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MBI seminar series focuses on boosting human-based research

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By Michelle Jaffee

The MBI community gathered on Fridays in September for a new breakfast seminar series, “Brains & Bagels,” which features in-depth discussions on pressing topics in brain research. This season’s four-part series, “Integrating Model Systems and Human Research,” brought together leading UF experts to share strategies for expanding human-based research using emerging technologies.

Designed for scientists working with preclinical models, the discussions aligned with a new NIH initiative that prioritizes human-based approaches, including 3D miniature organ models and computational models of human biology, disease mechanisms and drug interactions.

“As scientists, we have to adapt to changes and incorporate these new technologies to continuously improve our scientific workflow and help make foundational scientific discoveries,” Ramon Sun, Ph.D., MBI associate director for innovation, said in kicking off the series.

In an HPNP auditorium, experts presented to the MBI’s research community and answered questions about ways to harness the power of AI, build UF collaborations and link animal-model and human-subject research to strengthen translational studies.

Azra Bihorac Brains & Bagels

The four experts featured were:

  • Azra Bihorac, M.D., senior associate dean for research affairs of the UF College of Medicine (Topic: “AI in Human-Centered Clinical Research”)
  • Stefan Prokop, M.D., director of the UF Neuromedicine Human Brain and Tissue Bank (Topic: “Neuropathology & the Brain Bank”)
  • David Vaillancourt, Ph.D., chair of UF’s Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology (Topic: “Neuroimaging Opportunities & Resources”)
  • Yi Guo, Ph.D., division chief of biomedical informatics and data science in UF’s Department of Health Outcomes & Biomedical Informatics (Topic: “Real-World Data & Biomedical Data Science”)

Following the success of this discussion series, the MBI is pleased to announce these upcoming opportunities:

Brains & Bagels will continue in spring 2026.