June Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month | | We celebrated June Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month by highlighting a groundbreaking study led by Dr. Sharon Sanz Simon, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJMS) and a core member of the Krieger Klein Alzheimer’s Research Center and BHI. Dr. Sanz Simon’s lab, the EngAGING Lab, launched the Brazilian Aging in New York–New Jersey (BRAINY-NJ) Study, one of the first U.S.-based research efforts focused on aging and dementia in the Brazilian immigrant population. With support from the Alzheimer’s Association and a pilot grant from the Center for Advanced Human Brain Imaging Research (CAHBIR) at BHI, this research addresses key risk and resilience factors that influence brain aging in this underrepresented group. Dr. Jack Tsao, Professor of Neurology at NJMS and a new faculty member at the Krieger Klein Alzheimer’s Research Center, will also contribute to the study and help establish a dementia clinic to support clinical and research efforts. Learn more |
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Dr. Jack Tsao Joins BHI as Core Member
Jack Tsao (M.D., MA; D.Phil., M.B.A.) is Professor of Neurology at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. Dr. Tsao’s clinical research is focused on artificial intelligence applications for clinical neurology care, clinical effects of blast exposure and concussion, and treatments for phantom limb pain in amputees. Previously, he was Professor of Neurology, Pediatrics, and Anatomy & Neurobiology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and Chief of Neurology and Director of the Polytrauma/OIF/OEF Clinic at the Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, both in Memphis, TN and the Dr. Edwin Kolodny Professor of Neurology at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York. Learn more
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Dr. Suchismita Ray Joins BHI as Core Member
Dr. Suchismita Ray is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Informatics at Rutgers Health School of Health Professions. Dr. Ray’s research activities are geared toward improving the precision of interventions for individuals with opioid and other drug use disorders. The mission of her lab is to examine the cognitive, behavioral, and brain mechanisms underlying drug addiction using experimental tasks and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and to develop effective behavioral and pharmacological interventions. Learn more
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Dr. Mi-Hyeon Jang Promoted to Full Professor
Dr. Jang is a BHI core member and faculty member in the Department of Neurosurgery at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Dr. Jang’s lab studies the underlying neurobiological mechanisms that promote regenerative processes of adult neurogenesis, oligodendrogenesis, and myelination. Learn more
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Dr. Qian Cai Awarded NIA R21 Grant to Study Mitochondrial Role in Tauopathy and Alzheimer’s Disease
Project title: “The role of mitochondrial deficits in tauopathy-linked autophagy defects.” Learn more
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Dr. Denise Hien Awarded NIDA R01 Grant to Advance Patient-Centered Research on PTSD and Substance Use Disorders
Project title: “Advancing patient-centered research using meta-analysis of individual patient data to identify clinically significant trajectories of PTSD/SUD and recovery outcomes.” Learn more
| | Claim your minute (and possibly more) of fame!! If you want to share any news (e.g., awards, grants, publications, patents, donor gifts) in future monthly newsletters, please send them to Lily Zhang (lily.zhangty@rutgers.edu) or use this Microsoft form to submit your news. We will also push these out on social media. So don’t be shy! Share your good news with us! We would love to hear from you!! | | New Event Calendar Aggregator on the BHI Website | We encourage the Rutgers Neuroscience community to add their neuroscience and brain health research-related events to the Event Calendar on the BHI website. To put your events on the BHI website Event calendar, BHI has obtained an event calendar aggregator software that can pull events you post on a shared Outlook or Google calendar created by BHI. If you’d like instructions on how to add your event, or if you have any questions, please contact Lily Zhang (lily.zhangty@rutgers.edu) to request access to the shared BHI Event Outlook or Google Calendar. Learn more |
| New Banner Ad Opportunities on the BHI Website | We’ve launched a new banner ad section on the BHI website to help faculty and trainees promote events, study recruitment, job openings, and news announcements. With monthly traffic projected to reach 10,000 visitors, and placements on the most-visited pages, your message will gain high visibility across Rutgers and beyond. Your ad will reach not only the Rutgers community but also external experts, prospective students, and potential collaborators and donors who visit the site. We will assist with designing engaging graphics and placing your announcement on high-traffic pages across the site. If you are interested in featuring your announcement, please contact Lily Zhang (lily.zhangty@rutgers.edu). Advertise with us |
| Human Neuroscience Trainee Seminar Series Feedback Survey | | As we are nearing the end of the first year of the seminar series, we are gathering feedback to help us improve and sustain the program in future years. Please complete the survey before it closes at the end of August. Complete the Survey | | BHI Postdoctoral Alliance Working Group (PAWG) Trainee Information Collection Form | | The PAWG is dedicated to all Rutgers trainees in neuroscience, brain, and mental health research. Please complete this survey to help us build a trainee database for sharing opportunities and compiling useful anonymous stats for your grant and fellowship applications. Complete the Survey | | BHI Announcements & Opportunities | | |
BHI Funding Opportunities Newsletter
We are excited to launch a new monthly Funding Opportunities email! Each month, we will share a curated selection of federal (NIH) and non-federal (private and nonprofit) funding opportunities relevant to neuroscience, brain health, and mental health research. Visit our website to explore the full list and discover more funding opportunities. Learn more
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BHI Motivational and Affective Neuroscience FAWG Mock Grant Review Program
