Masaki Nishida is a Professor at the Faculty of Sport Sciences , Waseda University, and Vice President of the Health Support Center at the same institution. He also serves as Chief of the Sleep Research Institute . His research bridges Sleep Science , Sports Medicine , and Clinical Psychiatry , with a focus on the interplay between sleep, cognitive function, and athletic performance. Education: Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Faculty of Medicine (1996) His work has significantly advanced understanding of napping interventions for athletes, sleep quality in competitive divers, and neurophysiological mechanisms linking sleep spindles to memory consolidation. Current research projects include a 2024-2027 study on functional bedding effects funded by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Scientific awards include the 15th Japanese Society of Sleep Research Encouragement Award (2010) and the 88th Japanese Society for Occupational Health Award (2015). His publications span topics like REM sleep's role in emotional memory , sleep inertia , and motor adaptation , with recent emphasis on international sports psychiatry standards . He actively contributes to professional societies including the Japanese Association of Sports Psychiatry (Chairman) and Society for Neuroscience .
Colin J Akerman is Professor of Neuroscience and Group Leader in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Oxford, concurrently serving as Corange Fellow and Medical Tutor at Corpus Christi College. His research investigates fundamental mechanisms of synaptic circuit formation and plasticity, with direct implications for epilepsy, dementia, and schizophrenia through multidisciplinary approaches integrating electrophysiology, optical imaging, and computational modeling. His primary research interests encompass Synaptic Plasticity, Neural Circuit Formation, and Excitatory-Inhibitory Balance, with specific focus on neuronal progenitor influences on connectivity, chloride dynamics in inhibitory transmission, and learning mechanisms in disease contexts. The lab employs custom-built equipment and molecular tools to probe synaptic function across in vivo , in vitro , and in silico platforms, emphasizing how activity-dependent processes shape neural networks during development and disease. Recent publications (2023-2025) reveal strong thematic convergence on intracellular chloride regulation in sleep-wake cycles, cortical circuit assembly from embryonic progenitors, and innovative optical tools for neural monitoring. This work bridges molecular neuroscience with systems-level understanding of synaptic plasticity, particularly regarding ionic mechanisms in epilepsy and sleep homeostasis. No scientific awards or fellowships are explicitly documented in the source materials. Professor Akerman currently mentors four PhD students (Vourvoukelis, Selfe, Wang, Gemayel) and multiple postdoctoral researchers, having previously trained scientists now leading independent groups in Toronto, Edinburgh, Cape Town, Oxford, and London. His research is funded by the European Research Council, Innovative Medicines Initiative, and Wellcome Trust, supporting investigations into synaptic mechanisms underlying neurological disorders. The Akerman Group, established in 2008, operates as an integrative neuroscience hub within Oxford's Pharmacology Department. The 10-member team combines expertise in patch-clamp electrophysiology, optogenetics, multiphoton imaging, and computational modeling, with current projects spanning neuronal progenitor biology, inhibitory synaptic plasticity, and learning rule implementation in neural networks. The lab emphasizes technical innovation, regularly developing custom instrumentation and molecular tools for neural observation and manipulation.
Xenophon Papademetris is a Professor of Biomedical Informatics & Data Science and Radiology & Biomedical Imaging at Yale School of Medicine. He serves as Associate Director of Biomedical Imaging Data Sciences at Yale Biomedical Imaging Institute and directs the Medical Software and Medical Artificial Intelligence Certificate Program. PhD in Electrical and Information Sciences from Yale University (2000) BA from Cambridge University (1994) Postdoctoral Fellowship at Yale University (2002) His research focuses on medical image analysis, machine learning, and biomedical software development. He has developed tools like BioImage Suite Web and contributed to standards committees at the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI). His work spans modalities including MRI, CT, PET, and optical imaging. Recent publications emphasize neuroimaging analysis, explainable AI in healthcare, and multimodal data integration across species. He leads NIH-funded research under the BRAIN Initiative (R24 MH114805) and has authored a textbook on Medical Software published by Cambridge University Press. IEEE Senior Member Yale Brown-Coxe Postdoctoral Fellowship Harding Bliss Prize for Excellence in Engineering He directs the BioImage Suite Project, creating web-based image analysis tools using JavaScript and WebAssembly. His teaching includes both academic courses and a Coursera program on Medical Software with over 14,000 enrollments.
