2025 Eleventh Annual BHI Symposium

The 2025 Eleventh Annual Rutgers Brain Health Institute (BHI) Symposium will be held on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at the Busch Student Center in Piscataway, NJ. The in-person attendance is sold out, but the full program will be available via live stream. Register for Symposium Livestream

The event will kick off with introductions by Chancellor Brian Strom of Rutgers Health and Dr. Gary Aston-Jones, Director of BHI. The keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Moses Chao from NYU. Dr. Chao’s keynote lecture, “Mysteries of Neurotrophic Factors,” will explore the role of neurotrophic factors in neuronal and glial cell function. We will hear presentations from faculty and trainees from across Rutgers. Watch the videos to learn more about the speakers’ research focus.

Back by popular demand are the two-minute flash talks by poster presenters prior to the poster session, as well as the trainee “Brain Art” exhibition. We will also feature a special afternoon presentation by the Lewis-Burke Group on the ever-changing federal funding landscape. We look forward to welcoming you as we celebrate neuroscience and brain health research at Rutgers! Learn more

BHI Plenary Seminar: Dr. Michael J. Frank

Delivers Inspiring Seminar on Decision-Making

and Deep Brain Stimulation

On November 6, the BHI welcomed Dr. Michael J. Frank, the Edgar L. Marston Professor of Cognitive, Linguistic, and Psychological Sciences and Director of the Carney Center for Computational Brain Science at Brown University, for a captivating plenary seminar on “Frontosubthalamic Control over Motivated Action.” The seminar drew an exceptional audience, filling the seminar room to its 50-person capacity, with approximately 50 additional participants joining via Zoom from across Rutgers campuses – and even from Yale University.

Hosted by Dr. Travis E Baker, Associate Professor in the Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience at Rutgers University–Newark, the event sparked discussions connecting computational models, neural mechanisms, and clinical applications. “Dr. Frank’s emphasis on linking theory to mechanisms across computational, cognitive, and biophysical levels provided valuable insights for trainees pursuing careers at the intersection of basic and translational neuroscience,” said Dr. Baker. Learn more

BHI Faculty Spotlight

Dr. Linden Parkes Recognized as 2025 Rising Star by The Transmitter

Dr. Linden Parkes, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at RWJMS and BHI core faculty member, has been named one of The Transmitter’s Rising Stars of Neuroscience 2025. The Transmitter’s Rising Stars of Neuroscience recognizes early-career researchers who have made outstanding scientific contributions to the field and demonstrated a commitment to mentoring and community-building. Dr. Parkes' lab studies how complex neural systems shape behavior and cognition, and how dysfunction in these systems tracks the emergence of psychopathology. Learn more

Dr. Peng Jiang Publishes in Nature Neuroscience on Gene Mutation That Protects Against Alzheimer’s Disease

Dr. Peng Jiang, Associate Professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience at Rutgers University–New Brunswick and a BHI faculty member, and Mengmeng Jin, a postdoctoral research fellow and the first author of the study, have published a new paper in Nature Neuroscience that they say could reshape how scientists think about Alzheimer’s treatment. Their study identifies a rare gene mutation that appears to protect the brain’s immune cells from the damage typically caused by the disease. “We believe it's a major advance in the field,” Jiang said. “Rather than looking at mutations that increase risk, we're searching for mutations that can confer resilience.” Learn more

Dr. Michal Schnaider Beeri Receives $1.5 Million Gift to Launch Physician-Scientist Program in Alzheimer’s Research

Dr. Michal Schnaider Beeri, director of the Herbert and Jacqueline Krieger Klein Alzheimer’s Research Center in the BHI, has received a $1.5 million philanthropic gift from the Norman and Mary Pattiz Foundation to establish a physician-scientist program in Alzheimer’s and dementia research. The program, designed to accelerate the translation of discoveries into treatments for dementia, will train physician-scientists to focus on innovative drug development and early disease detection, when interventions have the greatest potential to improve long-term outcomes.

Dr. Danielle Dick Highlighted on NBC News for Substance Use Research

NBC News featured Dr. Danielle Dick, Director of the Rutgers Addiction Research Center (RARC) in the BHI, in a national segment highlighting the urgent need for increased funding in substance use research. Dr. Danielle Dick discussed how RARC is using genetic insights to better understand risk for substance misuse and why advancing this science is critical for millions of families. Learn more

BHI Trainee Spotlight

Maia Choi’s Study Shows Parental Monitoring Reduces Teen Conduct Problems Despite Genetic Risk

Maia Choi, Vice-Chair of the Postdoctoral and Associate Working Group in the BHI, led a new study published in Frontiers in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry showing that consistent parental monitoring can help offset genetic risk for conduct problems in teens. “This is a hopeful message for parents,” said Dr. Danielle Dick, director of the RARC in the BHI and senior author of the study. “Genes are not destiny. The environment parents create – the structure, consistency and connection they provide – can play a powerful role in protecting youth at risk.” Learn more

