NeURoscience | Vol 7 | 2020 by University of Rochester Medical Center

NEUROSCIENCE University of Rochester | Ernest J. Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience Vol. 7 - 2020

A national nod to intellectual and developmental disabilities research PG 2

F R O M T H E D I R EC TO R ’ S D E S K

John J. Foxe, Ph.D. Kilian J. and Caroline F. Schmitt Chair in Neuroscience Director, The Ernest J. Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience Professor & Chair, Department of Neuroscience

Editor

Kelsie Smith Hayduk Contributor

Mark Michaud Design by

Brittany Colton 2

he chill of autumn has settled on Rochester, and while the scientific work of faculty and students moves forward, our world is still very different from past fall semesters. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, I am proud of how we have adjusted to this change and continue to forge ahead and push the boundaries of neuroscience. Over the summer, this commitment and the innovative work of our scientists was recognized with an award that will impact the course of our research for years to come. Our cover story focuses on the newly designated Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (IDDRC) at the University of Rochester. This award from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development affirms the Medical Center’s national leadership in research of intellectual and developmental disabilities such as autism, Batten disease, and Rett syndrome. The IDDRC will elevate efforts to better understand, diagnose, and treat these conditions, all while providing patients and families access to cutting-edge care. In this issue you will learn more about the depth of our center, the resources that will enable scientists to advance their research, and how this designation places the University among a small group institutions across the country studying IDD. The principal project of the IDDRC focuses on Batten disease – a rare condition that begins to affect children between 5 to 10 years of age. Patients and their families have been relying on the Medical Center for decades to provide a better understanding of this devastating diagnosis. Also in this issue you’ll read about new research under way to better understand how injury to the lungs during a severe case of COVID-19 causes damage to the brain in

aging patients. Harris Gelbard, M.D., Ph.D., at the Medical Center is collaborating with researchers at Duke University Medical Center to conduct this study. Another $14 million award from the National Institutes of Health will support novel research investigating how the brain interprets motion. This study may have applications for disorders like schizophrenia and offer insights for artificial intelligence. I am deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of the first woman to graduate from the University’s neuroscience program. Janice Wiesman, M.D., was a neurologist at Boston University and a powerhouse in the field. She was inspired to pursue neuroscience by Bob Joynt, M.D., the founding chair of Neurology at the Medical Center. During her last visit to the University in 2018, she reflected on the many hours she spent in Miner Library as an undergraduate and graduate student studying neuroscience. I feel fortunate for the time I was able to spend with her, which inspired me to share more about her legacy in a special tribute (PG9).

In Science,

John J. Foxe, Ph.D.

NEWS BRIEFS

Biology blurs line between sexes, behaviors Biological sex is typically understood in binary terms: male and female. However, there are many examples of animals that are able to modify sex-typical biological and behavioral features and even change sex. A new study, which appears in the journal Current Biology, identifies a genetic switch in brain cells that can toggle between sex-specific states when necessary – findings that question the idea of sex as a fixed property. The research, which was led by Douglas Portman, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Genetics and the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, was conducted in C. elegans, a microscopic roundworm that has been used in labs for decades to understand the central nervous system. A single gene, TRA-1, determines the sex of these roundworms. If a developing worm has two X chromosomes, this gene is activated and the worm will develop into a female. If there is only one X chromosome, TRA-1 is inactivated, causing the worm to become a male. The study shows that the TRA-1 gene doesn’t go completely silent in males, as had been previously thought. Instead, it can go into action when circumstances compel males to act more like females. Typically, C. elegans males prefer searching for mates over eating, in part because they can’t smell food as well as females do. But if a male goes too long without eating, it will dial up its ability to detect food and act more like a female. Findings show that TRA-1 is necessary for this switch and, without it, hungry males can’t enhance their sense of smell and stay locked in the default, food-insensitive mate-searching mode.