Dr. Nancy L. Sin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology within the Faculty of Arts at the University of British Columbia. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in health psychology and supervises students at multiple levels. She is Co-Chair of the Antiracism Task Force for the Society for Biopsychosocial Science and Medicine and a member of the Steering Committee at the UBC Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging. Previously, she served on the Executive Committee for the American Psychological Association's Division on Adult Development and Aging and established the Diversity Mentorship Program. PhD, University of California, Riverside, 2012 Dr. Sin's research focuses on biological and behavioural pathways linking daily well-being and stress to health. Her work demonstrates that emotional responses to daily stressors are associated with inflammatory, neuroendocrine, and autonomic mechanisms implicated in aging-related conditions like cardiovascular disease. She investigates daily positive events as protective factors for stress processes and health, with particular interest in emotional well-being and aging, stress-sleep cycles, and health equity. Her research spans multiple disciplines including health psychology, gerontology, and social psychology. Analysis of Dr. Sin's recent publications reveals consistent focus on daily stress processes, positive emotions, and health outcomes across the lifespan. Her work increasingly examines pandemic-related stressors, social determinants of health, and health disparities, with strong emphasis on methodological rigor through daily diary and longitudinal approaches. The publications demonstrate interdisciplinary collaboration across psychology, public health, and medicine, with growing attention to diversity, equity, and inclusion in health research. Distinguished Alumni Award, Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside (2025) Fellow, Gerontological Society of America (2025) Innovative Research on Aging Award (Bronze Award) from the Mather Institute (2021) Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Scholar (2020) Springer Early Career Achievement Award in Research on Adult Development and Aging (2019) Gerontological Society of America's Behavioral and Social Sciences Student Research Award Editor's Choice article at Annals of Behavioral Medicine Dr. Sin actively supervises undergraduate, MA, and PhD students, with a current focus on Health Psychology graduate students specializing in adult development and aging, stress, and health equity/disparities. Her research has been supported by significant grants as PI or Co-I from the U.S. National Institute on Aging, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Canada Foundation for Innovation, and the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research. She has established a strong research program examining daily experiences and their health implications across adulthood. Dr. Sin directs the UPLIFT Health Lab (Understanding Pathways Linking Inter- and Intraindividual Factors To Health), which explores psychosocial well-being and biobehavioural mechanisms underlying healthy aging. The lab investigates how daily positive events promote health through lower inflammation, adaptive cortisol profiles, and better health behaviors, with particular attention to how positive emotions buffer stress processes. The lab actively recruits community participants for studies on daily experiences and health, contributing to intervention development for promoting psychological and physical well-being across adulthood.
Philip Gehrman is a Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and a clinical psychologist at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center . He directs the Sleep, Neurobiology and Psychopathology (SNaP) Lab , focusing on sleep-mental health interactions. Education : PhD in Psychology Key Research Areas : Sleep dysregulation in mental health, translational sleep research, genomics/metabolomics of insomnia, neuroplasticity in depression, CBT for sleep disorders His work spans clinical research and molecular investigations , including NIH-funded studies on genetic mechanisms and neural pathways of sleep disorders. Current projects involve: Telemedicine CBT for insomnia Wearable sleep monitoring in PTSD Slow-wave activity in depression CSF biomarkers for dementia Dr. Gehrman supervises graduate students and collaborates with multidisciplinary teams. His lab's publications highlight interdisciplinary approaches to sleep-mental health links.
