Fellowship at Boston Children's Hospital (1998) Dr. VanderVeen specializes in complex pediatric eye conditions including cortical visual impairment, ocular manifestations of genetic disorders (Marfan syndrome, neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis), and pediatric glaucoma. Board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, she provides care in both English and Spanish, serving a diverse patient population with conditions ranging from blocked tear ducts to severe retinopathy of prematurity. Her extensive publication record demonstrates a strong focus on developing evidence-based approaches for pediatric eye care, particularly in retinopathy of prematurity screening algorithms (FIRST-ROP, TWO-ROP), pediatric cataract outcomes through the Toddler Aphakia and Pseudophakia Study, and childhood glaucoma management. Recent work explores innovative applications of artificial intelligence for patient education and examines how socioeconomic factors influence visual outcomes in children. As Director of specialized clinical services at Boston Children's Hospital, Dr. VanderVeen leads teams dedicated to advancing care for children with complex eye conditions. Her work with national registries and contribution to American Academy of Ophthalmology guidelines demonstrates her leadership in shaping best practices for pediatric ophthalmology.
Michael Hindle is the Peter R. Byron Distinguished Professor and Interim Chair of the Department of Pharmaceutics at Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Pharmacy. He holds a pharmacy degree and Ph.D. in pharmaceutical technology from the University of Bradford, UK. His research specializes in developing aerosol drug delivery systems for challenging patient populations. Research interests include: Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling of aerosol deposition Dry powder inhaler design for pediatric and neonatal patients Synthetic lung surfactant formulations for respiratory distress syndrome Novel methods for nasal and pulmonary antibiotic delivery Nanoparticle formation techniques for inhalation therapies He leads the interdisciplinary Hindle Research Group, collaborating with VCU's Department of Mechanical Engineering. Current projects include developing dry powder surfactant aerosols for infants in low-resource settings (funded by Gates Foundation) and high-efficiency inhalers for pediatric cystic fibrosis patients (NIH/NICHD). Awards & Honors: Fellow, National Academy of Inventors (2023) 10 U.S. patents and 5 E.U. patents in aerosol delivery technology He serves on NIH study sections, editorial boards of Journal of Aerosol Medicine and AAPS PharmSciTech , and has secured funding from NIH, FDA, and pharmaceutical industry partners.
Katrine Lindholm Bøgh is a Professor and Head of the Research Group for Food Allergy at the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark (DTU). Her work focuses on developing diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic strategies for food allergies, with a specific emphasis on understanding how physicochemical properties of food proteins influence allergy development versus tolerance. She leads interdisciplinary research at the intersection of immunology, food science, and sustainable nutrition. Current affiliations: DTU National Food Institute, Research Group for Food Allergy Academic rank: Professor Her research integrates Food Allergy , Molecular Allergology , and Allergenicity Assessment to investigate immune mechanisms triggered by protein modifications (e.g., hydrolysis, heat treatment) and exposure routes. She has pioneered studies on Alternative Protein Sources like insect, rapeseed, and microalgae to evaluate allergenic risks in sustainable foods. Recent publications highlight trends in European Union novel food approvals (2025) and mechanistic insights into cow’s milk allergy models (2024). Key themes include Sublingual Immunotherapy , Brown Norway Rat Models , and Protein Processing Effects on allergenicity. She supervises PhD students Yue S.R. and Shafie B., and leads major projects like: ALLEVIATE2: Novel food allergy immunotherapy strategies ALLPreT: Allergenicity Prediction Toolbox for novel foods SAFEPRO: Sustainable protein sources for future diets Her work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 2, SDG 3), and she actively participates in international conferences and media outreach about food allergy risks in innovative protein sources.
Adrian P. Simpson is a full Professor of Speech Science at the Department of German Linguistics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, where he has held a professorship since 2003. He is a leading researcher in phonetics, with a focus on gender, spontaneous speech, and nonpulmonary sound production. He is affiliated with the International Phonetic Association (Council member), Acoustical Society of America, and other key academic organizations. Friedrich Schiller University Jena – Professor of Speech Science (2003–present) University of Kiel – Habilitation (1998), Scientific Assistant (1992–2001) University of York – DPhil (1992), BA Hons (1981–1985) Saarland University – Visiting Representative (1999) His research centers on the phonetic expression of gender , acoustic and articulatory analysis of speech , and nonpulmonary sound production such as ejectives in German and English. He investigates how social identity, sexual orientation, and developmental factors influence voice. His recent work emphasizes children's voices, parental speech adaptation, and cross-linguistic phonetics. His 15 most recent publications (2024–2019) reveal a consistent focus on sociophonetics, gender perception, and articulatory mechanisms. Themes include hormonal effects on voice, acoustic cues to gender and sexual orientation, and longitudinal studies of child speech. He frequently collaborates with Melanie Weirich, Riccarda Funk, and Sven Kachel. World's Top 2% Scientists 2021 (Scopus Stanford list) Simpson leads multiple funded projects on gender in children’s voices, ejective production, and infant-directed speech. He advises PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, and his lab at Jena is active in experimental phonetics and open data initiatives. He has contributed to major reference works and promotes open science in phonetics. He is involved in several research groups and collaborates internationally. His lab focuses on articulatory and acoustic analysis using ultrasound, acoustic modeling, and perception experiments. He advocates for open data policies and reproducibility in phonetic research.
David Moseley is a Clinical Associate Professor at Monash University's School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences. He serves as Clinical Lead in the AllPlay Child and Family Program, focusing on health, mental health, disability, and education. His work emphasizes flexible, co-designed psychological interventions for children and families. Graduate Diploma & Advanced Training in Infant & Parent Mental Health (2008) Doctor of Psychology (Clinical) in Child & Family (2008) Bachelor of Arts (Psychology Honours) (2003) David's research spans neurodevelopmental disorders, child development, parent-child attachment, and infant mental health. He leads clinical research projects like AllPlay Footy, AllPlay Dance, and studies on haptic music technology for autistic youth. His work aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goal for Education. His publications over 15 years include studies on autism-related psychiatric comorbidity, behavioral changes over time, and infant observation methodologies. These works highlight his expertise in clinical psychology, developmental disorders, and family-centered interventions. David is an Honorary Researcher at Monash Health, with ongoing clinical practice and leadership in professional training programs. He actively collaborates with multidisciplinary teams and contributes to public discourse through media engagements on autism strategies and mental health.
