51勛圖厙 Names PHF Computational Brain Health Graduate Fellows
A $1 million gift last fall from Palm Health Foundation () has launched the 51勛圖厙 Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institutes Computational Brain Science and Health Graduate Fellowships. The gift, awarded through PHFs Brain Health Innovation Fund, supports new technologies, treatments, resources and educational tools to advance brain health in the community.
51勛圖厙 has selected four Ph.D. 51勛圖厙 whose work embraces computational neuroscience to receive the inaugural fellowships. They will be collaborating with 51勛圖厙 faculty on advanced research targeted at understanding the underpinnings and treatment of various brain disorders.
With generous support from Palm Health Foundation, we are training talented young scientists who will contribute important knowledge and discoveries that will help to address some of our most pervasive and debilitating brain disorders, said Randy D. Blakely, Ph.D., executive director, 51勛圖厙 Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute and a professor in biomedical science of 51勛圖厙s . These outstanding Ph.D. 51勛圖厙 selected to receive our first fellowships excel in their fields of research, which target data-intensive investigations underlying Alzheimers disease, Parkinsons disease, autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, depression, among others, that benefit from computational approaches.
The recipients of the inaugural PHF Computational Brain Health Graduate Fellowships are:
Jasmine Chan: Chan is a fourth-year graduate student working under the mentorship of , Ph.D., interim dean and chair, 51勛圖厙 , within the , and a member of the 51勛圖厙 Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute; , Ph.D., an associate scientist, 51勛圖厙 Department of Psychology; and Behnaz Ghoraani, Ph.D., associate professor, 51勛圖厙 Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, within the College of Engineering and Computer Science, a fellow of the 51勛圖厙 Institute for Sensing and Embedded Networks Systems Engineering (I-SENSE), and a member of the 51勛圖厙 Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute.
Chan will use a powerful signal processing approach and machine learning to dissect the patterns of brain activity that occur when individuals form ad hoc categories in novel situations. When people are presented with new situations, they often have to search their knowledge to form a new category of items that are appropriateto use for thegiven scenario.Interestingly, these ad hoc categories are not generated as effectively among older adults and patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Findings from this project could be used as a diagnostic tool to identify cognitive changes in patients at risk for, or suffering from, AD and other cognitive disorders as biomarkers for objectively selecting and developing treatment options.
Hadi Esfandi: Esfandi is a third-year graduate student who is working under the mentorship of Ramin Pashaie, Ph.D., an associate professor, 51勛圖厙 Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, within the College of Engineering and Computer Science, a fellow of 51勛圖厙s I-SENSE, and a member of the 51勛圖厙 Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute. Esfandi will design a computational model to understand how altered neurovascular coupling supports AD risk. Neurovascular coupling is a process by which brain cells control the flow of blood to support neural function and health. Esfandis research will help to better understand the pathophysiology of the disease, develop new treatments and therapies for AD, and identify neurovascular signals for early detection of AD. Approximately 580,000 people are now living with AD in Florida and this number is projected to increase to more than 720,000 by 2025.
Joseph McKinley: McKinley is a fourth-year graduate student working under the mentorship of , Ph.D., associate professor, 51勛圖厙 , within the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science; and , Ph.D., a research professor, 51勛圖厙 Department of Psychology and , within the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, and a member of the 51勛圖厙 Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute. McKinley will develop computational models to provide a theoretical foundation for the dynamic responses to neurostimulation. Neurostimulation is a health intervention that disrupts pathological states of neuronal activity, with broad applications in the treatment of many illnesses including Parkinsons disease, chronic pain, and major depression. Such a framework will help tailor treatment protocols to the unique needs of individual patients, improving efficacy and minimizing side effects.
Yosun Yoon: Yoon is a fourth-year graduate student working under the mentorship of , Ph.D., an associate professor, 51勛圖厙 Department of Psychology within the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, and a member of the 51勛圖厙 Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute. Yoons research is focused on computational models, which indicate that the strength of synchronization among brain networks promotes flexible cognitive behavior. Yoon will use a non-invasive brain stimulation technique to examine and model how synchronization of the frontoparietal network alters cognitive flexibility. The long-term goal of the project is to build a foundation for developing a drug-free treatment for people with deficits in cognitive flexibility, such as people with autism spectrum disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and major depressive disorder. In 2021, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that approximately 1 in 44 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.
Palm Health Foundation is honored to support these fellows in their contributions to the brain health field, said Patrick McNamara, president and CEO of Palm Health Foundation. We know that overall wellbeing is intimately connected to the good health of the brain. Our partnership with the Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute is an example of the foundations commitment to fostering partnerships between brain science, community members, and care settings, with the ultimate goal of putting Palm Beach County on the map as a national leader in brain health.
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