Trisha Mbithi Awarded TRUE RARC Scholar Program: NIH-Funded Opportunity for Undergraduates in Addiction Research

BHI has awarded a $5,000 fellowship to Trisha Mbithi, an undergraduate student at Rutgers–New Brunswick, through the R25 Training in Research Undergraduate Experience Rutgers Addiction Research Center (TRUE RARC) Scholar Program. This NIH-funded initiative is designed to cultivate future career paths in addiction research and behavioral data science. Trisha will begin her research placement in spring 2026. 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. This will minimize scheduling conflicts for neuroscience and brain health events at Rutgers. 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 and Sponsorship

Opportunities at BHI

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

NEW!! We are looking for sponsors to support BHI events. Faculty, Staff and Trainees, please let us know about vendors you all work with who might be interested in sponsoring BHI events. Please reach out to kuzhikev@bhi.rutgers.edu with names and contact information of vendors who might be interested in partnering with BHI to sponsor neuroscience and brain health events at Rutgers.

BHI Feedback Hub

BHI Announcements & Opportunities

Rutgers Training in Addiction Research Program (TARP)

The Rutgers Addiction Research Center (RARC) in the BHI launched the TARP to cultivate the next generation of addiction neuroscience researchers. The TARP will open predoctoral and postdoctoral training slots during the 2025–26 academic year. We welcome applicants committed to advancing addiction neuroscience. All trainees (including international applicants) are eligible to apply. For interested applicants, please send your CV to Dr. Chris Pierce at chris.pierce@rutgers.edu. Learn more

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

South Asian Memory, Aging, and Risk Tracking for Brain Health study (SAMARTH)

South Asian Memory, Aging, and Risk Tracking for Brain Health study (SAMARTH) The study aims to understand the characteristics that may place South Asian populations at heightened risk for Alzheimer's disease. The study seeks to recruit individuals with ethnic or racial backgrounds from the South Asian subcontinents, aged 45-70, who have a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias (one or more parents with Alzheimer’s Disease, high blood pressure, BMI >30, or Type II diabetes/pre-diabetes). Learn more

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

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

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

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.

Save the Date

December 3

2025 Eleventh Annual BHI Symposium

Registration for the 11th Annual Rutgers Brain Health Institute Symposium is now open! Highlights include a keynote lecture by Moses V. Chao, PhD, talks by BHI faculty on their cutting-edge research programs, two-minute flash talks by trainees, an update on the federal funding landscape from Lewis Burke, a Brain Art Exhibition, and a trainee poster session. We look forward to welcoming you as we celebrate neuroscience and brain health research at Rutgers! Register for Symposium Livestream

December 12

2025 BHI Holiday & Award Reception

The 2025 Rutgers Brain Health Institute Holiday & Awards Reception will be held on Friday, December 12, from 5:30–8:00 PM at the Rutgers Club to celebrate the exceptional neuroscience research and service contributions of BHI faculty and staff. The event will recognize outstanding achievements through five annual BHI awards honoring research excellence and exemplary service. Learn more



March 24, 2026

Herbert and Jacqueline Krieger Klein Alzheimer’s Research Center Symposium

The Herbert and Jacqueline Krieger Klein Alzheimer’s Research Center in the BHI will host its 2026 Symposium at the Busch Student Center in Piscataway. The keynote speaker, Sudha Seshadri, MD, Robert R. Barker Distinguished University Professor of Neurology, Psychiatry, and Cellular and Integrative Physiology at the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, will present a talk titled “Novel Approaches to Preventing and Treating Dementias: Opportunities and Challenges.” Registration is limited to the first 140 attendees and will close on March 1, 2026. Register Now

May 11, 2026

CSN–MAN FAWG Symposium: Rutgers Symposium on The Intersection of Cognitive, Sensory and Affective Neuroscience 

The Cognitive & Sensory Neuroscience FAWG (CSN-FAWG) and Motivational & Affective Neuroscience FAWG (MAN-FAWG) will host a cross-FAWG event on May 11th, 2026, from 10 AM to 4 PM, at Masker’s Barn, Berkeley Heights, New Jersey. The keynote speakers are Luiz Pessoa, PhD, Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, and Jacqueline Gottlieb, PhD, Professor, Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University. Learn more

June 2026

Conducting Industry-Sponsored CNS Clinical Trials at Rutgers

Rutgers University offers unique resources to support industry-sponsored clinical trials examining central nervous system (CNS) therapeutics. Key resources include New Jersey’s only Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Center, state-of-the-art neuroimaging facilities, and specialized research cores for biospecimen processing and behavioral assessment. This is a half-day event, and the exact date will be announced. The event is sponsored by BHI, New Jersey Alliance for Clinical and Translational Science, and Rutgers Office for Research. Learn more

Please visit the BHI Event Calendar page to view other upcoming neuroscience and brain health research events. Learn more



If you want to share any events in future monthly newsletters, please send them to Lily Zhang (lily.zhangty@rutgers.edu) or use this Microsoft form to submit your events.

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!

Connect with us