Richard E. Carson is a Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Yale University, with additional appointments in Radiology & Biomedical Imaging. He leads the Yale Positron Emission Tomography Center, focusing on advancing PET imaging technologies and their clinical applications. His research integrates quantitative modeling, physics, and biology to measure in vivo physiology, particularly synaptic density, receptor binding, and metabolic processes in neuropsychiatric disorders, diabetes, cardiology, and oncology. Dr. Carson holds a Ph.D. from UCLA and has pioneered methods for tracer kinetic modeling, image reconstruction, and motion correction. His work with the NeuroEXPLORER PET scanner aims to revolutionize brain imaging with 10x higher sensitivity. Notable contributions include developing SV2A PET tracers for synaptic density quantification and establishing standardized nomenclature for PET biomarkers. His research spans from preclinical models to clinical trials, addressing Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, mood disorders, and cancer. Awards include the 2024 Image of the Year for groundbreaking brain imaging. Ongoing projects explore synaptic density’s role in depression, drug efficacy in neurodegenerative diseases, and novel radiopharmaceuticals for diabetes and oncology.
Professor Adnane Achour is a faculty member at Karolinska Institutet's Department of Medicine, Solna, leading the Structural and Biophysical Immunology research group. He obtained his PhD in 2001 from Karolinska Institutet, focusing on structural studies of MHC class I complexes. His research integrates structural biology, biophysics, and immunology to understand pathogen-derived virulence factors and design immunotherapeutic strategies. Key areas include MHC-peptide interactions, SARS-CoV-2 mechanisms, and vaccine development. He has held senior positions, including a Swedish Research Council Rådsforkare (2008–2014), and directs a national mass-cytometry platform. His work spans over 150 publications, with recent focus on viral immune escape, cancer immunotherapy, and structural insights into protein dynamics.
Sylvia Villeneuve is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at McGill University and holds the Canada Research Chair in Early Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease (Tier 2). She leads the Multimodal imaging of the aging brain lab at the Douglas Research Centre, affiliated with the Aging, Cognition, and Alzheimer’s Disease theme-based group. Her research focuses on using MRI and PET neuroimaging to identify cerebral markers for early Alzheimer’s disease detection, study disease mechanisms, and assess risk/protective factors like vascular health and nutrition. Education: PhD from Université de Montréal (2011), followed by postdoctoral fellowships at UC Berkeley (2011–2014) and Northwestern University (2014–2015). She joined McGill in 2015 and is a member of the Ordre des Psychologues du Québec. Research Interests : Alzheimer’s early detection, multimodal neuroimaging (MRI/PET), biomarker development, vascular-cognitive interactions, and preclinical disease progression. Her lab integrates structural/functional imaging, amyloid/tau PET, neuropsychological testing, and vascular assessments to track disease trajectories. Key Achievements : Over 40 peer-reviewed publications, including high-impact studies in Brain and JAMA Neurology . Recognized with awards such as the Human Amyloid Imaging Young Investigator Award (2014) and CIHR Brain Star Award (2012). Leads the PREVENT-AD Cohort and recent grants include Weston funding for sleep-Alzheimer’s links (2024). Team : Supervises graduate students Alexa Pichet Binette and Jacob Vogel. Collaborates on initiatives like the Stop-AD Centre (FRQ-funded) and SCARF2 biomarker studies.
Professor Hong Wei Dong is a faculty member in the Department of Neurobiology at the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). His research focuses on creating comprehensive connectome maps of the C57Bl/6 mouse brain to understand functional network organization and behavioral output mechanisms. He integrates Connectomics Genetics 3D high-resolution imaging Artificial intelligence to explore the fundamental architecture of the central nervous system. Key research directions include: Classification of mouse brain/spinal cord cell types through anatomic, molecular, and physiological properties Development of microscopy/histological technologies for human brain mapping at axonal resolution Application to neurodegenerative disease models (Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s) Recent publications highlight his work on: Visceromotor cortex networks High-resolution brain atlases Thalamic subnetworks Neuronal diversity analysis Advanced image processing tools Transsynaptic tracing methodologies Awardeeship highlights: Suzanne Eaton Memorial Prize Taylor M. Brown Memorial Award His lab develops scalable technologies like Gossamer for petabyte-scale image processing and Morphohub for multi-morphometry generation, while maintaining affiliations with UCLA Brain Research & Artificial Intelligence Nexus (B.R.A.I.N.) and NIH T32 training grants.
