Host: National Institute on Drug Abuse

November 1st - 12:30-1:30 PM

A novel fluid biomarker reveals loss of TDP-43 splicing repression in

presymptomatic ALS and Alzheimer's disease

Katherine (Katie) Irwin is an M.D.-Ph.D. candidate at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Katie is pursuing a Ph.D. in the Department of Neuroscience as a member of the Philip C. Wong lab, where Katie studies the dysfunction of a protein named TDP-43 in neurodegenerative diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease. Katie has developed novel fluid biomarkers for TDP-43 dysfunction and is using them to elucidate the timing and role of TDP-43 dysfunction in these diseases and to develop methods for detecting these diseases earlier.

Host: University of Maryland, Baltimore

October 22nd - 12:00-1:00 PM

Endogenous opioid receptor-mediated regulation of prefrontal cortex microcircuitry and valence processing

Dr. Castillo is a Chilean neuroscience researcher specializing in neuropeptides and neuromodulation, with experience at NIMH applying advanced techniques like whole cell patch clamp and two-photon microscopies. Dr. Castillo's  work involves examining how neuromodulators influence the regulation of synapses. Dr. Castillo is passionate about outreach,  and works to inspire future scientists by promoting STEM education in underserved communities.

Host: Johns Hopkins University

October 29th - 1:00-2:00 PM

Long term avoidance memory is mediated by a circuit from glutamatergic neurons of the parabrachial nucleus synapsing on VTA dopamin neurons 

Dr. Ramirez was born in Mexico City and studied psychology at UNAM, where Dr. Ramirez developed a passion for understanding the brain's complexities. Dr. Ramirez then pursued a PhD in Biomedical Sciences, focusing on eating disorders and biological rhythms, specifically exploring the role of the mesolimbic pathway. Currently, Dr. Ramirez  is a postdoc at NIDA, working under the mentorship of Dr. Marisela Morales. Dr. Ramirez's research investigates the connectivity of various neuronal VTA subsets and their impact on behavior. Dr. Ramirez is dedicated to advancing our understanding of neurobiological mechanisms influencing motivation, aversion and addiction.

Host: National Institute on Drug Abuse

November 1st - 12:30-1:30 PM

Enhancing Reactive Balance: the impact of practice schedule on motor learning in Parkinson’s patients and their age matched peers

Ruth is an inquisitive, conscientious, and passionate researcher with a clinical background in physical therapy.  Ruth is interested in translational research that enhances reactive balance responses and reduces falls in persons with Parkinson’s disease and older adults.

Host: University of Maryland, Baltimore

October 22nd - 12:00-1:00 PM

Validation of TDP-43 splicing repression as a therapeutic strategy for ALS/FTD

Dr. Tianyu is a postdoctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins University, focusing on therapeutic approaches and mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s, ALS, and Parkinson’s. Dr. Tianyu's current research explores therapeutic methods targeting TDP-43 loss of function, which has potential applications in ALS, FTD, and some Alzheimer’s patients. Dr. Tianyu has published 13 peer-reviewed papers and presented his work at several international conferences.

Host: Johns Hopkins University

October 29th - 1:00-2:00 PM

Microglia depletion alters the brain neurommune response to acute binge alcohol withdrawl

Dr. Jordan Walter is an MD/PhD postdoctoral fellow at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Dr. Walter's previous research has focused on substance use disorders, while Dr. Walter's current research examines cognition in special populations.

Host: National Institute on Drug Abuse

November 15th - 12:30-1:30 PM

Identifying temporal and structural variability in neural ensembles across trials and conditions with SiBBlINGS

Noga is a 4th-year PhD candidate in Biomedical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University, advised by Dr. Adam Charles. Noga's research focuses on developing computational models to analyze high-dimensional neural data, aiming to uncover neural population dynamics that drive behavior and how they adapt to non-stationary contextual changes. Before Hopkins, Noga graduated from Tel-Aviv University with dual degrees in biomedical engineering and life sciences at the Sagol School of Neuroscience.

Host: University of Maryland, Baltimore

November 12th - 12:00-1:00 PM

Evidence for heroin-induced voluntary social isolation in the rat

Dr. D'Ottavio received a PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience from Sapienza University of Rome, where Dr. D'Ottavio focused on developing an animal model of heroin addiction that reflects the social withdrawal observed in humans with opioid use disorder. Following doctoral training, Dr. D'Ottavio received a fellowship from the NIH Center on Compulsive Behaviors (CCB) to explore neurobiological alterations in the opioid system associated with social withdrawal in opioid use disorder. Dr. D'Ottavio is conducting this research under the mentorship of Dr. Shaham and Dr. Michaelides at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH/NIDA) in Baltimore.

Host: Johns Hopkins University

December 10th - 1:00-2:00 PM

The role of reward and temporal proximity to sleep in modulating hippocampal replay and memory triage

Dr. Tirole is an SDFDR postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Geoffrey Schoenbaum’s lab within the Behavioral Neurophysiology and Neuroscience section of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA IRP/NIH). Dr. Tirole's research examines the formation and consolidation of flexible cognitive maps in the Hippocampus and Orbitofrontal Cortex, and how these processes support decision-making.

Host: National Institute on Drug Abuse

November 15th - 12:30-1:30 PM

Low-intensity focused ultrasound (LOFU) prevents epileptic network development and spontaneous seizures in a rat model of temporal lobe epilepsy

Dr. Kamdi is a postdoctoral research fellow in Dr. Parker’s lab, Department of Neurosurgery, UMB. Dr. Kamdi has 14 years of industry and academic experience in preclinical and clinical research domains. In 2024, Dr. Kamdi was awarded the  Grass Foundation Young Investigator Award from the American Epilepsy Society.

Host: University of Maryland, Baltimore

November 12th - 12:00-1:00 PM

An AAV Therapeutic strategy to complement the loss of TDP-43 splicing repression for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Dr. Mallika  is  a Postdoctoral research scholar in Dr. Wong’s Lab, Department of Pathology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Mallika works towards developing an AAV based disease modifying gene therapy for treating the devastating disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Host: Johns Hopkins University

December 10th - 1:00-2:00 PM

Chronic alcohol exposure disrupts activity of cognitive control nucleus

Dr. Wulff is a neurophysiologist interested in understanding the circuit mechanisms underlying impaired reward and cognitive behaviors in stress- and drug-associated disorders. As a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Dr. Brian Mathur, Dr. Wulff is investigating how alcohol exposure impairs cognitive control via disruption of claustro-cortical regulation.