The Brainstorm: September 2025

September 2025

Message from the Director, Dr. Jen Bizon

September at UF means the start of a new semester, the return of football season and a renewed sense of Gator spirit. At the MBI, that energy fuels our research every day. In this edition of The Brainstorm, you’ll find stories that highlight the breadth of the MBI’s work: from innovative discoveries in the lab to national recognition of our faculty to media coverage that shares our expertise with the world.

I’m especially pleased to share the release of our 2025 MBI Impact Report, the first of its kind for our institute. This report captures how we are building momentum through new programs, strategic investments in our core facilities, an expansion of training opportunities and other initiatives that strengthen our research community.

Thank you for reading and for supporting our mission to improve lives through neuroscience research and education. Go Gators!

Surprising finding could pave way for a universal cancer vaccine

An experimental mRNA vaccine boosted the tumor-fighting effects of immunotherapy in a mouse-model study.

giusti rodriguez_researcher highlight series

MBI Researcher Highlight: Paola Giusti-Rodriguez

Dr. Giusti-Rodriguez hopes to advance understanding of conditions including autism and schizophrenia.

10th Luttge Lecture features cognitive aging expert

Dr. Ulman Lindenberger delivered this year's lecture titled "A Lifespan Perspective on Human Cognitive Aging.”

MBI adds four new Gator NeuroScholars

The MBI's postdoctoral fellowship program features a competitive stipend and mentorship opportunities.

SNIP trains future scientists

Since starting 10 years ago, the Summer Neuroscience Internship Program has trained 132 undergrads from throughout the U.S. with hands-on lab work and mentorship opportunities.

How dopamine guides our world

Researchers examined current knowledge on dopamine's role in social behaviors and how its dysfunction in neuropsychiatric disorders can influence social interactions.

Surgery past 65? Brain screening can aid recovery

The study found that most patients who had issues with cognition during presurgical tests didn't have a note in their medical charts indicating they had a cognitive impairment.

2025_05_22_Dan Wesson, interim director of the Florida Chemical Senses Institute. (UF Photography by Nate Guidry)

What makes a smell bad?

A new study reveals the mechanisms behind how your brain decides you dislike — even loathe — a smell.

Advances in neurodegeneration research spotlighted at IRCND conference

The MBI co-sponsored the conference held at UF, with over 180 neuroscientists attending from across the U.S. and abroad. Read more.

Dr. Matthew Farrer receives 2025 Tom Isaacs Award

The award honors a researcher who has shown the most significant impact on the lives of people with Parkinson’s. Read more.

Q&A with Global Call Finalist Dr. Ramon Sun

Research project selected for "breaking the wall of metabolism with 3D and AI." Read more.

Dr. Michael Jaffee to lead national Brain Injury Coalition

The Brain Injury Association of America initiative will identify new solutions and accelerate treatment and prevention advancements. Read more.

Dr. David Fuller selected for prestigious lectureship

The Julius H. Comroe Jr. Distinguished Lectureship for exceptional contributions is awarded by the Respiration Section of the American Physiological Society. Read more.

MBI Researchers in the Spotlight

Journalists regularly reach out to MBI members for their expertise. Here are recent examples of MBI researchers in the news:

National Geographic (Dr. Sara Jo Nixon) — The surprising way doomscrolling rewires your brain.
IFL Science (Dr. Elias Sayour) — Could we be on track towards a universal cancer vaccine? New findings say: Maybe
What's Health Got to Do with It? WCJT News podcast (Dr. Michael Jaffee) — Strong minds, strong voices

Check out these recent Conversation pieces written by MBI members:

Dr. Carol Mathews — Researchers uncovered hundreds of genes linked to OCD, providing clues about how it changes the brain
Dr. Yenisel Cruz-Almeida — Why does it hurt when you get a scrape? A neuroscientist explains the science of pain (Curious Kids series)
Dr. Diego Rincon-Limas — Brain inflammation may be the reason behind muscle fatigue after infection and injury

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.

MBI Research Snapshots

Graphic image of a brain with data points placed on top

Ricardo Diaz-Rincon and Dr. Benjamin Shickel show a potential new way to improve medication management in Parkinson's disease using AI. Read the Snapshot»
Drs. Alexandria Marciante, Arash Tadjalli and Gordon S. Mitchell provide insight into mechanisms of plasticity in neurons responsible for breathing, part of research into a potential treatment for spinal cord injury, ALS and multiple sclerosis. Read the Snapshot»
Drs. Cheng Tang and Rajesh Khanna report that a new nonopioid compound can potentially mitigate pain in preclinical animal models and human cells. Read the Snapshot»

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