Professor Jürgen Götz is the Foundation Chair of Dementia Research and Director of the Clem Jones Centre for Ageing and Dementia Research at the Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland. He holds an NHMRC Leadership Fellowship and leads the Ultrasound Team in dementia therapies. Previously, he was a Professor and Chair of Molecular Biology at the University of Sydney. His research focuses on Alzheimer’s disease mechanisms, including tau and amyloid-β pathologies, and innovative therapies like therapeutic ultrasound. He pioneered clinical trials of ultrasound-based treatments for dementia. Education: PhD in Immunology (University of Basel), postdoctoral training at UCSF and Sandoz Ltd (Novartis), and a Dr. habil. from the University of Zurich. Research Interests: Molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration, tau protein dynamics, therapeutic ultrasound for brain disorders, and translational medicine. His lab develops non-invasive ultrasound techniques to enhance drug delivery and restore cognitive function. Publications: Over 270 peer-reviewed articles, including high-impact journals like Science , Cell , and Lancet . Recent work emphasizes ultrasound’s role in clearing amyloid plaques and modulating tau pathology. Awards: Highly Cited Researcher (Clarivate), FAHMS, GAICD, and the Lesleigh Green Endowed Chair. His work has generated over 27,800 citations (h-index 86). Advising & Grants: Supervised numerous PhD candidates and leads grants in dementia and ultrasound therapies. Collaborates globally on clinical trials and preclinical models. Labs/Teams: Directs the Clem Jones Centre and oversees the Götz Lab, focusing on dementia’s molecular basis and therapeutic innovations.
Dr. Annalisa Paolino is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI), University of Queensland. Her research focuses on understanding the molecular and evolutionary mechanisms underlying brain development, with particular emphasis on cortical circuit formation and comparative neurobiology across mammals. She employs advanced genetic and transcriptomic techniques in both eutherian and marsupial models. Her work integrates developmental neurobiology, evolutionary biology, and molecular genetics to explore how conserved and divergent genetic programs shape cortical architecture and connectivity. Key themes include the timing of developmental processes, the evolution of interhemispheric brain connections, and the role of transcriptional networks in neuronal projection patterning. Dr. Paolino's recent studies highlight species-specific adaptations in corticothalamic pathways and the emergence of region-specific cortical activity patterns during early ontogeny. Her findings contribute to understanding both normal brain development and potential mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders.
Stephanie Ann White, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology at the University of California Los Angeles, where she holds the prestigious William Scheibel Chair in Neuroscience. Her research focuses on the neural and genetic mechanisms of vocal learning, using songbirds as a model system to understand human speech and language development. Dr. White's research interests center on vocal learning and the neural circuits that support this complex behavior. Her work investigates the role of specific genes, particularly FOXP2, in vocal learning and communication. She examines how neural circuits in songbirds develop and function during vocal learning, with implications for understanding human speech disorders. Her research bridges molecular genetics, systems neuroscience, and behavioral analysis to uncover fundamental principles of vocal communication across species. Analysis of Dr. White's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on vocal learning mechanisms, with particular emphasis on FOXP2 gene regulation and its role in neural circuits for vocal communication. Her work spans multiple levels of analysis from molecular genetics to systems neuroscience and behavior, often using zebra finches as a model system. Recent publications show increasing integration of genomic approaches with behavioral analysis, and expansion into related areas such as neurodevelopmental disorders and the effects of environmental factors on vocal learning. Dr. White has received significant recognition for her work, most notably through her appointment to the William Scheibel Chair in Neuroscience. Her research has been supported by multiple NIH grants as Principal Investigator, including projects on spatial transcriptomics of basal ganglia, genetic mechanisms in Klinefelter Syndrome, Synaptotagmin 4 in vocal motor function, Cntnap2 in autism models, and the formation of circuitry for vocal learning. As Principal Investigator of The White Lab at UCLA, Dr. White leads a research team investigating the neural and genetic basis of vocal learning. Her laboratory combines molecular, genetic, neurophysiological, and behavioral approaches to study how vocal communication develops and is maintained in songbirds, with implications for human speech and language disorders.