Circadian rhythms help guide waste from brain New research appearing in the journal Nature Communications details how the complex set of molecular and fluid dynamics that comprise the glymphatic system – the brain’s unique process of waste removal – are synchronized with the master internal clock that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. These findings suggest that people who rely on sleeping during daytime hours are at greater risk for developing neurological disorders. The findings come from the lab of Maiken Nedergaard, M.D., D.M.Sc., co-director of the Center for Translational Neuromedicine. The glymphatic system was first discovered in Nedergaard’s lab in 2012 and her team and others have since gone on to show how blood pressure, heart rate, and the depth of sleep influence its function. In the new study, which was conducted in mice, the researchers showed that when the animals were anesthetized all day long, their glymphatic system still only functioned during its typical rest period. Mice are nocturnal, so their sleep-wake cycle is the opposite of humans. “Circadian rhythms in humans are tuned to a day-wake, night-sleep cycle,” said Lauren Hablitz, Ph.D., first author of the new study and a research assistant professor in the URMC Center for Translational Neuromedicine. “Because this timing also influences the glymphatic system, these findings suggest that people who rely on cat naps during the day to catch up on sleep or work the night shift may be at risk for developing neurological disorders. In fact, clinical research shows that individuals who rely on sleeping during daytime hours are at much greater risk for Alzheimer’s and dementia along with other health problems.” Nedergaard was recently awarded the International Prize for Translational Neuroscience of the Gertrud Reemtsma Foundation for her research in the glymphatic system.

A national nod for IDD research For children and families, an intellectual and developmental disabilities diagnosis is a life-altering event and, for many, a plunge into the unknown.

“I

' ve seen the concern for the patients in the eyes of a parent. I've seen what it means at the societal level to see what those kids’ lives look like, and I want that to stop. I want to make it better for them,” said John Foxe, Ph.D., director of the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center and the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester. The effort to better understand these conditions and improve the lives of individuals and families impacted by an IDD diagnosis is at the heart of a decades-long collaboration between scientists and clinicians at the University. This work culminated in the recent award from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) naming the University an Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (IDDRC). The University of Rochester is one of 14 institutions to receive this recognition and one of only 10 with the “trifecta” of NIH awards related to IDD. The IDDRC joins the already established University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCEDD) – with a focus on training and service – and Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) – with a focus on education. Collectively, these awards recognize the institution’s leadership in training, care, and community partnership. “We are very well positioned to care for and work with people and families impacted by developmental disabilities across a lifespan,” said pediatric neurologist Jonathan Mink, M.D., Ph.D., co-director of the IDDRC. Advances in medicine are enabling individuals with IDD to live longer and, in some cases, more independently. Additionally, our growing understanding of some forms of IDD, like autism and even rare diseases like Batten disease, has provided broader insight into other disorders and their impact on cognitive function and learning and, in some cases, physical development. In an effort to build upon these findings, Foxe and Mink developed key focus areas of study within the center. One of the first areas considered was the impact of environmental toxins; University researchers were pioneers in describing the effects lead exposure has on development and health. Autism spectrum disorders, multi-sensory integration processing, parental stress, and early-life exposures to illicit drugs like opioids will also be the Jonathan Mink, M.D., Ph.D., co-director focus of the new Center’s research efforts. of IDDRC, chief of Child Neurology at Golisano Children’s Hospital 2

