The McKnight Brain Institute of the University of Florida e-newsletter

                                                                            Issue 32, Fall 2023

Message from the Director,
Dr. Jen Bizon

It’s been an exciting summer at the MBI as we’ve welcomed several talented individuals into new roles here, including Dr. Gordon Mitchell as deputy director (please read the story below), Kate Casey-Sawicki as assistant director of research administration and Chris Weeks as facilities operations specialist.

This summer we celebrated the launch of Gator NeuroScholars, an innovative postdoctoral fellowship that is part of our ongoing efforts to train the next generation of impactful neuroscientists right here at UF. In June, we were honored to have UF Health leadership unveil Florida's first mobile stroke treatment unit right outside of the MBI. This new vehicle will improve stroke care and save lives!

Read all about these happenings and other exciting neuroscience and neuromedicine news from across campus in this newsletter.

Have a wonderful fall semester and thank you for being a part of the MBI community.
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Doctor Gordon Mitchell works with a trainee in the lab

Dr. Gordon Mitchell named MBI deputy director

Dr. Gordon Mitchell will serve as a deputy director, alongside MBI Director Dr. Jennifer Bizon and her leadership team.

READ MORE »
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Congrats to our Gator Neuroscholars!

Gator NeuroScholars program offers standout opportunities to postdocs

MBI kicks off enhanced postdoctoral fellowship with highly competitive stipend and mentorship by leading neuroscientists.

READ MORE »
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Woods Lab

Dr. Adam Woods named co-director of UF’s CAM Center

Dr. Adam Woods to co-lead UF’s Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory Clinical Translational Research.

READ MORE »
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Mobile Stroke Paramedic Unit sits outside MBI building

UF Health unveils Florida’s first mobile stroke treatment unit

New vehicle allows a specialized stroke team to bring care to the patient.

READ MORE »
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astronaut floating in space above earth

Long spaceflights, frequent travel take a toll on astronauts’ brains, study shows

Dr. Rachael Seidler led study looking at how the human brain reacts to traveling outside Earth’s gravity.

READ MORE »
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Elderly exercise

Study finds seniors over 85 who exercise scored higher on cognitive tests

Combo of aerobic and strength-training exercises in advanced age appears to be related to better cognition, new research finds.

READ MORE »
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Pegboard demonstration

Pegboard test assessing movement could aid Parkinson’s research, study shows

UF-Northwestern research team reports pegboard test could provide objective marker of Parkinson’s motor symptom changes.

READ MORE »
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MBI Feature Series

Behind the Scenes with Gabe Trinity & Jackie Hart

It takes a village to keep the MBI research community running smoothly. We’re highlighting some of the key staff members driving our efforts. READ THEIR HIGHLIGHTS»
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University of Florida Women of Neuro

Our UF Women of Neuro series shines light on some of the incredible women leading our neuroscience and neuromedicine research initiatives. In this issue, we're featuring Dr. Lakiesha Williams, principal investigator of of the Tissue Mechanics, Microstructure and Modeling Laboratory. SEE MORE UF WOMEN OF NEURO»
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Dave Fromholt with lab trainees

PHHP: Behind the scenes with Dave Fromholt

BREATHE Center lab manager featured by UF College of Public Health and Health Professions.

READ MORE »
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Loic Deleyrolle

UF brain cancer researcher receives NCI grant

Dr. Loic Deleyrolle will lead study aiming to optimize immunotherapy in glioblastoma.

READ MORE »
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U.S. News neurology and neurosurgery 30th in 2023

Neurology and neurosurgery ranked 30th by U.S. News & World Report

Neurology and neurosurgery among five UF Health specialties ranked among the nation's elite.

READ MORE »
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David Clark

Complex walking and brain stimulation improve function in older adults

Dr. David Clark to lead a team of investigators on grant combining complex aerobic walking exercises with non-invasive electrical brain stimulation.

READ MORE »
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UF neurologists featured in 2023 Clinical Neurology Update

UF neurologists featured in 2023 Clinical Neurology Update

Drs. James Wymer and Michael Okun contributed to annual NEJM Group publication.

READ MORE »
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fellows in an operating room, working on a patient

Neurosurgery resident awarded Fulbright fellowship to improve care in West Africa

Dr. Megan Still and community leaders will conduct a needs assessment for a hospital’s new neurosurgery wing.

READ MORE »
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Zachary Simon

Doctoral student selected for Society for Neuroscience Scholar Program

Zachary Simon, a Ph.D. student in the lab of Dr. Marcelo Febo, has been accepted into the Society for Neuroscience’s Scholar Program.

READ MORE »
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Fixel Institute

Fixel Institute becomes National Ataxia Foundation Center of Excellence

Fixel Institute named Florida's first National Ataxia Foundation Center of Excellence and the 15th in the U.S.

READ MORE »
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MBI researchers in the spotlight

Journalists regularly reach out to our MBI members for their expertise on many subjects. If a reporter contacts you, please alert assistant director of communications Todd Taylor or science writer Michelle Koidin Jaffee so we can assist with, archive and promote your media endeavors. Here are recent examples of MBI researchers in the news:

• Dr. Marcia Morris (Finding Genius Podcast) — Mental health amongst college students: Why anxiety and depression is on the rise and what to do about it 

• Dr. Anna Khanna (WESH 2 News) — Mobile stroke treatment unit helping patients in Florida

• Dr. Irene Malaty (Neurology Today) — Study identifies risk factors for childhood tic disorders that persist into adulthood

SEE MORE EXAMPLES OF MBI RESEARCHERS IN THE SPOTLIGHT»
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Check out these recent Conversation piece written by MBI members:

• Dr. Habibeh Khoshbouei — Misuse of Adderall promotes stigma and mistrust for patients who need it

• Dr. John B. Williamson  — When does clinical depression become an emergency?

• Dr. Gary Reisfield — Can eating poppy seeds affect drug test results?

The Conversation is a nonprofit, independent news organization publishing trustworthy and informative articles written by academic experts for the general public and edited by a team of journalists. The Conversation reaches 5 million-plus unique readers monthly and then the articles go farther, often picked up by major outlets such as The Washington Post, Scientific American, Smithsonian Magazine and the Chicago Tribune.

Contact science writer Michelle Koidin Jaffee or assistant director of communications Todd Taylor with your ideas for The Conversation.
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Highlight your work with MBI’s Research Snapshots

Showcase your discovery by pairing an impactful image from your latest published research with a written description of your findings. Share with our MBI communications team and work together to convey how this research has influenced your field of study.

Drs. Vivekananda Budamagunta & Thomas Foster reported that removal of senescent cells beginning in a middle-aged rat model and extending to old age led to reduced systemic inflammation and lessened cognitive decline. Read the Snapshot »

Elizabeth Chapman & Dr. Carol Mathews found evidence of alterations in one of the earliest stages of visual processing in people with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Read the Snapshot »

READ MORE SNAPSHOTS AND SUBMIT YOUR OWN »
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Reminders from the Communications Team

Please become an MBI member (if you haven’t already), update your UF Health Directory profile and let our communications team know early and often when you have big news or research coming out of your area. All of these efforts will help us shine an even brighter light on neuro research at UF.
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