Mark Gabriele is a Professor in the Department of Biology at James Madison University since 2001. He holds a PhD in Neurobiology and Anatomy from Wake Forest University School of Medicine (2000) and a BS in Biology from James Madison University (1995). His research focuses on understanding neural circuit assembly in developing sensory systems, particularly multisensory integration in the midbrain and its implications for neurodevelopmental disorders like autism spectrum disorders. He employs neuroanatomical, physiological, and behavioral approaches, combined with advanced microscopy techniques. Education : PhD in Neurobiology and Anatomy, Wake Forest University School of Medicine (2000) BS in Biology, James Madison University (1995) Research Interests : His lab investigates mechanisms guiding sensory circuit formation, including Eph-ephrin receptor interactions and microglial roles in shaping neural maps. Current projects examine microglial heterogeneity, synaptic pruning during critical periods, and the impact of fractalkine signaling on midbrain development. Teaching : Courses include Human Anatomy, Clinical Anatomy for Occupational Therapists, and Advanced Human Anatomy. Labs/Teams : Directs a research lab exploring neurodevelopmental mechanisms with a focus on sensory systems and microglial biology.
Dr. Peter Bergold is a Professor of Physiology and Pharmacology at SUNY-Downstate Health Sciences University. His research focuses on traumatic brain injury (TBI), neurodegeneration, and drug therapies targeting inflammation and neural repair. He has led the Graduate Program in Neural and Behavioral Sciences and has been recognized with the Chancellor’s Award for Teaching (2001). His work includes over 60 peer-reviewed publications and a U.S. patent on TBI treatment. Education: PhD in Molecular Biology from Weill-Cornell Medical College (1986) Postdoctoral Fellowship in Neuroscience at Columbia University (1986-1990) Research Interests: Pathophysiology and treatment of TBI, particularly chronic neurodegeneration post-injury Development of anti-inflammatory drug combinations (e.g., minocycline + N-acetylcysteine) Neuroprotection mechanisms and remyelination strategies Grants & Awards: Funded by NIH and Department of Defense Served on NIH and DoD grant review panels for TBI/PTSD Chancellor’s Award in Teaching (2001) Labs & Personnel: Led by Dr. Bergold, with postdoctoral fellow Dr. Elena Nikulina and graduate students Kristen Whitney and Karrah St. Laurent-Arriot Focus areas include TBI diagnosis, drug efficacy, and long-term outcomes
Todd Roberts is an academic researcher in the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. He holds a B.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, where his doctoral work focused on neuromodulatory circuits and vocal learning pathways. Postdoctoral training at Duke University Medical Center furthered his expertise in auditory memory encoding and neuroimaging techniques. His research investigates the neural mechanisms underlying vocal communication, particularly in songbirds, with a focus on how auditory experiences guide vocal learning through sensorimotor integration. Roberts' work integrates molecular, cellular, and systems-level approaches to study vocalization circuits, including the role of genes like FoxP1 and FoxP2 in autism-related vocal deficits. His lab explores neural plasticity during song learning and the evolutionary basis of vocal control systems. Key contributions include discoveries about basal ganglia circuits' role in vocal learning and the synaptic mechanisms supporting memory formation for vocal imitations. Publications highlight advancements in understanding auditory-motor transformations, the impact of dopamine systems on vocal behavior, and the application of deep learning tools like AVN for birdsong analysis. Roberts collaborates across disciplines to advance knowledge of neurodevelopmental disorders through avian models. His research has implications for therapeutic approaches targeting speech and communication impairments in humans.