FOCUS AREAS Rare and Orphaned Diseases of Neurodevelopment Coordinator: Heather Adams, Ph.D. Research will focus on movement disorders like dystonia, chorea, tics, tremor, and the combinations of these symptoms that can occur in conditions like cerebral palsy and other IDDs. Researchers will seek to understand the brain mechanisms that control movement and when disorders cause involuntary movement. The cognitive, mood, and behavioral aspects of neurologic and neurodegenerative diseases will also be major areas of focus, particularly in children with Batten disease. Parental Stress and Early Life Exposure as Determinants of Brain Development and Behavior Coordinator: Tom O’Connor, Ph.D. There is substantial evidence that exposures in utero and at a young age can have a lasting influence on brain development. Researchers will focus on prenatal maternal inflammation, stress physiology, and exposure to environmental chemicals, such as lead and narcotics. This research is trans-disciplinary and incorporates leading clinical and developmental methods in behavioral science and brain imaging, and how nutrition promotes brain health. Neuroinflammatory Mechanisms in Pathological Brain Development and Behavior Coordinator: Ania Majewska, Ph.D. Researchers are investigating how glia – important and often overlooked support cells of the nervous system – contribute to IDD. Diverse studies are considering how glia develop, the signaling pathways that control glial cells impact on brain development and function, and the complex relationship between glia and the immune system. Autism Spectrum Disorders Coordinator: Susan Hyman, M.D. Rochester is a national leader in autism research and home to innovative complex care clinical programs. It is part of the NIH’s flagship research program, the Autism Centers of Excellence, as well as a member of the Autism Treatment Network, and has one of the largest portfolios of NIH-funded Autism Spectrum Disorders research in the nation. Researchers are investigating the comparative efficacy of behavioral and psychopharmacological interventions for children with autism in home and community settings, sensory processing, neurobiology, the genetic underpinnings of the condition, and related behavioral expression of autism into adulthood. Sensory Motor and Multisensory Processing Coordinator: Edmund Lalor, Ph.D. Researchers are investigating how the brain processes sensory information and the impact of cognition, different environments, and how IDD can impact how the brain interprets sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. This work will build upon several long-standing research programs in sensory processing across clinical populations and in animal models of IDD. New research tools are required to advance research in this field, along with the necessary expertise. The IDDRC has created four primary research cores to lend guidance and enhance the work brought in by investigators. These give the IDDRC a unique recruiting advantage. Mink points to how these resources support the development of new research. “This type of center helps provide an infrastructure so that researchers don’t have to assemble all the little parts themselves, rather it is all there for them to be able to work collaboratively.” Collaboration is what gives the center a competitive edge. “We make sure that we have the very best people and that they're up to date with the state-of-the art technology and techniques in the field,” Foxe said. 3

SCIENTIFIC CORES Human Clinical Phenotyping and Recruitment Core Directors: Leona Oakes, Ph.D.; Alexander Paciorkowski, M.D. This core is central to clinical and translational research efforts. It will provide investigators with high quality phenotyping and clinical assessment services, along with comprehensive resources for research design consultation, subject recruitment, and investigator training. Researchers will have access to advanced biostatistics support, the neuroimaging capabilities of the Center for Advanced Brain Imaging and Neurophysiology (CABIN), the clinical resources of the Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Neurodevelopmental Assessment Suite and the Clinical Research Center in the Clinical & Translational Science Institute, previously one of the oldest General Clinical Research Centers funded by the NIH. The core will also develop an extensive training program for professionals at every level to improve their capacity for understanding and using phenotyping and clinical assessments across research settings and IDD diagnoses. Translational Neuroimaging and Neurophysiology Core Directors: Ed Freedman, Ph.D.; Jianhui Zhong, Ph.D. This core will provide researchers access to state-of-the art human and animal neuro-imaging tools. This consists of ultra-high-density electrophysiologic recording facilities, including novel mobile brain/body imaging (MoBI) capabilities, and high performance (3T) functional and structural MRI facilities for both human and animal studies. A new small animal magnet (9.4T) will be available in 2021. Researchers will have access to equipment and expertise that will enable working with difficult-to-test children with IDD. This core will also develop and make accessible a repository of data related to normal development and disease states with the assistance of other IDDRC cores. Cell and Molecular Imaging Core Directors: Ania Majewska, Ph.D.; Edward Brown, Ph.D. This core will provide advanced imaging, analysis, and viral vector-based transduction methods. The core also allows researchers to integrate cutting-edge methods and provides access to faculty expertise to support in vitro and in vivo study of the brain in humans and animal models. The capabilities will enable researchers to study subcellular, cellular, and systems-level processes and how these change across the lifespan.

Research participant wears mobile brain/body imaging system, or MoBI. This system is part of the Translational Neuroimaging and Neurophysiology scientific core and allows researchers to study brain activity while people complete common tasks.

Animal Behavior and Neurophysiology Core Directors: Deborah Cory-Slechta, Ph.D.; Krishnan Padmanabhan, Ph.D. IDD investigators will have access to equipment, technical and methodological support, analysis, and statistical guidance to conduct, generate, and interpret data in both behavioral and neurophysiological assays in rodent models. These resources will enable investigator to study the neural underpinnings of IDD. The cores will elevate research and allow researchers to tackle complex scientific questions. “The cores open up a whole bunch of doors that wouldn't be there typically,” Foxe said. “It helps investigators to really fine tune the questions that they're asking. It definitely encourages them to think in more sophisticated ways about what it is they're doing and possibly help research move more quickly toward solutions.” The ultimate goal is to harness these solutions to change the lives of patients and families by providing them access to the most recent scientific advances. The