Michelle CD Bridi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at West Virginia University School of Medicine , with a joint affiliation at the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute . Her research integrates synaptic plasticity , sleep physiology , and neurological conditions to investigate dynamic synaptic regulation under typical and atypical states. Education: BS , McGill University, 2006 PhD , University of Pennsylvania, 2013 Research Focus: The Bridi Lab explores how daily oscillations in excitation/inhibition (E/I) balance are disrupted in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) , aging , and post-stroke states . Current projects address: 1) synaptic adaptation to sleep/wake cycles, 2) E/I imbalance in neurodevelopmental disorders, and 3) molecular mechanisms maintaining neuronal firing rate homeostasis. Publication Trends: Recent work spans REM sleep plasticity , autism models , and neurodegenerative interventions , emphasizing synaptic oscillations , NMDA receptor pathways , and gene therapy applications. Collaborative efforts with Morgan Bridi's lab extend findings to stress and stroke contexts. Grants & Collaborations: Research is funded by NIH/NIGMS , BBRF , and NSF . The lab actively collaborates with cross-institutional teams and is recruiting postdocs and students for ongoing studies.
Brandon Weissbourd is an Assistant Professor in the Biology department at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and holds a joint appointment as an Investigator at the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory. He joined MIT in 2023 after completing a postdoctoral fellowship in the lab of David Anderson at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). Prior to that, he earned his PhD in Biology from Stanford University in 2016 under the mentorship of Liqun Luo, and a BA in Human Evolutionary Biology from Harvard University in 2009. His research interests encompass systems neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and molecular biology. He uses jellyfish models, such as Clytia hemisphaerica, to study the evolution and functional mechanisms of nervous systems. His work combines computational techniques like single-cell RNA-seq and advanced microscopy with traditional genetic and anatomical approaches to dissect neural circuits and their roles in behaviors like feeding and social interaction. Additionally, he has explored serotonin and noradrenaline systems in mammals, focusing on their heterogeneity and functional connectivity. Recent publications emphasize the utility of non-traditional model organisms for evolutionary studies and underscore his expertise in computational methods for neurobiological analysis. Earlier work includes groundbreaking studies on the dorsal raphe serotonin system and basal forebrain circuits governing sleep-wake cycles. No scientific awards or honors have been explicitly mentioned in the provided text. Weissbourd’s academic trajectory reflects a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary research, merging evolutionary, molecular, and systems-level perspectives to understand neural systems across species. His advising record is not detailed here, though he has been affiliated with prestigious research labs during his training. Current affiliations include the MIT Biology department and the Picower Institute, where he likely contributes to collaborative projects in systems and evolutionary neuroscience. Weissbourd’s work is grounded in experimental models such as Clytia medusa and mouse brain studies, enabling him to investigate both ancient nervous system architectures and modern mammalian neural pathways. His lab’s focus on functional genomics and circuit mapping positions him at the forefront of studies on neural diversity and evolutionary innovation.
Bärbel Finkenstädt Rand is a Senior Tutor at the Warwick Medical School , University of Warwick, with extensive research contributions at the intersection of statistics, machine learning, and biomedical sciences. Her work focuses on developing advanced methodologies for analyzing temporal and spatio-temporal data, particularly in circadian rhythms and disease dynamics. Research Themes : Bayesian inference, Hidden Markov Models, circadian rhythm stability, transcriptional bursting, and wearable sensor data analysis. Collaborations : Chronotherapy Group at Warwick, Université Paris-Saclay, and interdisciplinary teams across medicine, genetics, and computational biology. Publications reveal a strong emphasis on circadian health monitoring, gene expression dynamics, and epidemic modeling using stochastic frameworks. Her recent work prioritizes personalized medicine applications through telemonitored biomarkers and IoT platforms . Methodological Innovations include spline-based HMMs, distributed delay systems, and harmonic modeling for nonstationary time series. Applications span oncology, sleep medicine, and population ecology.