Helmut Kramer is a Professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He joined the institution in 1993 after completing his Ph.D. at the University of Cologne and a postdoctoral fellowship at UCLA. His research focuses on molecular mechanisms of cellular stress responses, primarily using Drosophila models. Research Interests: Dr. Kramer's lab investigates three core areas: (1) Autophagy and Neurodegeneration, examining stress-induced cellular cleanup processes; (2) AMPylation and Neurotransmitter Recycling, exploring post-translational modifications and neuronal communication; and (3) Lysosomal Fusion and Immune Signaling, studying organelle dynamics and inflammatory pathways. Publication Trends: Recent articles (2012-2025) demonstrate a consistent focus on autophagy regulation, cellular stress adaptation, and neurodegeneration, with emphasis on Drosophila genetics, kinase/phosphatase mechanisms, and organelle dynamics. Key themes include phosphorylation-dependent signaling, endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis, and glial-neuronal interactions. Lab Leadership: Dr. Kramer directs an active research group at UT Southwestern investigating fundamental cell biological processes with implications for neurodegenerative diseases and cellular stress pathologies.
Laura Tamberg is a Research Fellow at Tallinn University of Technology’s School of Science, Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology. She holds a Doctoral Degree (2023) and Master’s Degree (2014) in Genetics and Molecular Biology from the same institution. Her research focuses on genetic regulation in neurological contexts, particularly studying the Drosophila Basic Helix-loop-helix Transcription Factor Daughterless and its mammalian homologue TCF4. Her work integrates developmental biology, molecular genetics, and neurobiology to understand gene expression in nervous system disorders. Notable contributions include modeling Pitt-Hopkins syndrome in Drosophila and analyzing BDNF receptor expression in mammals. She has received awards for her poster presentations and student research in genetics. Current projects involve gene regulation in intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorders, emphasizing transcription factors and neurotrophic pathways. Tamberg collaborates on initiatives like the Centre of Excellence for Genomics and Translational Medicine, focusing on clinical and molecular diagnostics in neurology. Her academic advising includes mentoring students in genetic and molecular research projects, though no specific advisees are listed in the provided texts. She is actively involved in grant-funded research, including studies on neuron-glia interactions and activity-dependent gene expression.
Bassel Sawaya, PhD, MS is a Professor at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine , Temple University , with affiliations to the Fels Cancer Institute for Personalized Medicine , Center for Substance Abuse Research , and Neural Sciences department. His research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of HIV-1 associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) in the HAART era. Research interests include: Neurotoxic effects of HIV-1 proteins (Tat, Vpr, gp120) MicroRNA regulation in neurodegeneration Metabolic reprogramming in viral pathogenesis Blood-brain barrier dysfunction Neuronal injury mechanisms Recent publications highlight: 2025 study on CK1δ-SNAPIN-lysosomal dysfunction in HAND 2023 discoveries on gp120-calcineurin pathway interactions 2022 work on metabolic shifts in neuroAIDS and SARS-CoV-2 2019-2013 investigations into Tat/Vpr neurotoxicity His lab employs molecular, virological, and cellular approaches to dissect HIV-1 pathogenesis. Current work explores therapeutic targets for HAND through microRNA and metabolic pathway modulation.