IDDRC’s research agenda will be closely integrated with the Medical Center’s Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Child and Adult Neurology, Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health and Wellness, and the Complex Care Center clinical programs, which provide care for children and adolescents with a variety of neurodevelopmental and neurobehavioral conditions. The IDDRC will also conduct clinical research in the recently opened Golisano Behavioral Health and Wellness Building. “This designation cements the University of Rochester Medical Center and the Del Monte Institute as a national leader,” said Ann Costello executive director of the Golisano Foundation. “Quite honestly, I knew they were a national leader and Rochester is a special place in terms of service and the network they provide. But now, with this designation, others will know that we are that national leader.”

Batten Disease: Principal Project of IDDRC While the IDDRC will encompass a wide range of conditions, the Patterson family from northern Virgina, two of their principal project of the research center will focus on Batten disease, four children – Gabriel, 16, and Nora, 12 – have specifically CLN3 disease, also known as juvenile-onset Batten Batten disease. disease. Children with this rare genetic disorder start developing symptoms such as vision loss, impaired motor control, seizures, and From left: Bridget (mom), Gabriel, Maeve, dementia between 5-10 years of age. The University of Rochester Delaney, Nora, James (dad). Batten Center (URBC) is a recognized leader in research and treatment of this condition. With several potential gene therapies for Batten disease currently in advanced stages of development, URMC will focus on identifying biomarkers to evaluate the effectiveness of these experimental treatments. “Even within individual families, we have learned that each diagnosed child may have a different disease experience in terms of the age of symptom onset, pattern of symptom progression, and the types of burdens experienced by them and their families,” said Heather Adams, Ph.D., associate professor in the departments of Neurology and Pediatrics and coinvestigator of the UR IDDRC Principal Project. “We cannot miss any opportunity to learn from affected individuals.” Patients and families from across the U.S. come to URMC for care and to participate in research. While some visit labs in Rochester equipped to work with these patients and their families, in many instances a mobile URBC lab will travel to them. “Research is the main way that we feel like we contribute to the Batten community. We try to support research as much as we can. It is how we feel connected, doing what we can to help everyone’s effort,” said Bridget Patterson who lives in Virginia. Two of her four children, Nora and Gabriel, have Batten disease. “A disease like this really does affect the whole family. We have two other children that are not affected, but they feel the effects of the disease every day. I know that helping their lives be better too is one reason why we are involved in this research. If we can find a cure, a treatment, Nora and Gabriel would be the ones most dramatically impacted but it would help all of us.” There are 11 other currently known childhood-onset forms of Batten disease, genetically distinct from one another, and all have significant impacts on neurodevelopment. URBC is designated a Center of Excellence by the Batten Disease Support and Research Association (BDSRA).

F A C U LT Y S E N D - O F F

“Dr. Pasternak was an incredible contributor to our neuroscience community and a staunch advocate for mentorship of young scientists and graduate education.” – John Foxe, Ph.D. Director of Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience

“She seemed to exemplify more than others how scientists can be serious, rigorous, and focused while at the same time being warm and engaging humans. Knowing that people like her are in the field definitely added to my own motivation to be a neuroscientist. To this day, she is still that person, I’m still glad to know her, and neuroscience is still lucky to have her.” – Tirin Moore, Ph.D. Professor of Neurobiology, Stanford University

A faculty send-off: A formidable researcher and student advocate For more than 40 years, Tatiana Pasternak, Ph.D., has produced highly respected work in her NIH-funded non-human primate research laboratory that earned her numerous honors and awards. She also elevated the profile of neuroscience at the University with her leadership roles in the Vision Science Society, where she served as president, and in the Society for Neuroscience, where she served as secretary. During her years on the faculty, Pasternak was an advocate for the mentorship of young scientists, many of them women. For more than two decades, she taught Integrative and Systems Neuroscience, a core graduate course critical to the education and training of neuroscientists. In July 2020, Pasternak started in her new role as a scientific review officer for the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke, where she continues to serve the neuroscience community.