Professor Sander Nieuwenhuis (Leiden University) specializes in Cognitive Neuroscience of Decision Making through behavioral, EEG, and pharmacological approaches. His work bridges prefrontal cortex function and noradrenergic system mechanisms in human cognition. Studied cognitive psychology (Groningen) and earned PhD (Amsterdam, 2001) International experience: Cambridge University (visiting research), Princeton University (postdoc) Research focuses on noradrenaline's role in attention, decision-making, and cognitive control via: Locus coeruleus-norepinephrine system dynamics Phasic vs. tonic alertness effects Cognitive task performance under neuromodulator deficiency Neuroprotective pathways in Alzheimer's models Recent publications analyze DBH deficiency (Jepma et al., 2011) and attentional blink mechanisms (Nieuwenhuis et al., 2005). His Temporal Attention Lab integrates fMRI, genetics, and computational modeling . Teaching leadership includes: Chair of Research Master Program Committee Coordinator of Scientific Writing courses
Jessica A. Mong, PhD , is a Professor in the Department of Pharmacology & Physiology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine , where she also serves as Assistant Dean for Graduate & Post-Doctoral Studies and Director of Graduate Education for the Program in Neuroscience. Her research focuses on the neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying sex differences in sleep circuitry and the estrogenic modulation of sleep-wake cycles. Primary Appointment: Pharmacology & Physiology Administrative Title: Assistant Dean for Graduate & Post-Doctoral Studies Laboratory Director: Program in Neuroscience Research Interests: Dr. Mong's work investigates how ovarian steroids influence sleep-wake behavior through sexually differentiated neuroanatomical substrates. Key areas include: Mechanisms of estrogenic modulation in the median preoptic nucleus (MnPN) Developmental programming of sex differences in sleep sensitivity Translational studies using rodent and nonhuman primate models of menopause Functional significance of hormonal influences on sleep quality and recovery Scientific Trends: Her recent publications (2023-2025) emphasize: Role of KCNMA1 channelopathy in sleep regulation Adenosinergic signaling in MnPN Translational menopause models Estrogen's protective effects against noise-induced hearing loss Sex-dependent responses to kynurenine pathway challenges Awards & Appointments: NIH BIRCWH Scholar (Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health) Co-Chair, Society for Women’s Health Research Interdisciplinary Research Network on Sex-Differences in Sleep Health NIH/NHLBI R01 HL129138 grant recipient Education & Training: B.S., Biology, Gettysburg College (1987-1991) Ph.D., Neuropharmacology, University of Maryland Baltimore (1994-2000) NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship in Endocrinology, Rockefeller University (2000-2003)
Dr. Mathias Basner is a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine , where he directs both the Behavioral Regulation & Health Section and the Unit for Experimental Psychiatry within the Division of Sleep and Chronobiology . With dual appointments in Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine, his research bridges aerospace, urban, and clinical environments to study neurobehavioral consequences of sleep loss and noise exposure. Education: MD (1999), PhD in Research (2001) from University of Bochum; MSc in Epidemiology (2006) from University of Bielefeld Key Research Areas: Sleep deprivation effects, environmental noise impacts, astronaut behavioral health, and cognitive performance assessment Research Trends: Using field studies, space analog environments, and large datasets like the American Time Use Survey, Dr. Basner examines sleep-wake cycles, noise-induced stress responses, and cognitive adaptation in extreme environments. His work informs WHO guidelines, FAA policies, and NASA's Mars mission planning. Scientific Recognition: International Space Station Innovation Award (2018) Journal Publication Award for Outstanding Space Medicine Article (2016) Consultant for WHO, ICAO, and FAA noise/sleep guidelines Professional Contributions: Senior Associate Editor for Sleep Health and Frontiers in Physiology , developer of the PVT-B and Cognition test battery for NASA, and principal investigator in major studies including the TWINS study and Inspiration 4 mission.