The BHI and the RARC are pleased to announce the mock grant review program at Rutgers University. The primary objective of this program is to increase the success of grant proposals submitted to NIH by Rutgers investigators from the BHI and/or the RARC. Learn more
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TMS-EEG Study of Eye Movements and Memory
The Brain Modulation & Control Lab is recruiting paid volunteers to perform computer-based tasks while recording electroencephalography (EEG) data and applying transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to study brain dynamics related to eye movement tasks. Learn more
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Brazilian Aging in New York - New Jersey (BRAINY-NJ) Study
The project investigates risk and resilience factors for mental/brain health and dementia in Brazilian immigrants (55+ years old), a growing Latino population underrepresented in health-related research in the U.S. Participants may receive up to $125 for compensation. Learn more
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Alzheimer’s Risk Among South Asian Populations
The study aims to understand the characteristics that may place South Asian populations at heightened risk for Alzheimer's disease and seeks to recruit individuals with ethnic or racial backgrounds from South Asian countries, aged 45-70, who have one or more parents with AD. Learn more
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IFPR – Rutgers Research Collaboration
The RARC is partnering with the Institute for Prevention and Recovery (IFPR) to establish a streamlined process for collaboration among Rutgers researchers who want to partner with RWJBarnabas to analyze substance use disorder outcome data and/or implement new studies in the health system. Learn more
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Rutgers Research Community Partnership (RCP)
The RCP, overseen by the RARC, is a central enrollment hub for community members to participate in Rutgers research projects, and for researchers to recruit for their studies. By signing up for the RCP, individuals agree to be contacted by approved researchers to participate in projects. Learn more
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Join the ADRD Research Center Community
The Herbert and Jacqueline Krieger Klein Alzheimer’s Research Center in BHI will serve as a hub for collaboration, innovation, and transformative research, with the mission of making meaningful strides in the prevention, diagnosis, and care of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders (ADRD). If you are interested in learning more or collaborating with the center, please submit the form to provide your contact information. Learn more
| | Join us and make a lasting impact in neuroscience research and education. Discover current opportunities to advance your career and collaborate with leading experts at Rutgers. View all open positions here | |
- Director of Rutgers Center for Autism Research, Education and Services (RUCARES) at BHI
- Director of Neurotechnology Innovation Center at BHI
- Director of Center on Research in Pain and Pain Therapeutics at BHI
- Open Rank Associate Professor/Professor in Data Science
- Human Neuroimaging Faculty Position in Alzheimer’s Disease
- Tenure-Track Faculty Position in Early Intervention Research in Autism
- Human Neuroimaging Faculty Positions
| | If you want to share any opportunities (e.g., open positions, grants, surveys) in future monthly newsletters, please send them to Lily Zhang (lily.zhangty@rutgers.edu) or use this Microsoft form to submit your opportunities. | | | | |
Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Translational Work-in-Progress Series (ADRD-TWIP)
Dr. Jack Tsao will discuss "Studying changes in synaptic density after monoclonal antibody therapy for mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer's disease" - a discussion on a specific aims section for a new grant. Learn more
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Human Neuroscience Trainee Seminar Series
Emmanuel “Manny” Alvarez, Graduate Student (PI: Anna Konova, PhD) will present Dissertation Defense: “The Dark Side of Optimism Bias: Investigating the Computational, Neural, and Longitudinal Mechanisms of Drug-Biased Beliefs”. Learn more
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BHI JFWG NIH Grant Writing Workshop
The BHI Junior Faculty Working Group is sponsoring a grant-writing workshop, delivered by AtKisson Training Group, for junior faculty looking to get concrete guidance on how to prepare R01-level grants for the NIH. The workshop will be held in person over two half-days and will be highly interactive. Learn more
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Rutgers Addiction Research Center (RARC) Fall Symposium
Join us for a one-day event showcasing the breadth of addiction research and clinical services across Rutgers. The symposium will feature keynote speaker Dr. Huda Akil, Gardner C. Quarton Distinguished University Professor of Neurosciences, Department of Psychiatry, and Research Professor at the Michigan Neuroscience Institute. Learn more
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Center for Autism Research, Education, & Services (RUCARES) Symposium
We aim to bring together leading local and national researchers and physicians in the field of autism and related areas. If you’re interested in displaying a poster, please complete the application to be considered. Submissions are due by August 1, 2025. Learn more
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2025 BHI 11th Annual Symposium
Join us for a day of discovery and connection as we highlight the five BHI centers and hear cutting-edge talks by Rutgers neuroscience faculty and trainees. The keynote speaker is Moses V. Chao, PhD, Professor of Cell Biology, Neuroscience & Physiology, and Psychiatry, NYU Langone Medical Center. Learn more
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Herbert and Jacqueline Krieger Klein Alzheimer’s Research Center Symposium
Save the date for the ADD Center’s Annual Symposium – bringing together leading researchers, clinicians, and members of the ADRD community. Learn more
| | If you want to feature any news, opportunities, and events in future monthly newsletters, please send them to Lily Zhang (lily.zhangty@rutgers.edu) or use this Microsoft form to submit your news. Thank you for your cooperation and support! | | | | |