“She has done all of this selflessly while also excelling in her research, running a well-funded systems neuroscience laboratory since coming to the UR in 1978… Her many other responsibilities and travels never distracted her from her commitment to our graduate students. – Ania Majewska, Ph.D. Director of Neuroscience Graduate Program

“She has been a cornerstone of neuroscience education and training at the University of Rochester.” – Krishnan Padmanabhan, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Neuroscience

“I am extremely grateful Dr. Pasternak put together such a comprehensive and ambitious course. For even though it was difficult and challenging, I gained an impressive breadth of knowledge, and confidence to think critically and deeply about topics beyond my own research focus – a skill every student must develop." – Shraddha Shah Neuroscience graduate student

“Dr. Pasternak was, is, and will continue to be a force to be reckoned with in vision neuroscience research. It was inspiring simply to be in the classroom with her.” – Luke Shaw Neuroscience graduate student

NEWS BRIEFS

New study seeks to understand how brain interprets motions A team of researchers at the University of Rochester, including Greg DeAngelis, Ph.D., and Ralf Haefner, Ph.D., with the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, has received a $12.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health for a project to better understand how the brain uses causal inference to distinguish self motion from object motion. The award is part of the NIH’s Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) initiative. Insights generated by the award, which also involves researchers at New York University, Harvard Medical School, Rice University, and the University of Washington, may have important applications in developing treatments and therapies for neural disorders such as autism and schizophrenia, as well as inspire advances in artificial intelligence. Using data science, lab experiments, computer models, and cognitive theory, DeAngelis, Haefner, and their colleagues will pinpoint single neurons and groups of neurons that are involved in the process. Their goal is to identify how the brain generates a consistent view of reality through interactions between the parts of the brain that process sensory stimuli and the parts of the brain that make decisions and plan actions.

Researchers examine COVID-19 impact on aging brain Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center and Duke University Medical Center are collaborating on a study that investigates why some older patients, who become severely ill from COVID-19, develop delirium that can lead to brain damage and a dementia diagnosis. Using a model for inhaled lipopolysaccharide-based acute lung injury in mice to mimic what happens in the lungs of a severally ill COVID-19 patient, Harris Gelbard, M.D., Ph.D., professor and director of the Center for Neurotherapeutics Discovery and principal investigator at URMC on this study, will look for specific events in the neurovascular unit – brain endothelial cells and their blood-brain barrier (BBB) forming tight junctions that support the central nervous system – that can be traced back to cognitive impairment. Part of the hypothesis Gelbard is investigating is the possibility that scarring in the lung may cause platelets and inflammatory white cells to migrate to blood vessels in the central nervous system with the white cells traversing the BBB to cause neurologic disease. Nearly 30 percent of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 develop delirium – a state of confusion and impaired awareness. For severely ill patients, the likelihood of delirium is closer to 70 percent. This study is funded by the National Institute of Aging.

REMEMBRANCE

A Life in Neuroscience Janice Wiesman, M.D. (1958-2020) Reflection by, John Foxe, Ph.D.

1: Janice Wiesman, M.D., and fellow UR Neuroscience students at graduation celebration in 1980. 2: Janice Wiesman, M.D., speaking during 2019 visit to URMC. 3: Janice Wiesman, M.D., meets with Neuroscience Program Graduate students at URMC for career workshop (Nov. 1, 2019). 8

On August 4, I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Janice Wiesman, M.D. (BS ’80; MS ’84). She was another casualty of this most dreadful COVID-19 pandemic and further evidence, if it were needed, that the most vital people in the very prime of their lives are susceptible to this horrible disease. Her loss to the scientific community and the neuroscience family here in Rochester is enormous. More than anything else, her loss to her family, her husband John Mannion, her daughter Hannah, her “brother” David Higgins, Ph.D. (BA ’80; MS ’82; PhD ’87), and all who loved her, is immeasurable. On behalf of the University of Rochester neuroscience community, we celebrate an academic life superbly lived. It was truly an honor to know her. My journey to meet Janice began in early 2018, over a glass of wine with University alumnus and a long-time supporter David Higgins, Ph.D. He mentioned his dear friend and classmate Janice Wiesman and shared details of her incredible connection to the University and storied history of cutting-edge clinical neuroscience work. Later that year, Janice and I met for what was supposed to be a quick cup of coffee in downtown Manhattan – near New York University where Janice worked as a clinical associate professor of Neurology – that turned into a very long lunch. She and I traded stories about the extraordinary cast of characters that built the University’s neuroscience programs. It was clear that Janice had truly transformative experiences as a student in Rochester. Janice graduated from the University of Rochester’s very first undergraduate Neuroscience class in 1980 (see photo). As this was the first undergraduate Neuroscience program in the nation, Janice was part of a trailblazing tradition at the University right from the start. Janice talked of the huge influence that Bob Joynt M.D., the founding chair of the Department of Neurology, had on her as she pursued an M.S. in Neuroscience following her undergraduate studies. She also cited the key role his influence played in shaping her incredible career over the following decades as she went on to perform seminal research on neuromuscular diseases and in establishing clinical trials for the life threatening disease amyloid polyneuropathy. Janice most recently held a position as neurologist for the Boston University