Prof. Sophie Schwartz is a leading neuroscientist at the University of Geneva , where she heads the Sleep & Cognition Lab within the Faculty of Medicine . Her research integrates neuroimaging (fMRI, hd-EEG, MEG) , behavioral testing , and computational modeling to unravel the neural mechanisms underlying memory consolidation , emotion processing , and dreaming during sleep, while also developing clinical interventions to enhance sleep in neurological and psychiatric disorders.
Janet Best is a Professor of Mathematics at The Ohio State University and Co-Director of the Mathematical Biosciences Institute (MBI). She holds a PhD in Mathematics from Cornell University (2004) and specializes in mathematical modeling of physiological systems. Education PhD in Mathematics, Cornell University, 2004 Her research focuses on nonlinear dynamics and bifurcation theory applied to brain physiology , including neuronal biophysics, neurotransmitter regulation (serotonin, dopamine), sleep-wake cycles, and homeostatic mechanisms in disease dynamics. She actively contributes to mathematical biology through editorial and professional service roles. Scientific recognition : NSF CAREER award Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellowship She has secured research funding from AFOSR, NIH, and NSF, and collaborates with professional societies like SIAM and the Society for Mathematical Biology.
Robert Vertes is a Professor at Florida Atlantic University's Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, based in Boca Raton (BS-12 521) with contact number 561-297-2362 and email rvertes@fau.edu. He holds a Ph.D. from The New School in New York, NY. Vertes's research centers on the midline thalamus (particularly nucleus reuniens and supramammillary nucleus) and its critical roles in learning, memory, affective behavior, and sleep-wake regulation . His work examines brainstem-diencephalic-septohippocampal systems controlling hippocampal EEG states (theta/non-theta), functional interactions between hippocampus-medial prefrontal cortex-ventral midline thalamus, and serotonergic systems of the brainstem. He actively challenges theories about sleep's role in memory consolidation. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals consistent focus on nucleus reuniens as a critical bridge between hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, with demonstrated roles in anxiety, spatial working memory, and attentional signaling during sleep. His methodology combines electrophysiology, anatomical tracing, and behavioral assays in rat models, increasingly incorporating Cre+ strains for serotonergic pathway studies. No scientific awards were documented in the source material. Vertes maintains active mentorship through co-authored publications with researchers including Linley, S.B. and Viena, T.D. His lab conducts NIH-relevant neuroscience using lesion studies, electrophysiological recordings, and behavioral paradigms to investigate thalamic contributions to cognition. Current work emphasizes serotonergic regulation of limbic thalamic nuclei in affective processing. The laboratory operates within FAU's College of Science, specializing in thalamic circuitry with particular expertise in nucleus reuniens physiology and its modulation of hippocampal-prefrontal networks during cognitive and emotional tasks.
Simon Kyle is a Professor of Experimental and Clinical Sleep Research at the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (NDCN) , University of Oxford. He serves as Programme Director for the Oxford Online Programme in Sleep Medicine and Co-Director of the Experimental and Clinical Sleep Medicine group. He holds affiliations as an Honorary Member of the Department of Psychiatry and a Senior Research Fellow at Somerville College. Education : MA (First Class Hons.), PhD His research focuses on the aetiology and management of sleep disturbance , its interactions with mental health , and implications for neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. He investigates interventions like sleep restriction therapy and digital cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for insomnia, with work spanning clinical trials, neuroimaging, and population health studies. Recent publications highlight trends in sleep disorders (insomnia, circadian disruption), neurology (white matter integrity), and mental health (depression, emotion regulation). His team employs genome-wide association studies (GWAS), randomized controlled trials, and neuroimaging to advance sleep medicine. Research funding is provided by the NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre , Wellcome Trust, and UK government programmes (HTA, PGfAR, EME). Professor Kyle leads the Experimental and Clinical Sleep Medicine research group, contributing to clinical guidelines like the European Insomnia Guideline 2023 .