Botond Roska is a Professor at the Faculty of Science, University of Basel, Switzerland, and previously served as Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel since 2014. He is the Founding Director of the Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel (IOB), established in 2018. His academic career includes serving as Senior Group Leader (2010-2019) and Junior Group Leader (2005-2010) at the Friedrich Miescher Institute in Basel. Born in 1969 in Hungary, Roska obtained his M.D. at the Semmelweis Medical School, a Ph.D. in neurobiology from the University of California, Berkeley, and studied genetics and virology as a Harvard Society Fellow at Harvard University and Harvard Medical School. Dr. Roska's research focuses on understanding the visual system at the level of cell types and circuits, with particular emphasis on the retina, thalamus, and cortex. His work aims to find ways to repair visual dysfunction and restore vision in blind individuals. He investigates how the organization of cell types and circuits in the nervous system, when combined with cellular engineering, can be used to design new therapies to fight blindness. Analysis of Roska's recent publications reveals a strong focus on single-cell resolution studies of the retina, development of gene therapy approaches for vision restoration, and detailed mapping of visual neural circuits. His work spans multiple disciplines including neuroscience, ophthalmology, genetics, and molecular biology, with a clear translational focus toward developing treatments for visual impairments. Dr. Roska has received numerous prestigious awards throughout his career: 1997: Fulbright Fellow 2001: Bearden Memorial Award for Biophysics 2002: Harvard Junior Fellow 2006: Marie Curie Excellence Grant 2009: EMBO Young Investigator 2010: ERC Starting Grant and VIVA Award 2011: Alcon Award and EMBO membership 2013: Alfred Vogt Award 2015: ERC Advanced Grant 2016: Cogan Award 2018: Bressler Prize and Alden W. Spencer Award 2019: Louis-Jeantet Prize, Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary, Cloëtta Prize, and Semmelweis Budapest Award 2020: ERC Advanced Grant and Körber European Science Prize 2024: Wolf Prize in Medicine (for sight-saving and vision restoration to blind people using optogenetics) As a principal investigator, Roska has secured significant research funding including multiple ERC grants (Starting Grant in 2010, Advanced Grants in 2015 and 2020), a Marie Curie Excellence Grant, and the VIVA Award. His laboratory has mentored numerous researchers who have gone on to publish impactful work in top-tier journals. The collaborative nature of his research is evident from the multi-institutional authorship of his publications. Dr. Roska founded and directs the Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel (IOB), which brings together basic scientists and clinicians to develop treatments for eye diseases. His laboratory employs advanced techniques including single-cell analysis, viral vector engineering, optogenetics, and neural circuit mapping to advance our understanding of the visual system and develop novel therapeutic approaches.
Valentina Emiliani is Director of the Photonics Department at the Vision Institute in Paris, France, where she leads the Wave front engineering microscopy group. Previously, she served as Director of the Neurophotonics Department at University Paris Descartes and held research positions at CNRS. With over 70 publications and 80+ invited seminars, Dr. Emiliani has established herself as a leader in neurophotonics. Her work bridges physics, engineering, and neuroscience to develop advanced optical techniques for brain circuit investigation. Dr. Emiliani's educational background includes: PhD in Physics from University 'La Sapienza' (Rome, Italy) in 1997, focusing on tunneling effect in quantum wells Postdoctoral research at Max Born Institute, Berlin, working on carrier transport in quantum wires Postdoctoral work at European Laboratory for Nonlinear Spectroscopy in Florence, Italy Her research spans optical wave front shaping, optogenetics, and two-photon imaging, with particular focus on creating tools for 'all-optical' investigation of brain circuits. She has pioneered methods for three-dimensional spatiotemporal focusing of light, enabling precise neural stimulation even in scattering brain tissue. Her laboratory develops holographic light patterning techniques that provide unprecedented spatial and temporal control for both imaging and stimulating neural activity. Dr. Emiliani's publication record demonstrates a clear progression from fundamental optical physics to sophisticated neuroscience applications. Her research consistently focuses on developing holographic methods that enable precise spatial and temporal light control, with recent work emphasizing optogenetics applications. This work represents a major advance toward all-optical electrophysiology, where both neural activity recording and stimulation can be achieved with light alone, eliminating the need for electrical electrodes. Her scientific achievements have been recognized with several prestigious awards: 2019: Invited Presidential Speaker at the SfN annual meeting 2018: Axa-Chair award for 'Investigation of visual circuits by optical wave front shaping' 2015: Prix 'Coups d'élan pour la recherche française' from Bettencourt-Shueller foundation 2009: Human Frontier Research Program – Coordinator Research Grant 2005: European Young Investigator Award (EURYI) Dr. Emiliani has successfully secured significant research funding, including the European Young Investigator grant that enabled her to establish her research group. Her leadership of research teams since 2005 demonstrates extensive mentoring experience. Her laboratory has produced numerous high-impact publications in top journals including Nature Neuroscience and Nature Methods, indicating a productive research environment that trains students in cutting-edge neurophotonics techniques. Dr. Emiliani leads the Wave front engineering microscopy group at the Vision Institute, specializing in developing optical techniques for neuroscience research. Her laboratory bridges physics, engineering, and neuroscience to create tools that enable researchers to observe and manipulate neural activity with unprecedented precision. This work has significant implications for understanding brain function and developing new approaches to treat neurological disorders.