Amyloidosis Treatment and Research Center. In 2016, she published a book aimed squarely at providing practical advice and solutions for the millions of people who suffer from peripheral neuropathies, “Peripheral Neuropathy: What It Is and What You Can Do to Feel Better.” In November 2019, Janice and I would meet again when she returned to the Medical Center to give a Grand Rounds for the Neurology Department. Janice made a huge impression on all who gathered that day, and after giving a superb lecture in the morning she graciously joined the students of our Neuroscience Graduate Program for an informal lunch and question-and-answer session. She was so keen to hear of all the work going on and amazed by the span of expertise and research topics on display. There was

spirited discussion about research, the translation of bench findings into meaningful solutions for patients, and of what it was to be a successful clinical researcher as a woman scientist. It was a true pleasure to witness this daughter of the University’s Neuroscience Department return to her roots, and provide such inspiration to our newest generation of neuroscientists. This year was supposed to be a celebration for Janice and the Neuroscience Department at the University – her 40th undergraduate reunion was scheduled for this fall. We will miss celebrating with Janice but will celebrate her, her legacy, and the life-changing impression her work has left on so many. We send our deepest condolences to her family and friends.

Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience Executive Committee John Foxe, Ph.D.

B. Paige Lawrence, Ph.D.

Director, The Ernest J. Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience Kilian J. and Caroline F. Schmitt Chair in Neuroscience Professor and Chair, Department of Neuroscience

Wright Family Research Professorship - Dean’s Office M&D Professor and Chair, Department of Environmental Medicine

Bradford Berk, M.D., Ph.D.

John Romano Professorship in Psychiatry Professor and Chair, Department of Psychiatry

Director, The University of Rochester Neurorestoration Institute Professor of Medicine, Cardiology

Robert Dirksen, Ph.D.

Hochang (Ben) Lee, M.D.

Shawn Newlands, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A. Professor and Chair, Department of Otolaryngology

Lewis Pratt Ross Professorship of Pharmacology and Physiology Professor and Chair, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology

Webster Pilcher, M.D., Ph.D.

Diane Dalecki, Ph.D.

Ernest & Thelma Del Monte Distinguished Professor in Neuromedicine Professor and Chair, Department of Neurosurgery

Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering Chair, Department of Biomedical Engineering

Jennifer Harvey, M.D.

Duje Tadin, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences

Professor and Chair, Department of Imaging Sciences

Robert Holloway, M.D., M.P.H. Edward A. and Alma Vollertsen Rykenboer Chair in Neurophysiology Professor and Chair, Department of Neurology

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Neuroscience Diversity Commission (Formed August 2020)

Members include University and departmental leadership, faculty, administration staff, past and present Neuroscience Graduate Program students, and a community leader. The commission is working on initiatives aimed at addressing issues related to diversity and inclusion in the field of neuroscience.

From left starting at top row: Manuel Gomez-Ramirez, Ph.D., Commission Chair, Faculty; Katherine Andersh, Student; Elizabeth Berry, Staff; Tufikameni Brima, Ph.D., Faculty; John Foxe, Ph.D., Ex-officio; Sarah Latchney, Ph.D., Alumna; Ania Majewska, Ph.D., Faculty; Adrienne Morgan, Ph.D., Assoc. VP-UR Office of Equity and Inclusion; Shawn Nelms, Ed.D., Community Leader; Bryan Redmond, Student; Shraddha Shah, Student; Keshov Sharma, Student; Nathan Smith, Ph.D., Alumna. 10