Rutgers Women’s Brain Health Initiative (RWBHI)

A Physician’s Perspective on Treating Women with Pain and Addiction: Challenges and Opportunities

To complement our spotlight on the research of Dr. Jenny Wilkerson and Dr. Anna Konova, we asked Dr. Alopi Patel, MD, Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at RWJMS, to share what she sees in her clinical practice with female patients.

Dr. Patel is a double board-certified anesthesiologist and interventional pain specialist who is also certified in lifestyle medicine. Dr. Alopi Patel brings a patient‑centered lens to understanding women’s pain and addiction‑related challenges. Dr. Patel noted that chronic pain affects women disproportionately and that several conditions appear more commonly in her female patients. She emphasized the need for tools that reflect the biological realities of female patients rather than treating them as a variant of a male default with minimal monthly hormonal variations. According to Dr. Patel, addressing these gaps requires both better tools and a shift in clinical culture where we take women’s pain conditions seriously. Learn more

Menopause: A Key Transition in Women’s Brain Health

Menopause is a natural yet transformative phase in a woman’s life. Beyond marking the end of menstruation, it represents a major hormonal shift that can profoundly influence brain health, cognitive function, mood, sleep, and overall well-being. As part of the RWBHI, we are committed to advancing research, education, and support for women during this universal transition and then across the lifespan. The RWBHI is dedicated to exploring how hormonal transitions during menopause shape brain function, mental health, and resilience to neurological disorders. Our multidisciplinary experts across Rutgers are advancing clinical care, education, and research to better support midlife women and address longstanding gaps in women’s brain health. Discover more about menopause and stay tuned for upcoming features spotlighting Rutgers faculty who are conducting research in this critical area of women’s health. Learn more

BHI Spotlight

Dr. Luciano D'Adamio Awarded NIA R01 Grant to Study BRI2 Function in Dementia

Dr. Luciano D'Adamio, Professor of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience at NJMS and BHI core faculty member, has received an R01 grant from the National Institute on Aging for “BRI2 function in the CNS and the impact of pathogenic mutations.” This study investigates the role of ITM2B/BRI2 in the pathogenesis of dementias such as FBD and FDD, which share similarities with AD, exploring its impact on synaptic plasticity, learning and memory, neuroinflammation, and cell type‑specific changes in microglia and neurons. Using animal models, isogenic human iPSC‑derived cells, and patient brain specimens analyzed via single‑nuclei RNA sequencing and spatial gene expression, the research aims to develop interventions targeting BRI2’s interaction with APP and TREM2, evaluate BRI2‑derived peptides, and establish BRI2 as a therapeutic target for AD and ADRD. Learn more

Dr. Justin Yao Receives NIDCD R01 Grant to Study Noise-Induced Hearing Loss and Cognitive Dysfunction

Dr. Justin Yao, Assistant Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at RWJMS and BHI core faculty, has received an R01 grant from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. His project, titled “Effects of noise-induced hearing loss on auditory decision-making”, will examine how noise-induced hearing loss disrupts pathways between the auditory and parietal cortex, using multiple neural recording and manipulation techniques to connect peripheral cochlear damage to central cognitive deficits. The findings will advance understanding of hearing loss–related cognitive impairment and support the development of mitigation strategies for neurodegenerative risk. Learn more

Dr. Hai Sun Awarded NINDS R01 Grant to Define Brain Network-Based Surgical Targets for Enhancing Outcomes in Treating Refractory Epilepsy 

Dr. Hai Sun, Professor, Assistant Director of Research, Assistant Residency Program Director, Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs, and Chief of Service in the Department of Neurosurgery at RWJMS, has been awarded an R01 grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). His project, titled “The Chokepoints of the Epileptogenic Network in Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy,” employs an innovative iEEG computational approach that combines preclinical experiments with clinical data to identify critical brain network nodes responsible for the onset of seizures. This research aims to establish a standardized presurgical workflow that translates these key nodes into targets for surgical intervention. The researchers seek to pioneer a new presurgical workup paradigm for patients with medically refractory epilepsy, making surgical intervention both more accessible and effective. Learn more

Dr. Pingyue Pan Awarded NINDS R01 Grant to Study Tonic Dopamine Release in Parkinsonian Motor Deficits

Dr. Pingyue Pan, Assistant Professor of Neuroscience and Cell Biology at RWJMS, has received an R01 award from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The research investigates how disrupted tonic dopamine release drives early motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease (PD), using a Synj1-deficient mouse model that displays locomotor impairment without major dopaminergic neuron loss. The team will use neuronal functional imaging and awake animal behavioral assays to uncover molecular mechanisms linking Synj1, PKCβ signaling, dopamine transporters and striatal circuit dysfunction. The study will test if inhibiting PKCβ restores normal dopamine release and motor function, with findings intended to advance targeted therapies for early PD across both genetic and idiopathic cases. Learn more

Dr. Tulsi Patel Awarded NINDS R01 Grant to Uncover Mechanisms Behind Adult Spinal Motor Neuron Subtype Diversification

Dr. Tulsi Patel, Assistant Professor in the Department: Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology at RWJMS and resident member of CABM, has received an R01 award from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke for the project “Fundamental underpinnings of adult subtype diversification in spinal motor neurons”. Alpha, gamma, and type3/beta motor neuron subtypes differ in physiology and ALS susceptibility, yet post-embryonic pathways forming these subtypes are poorly understood. The study uses single nuclei sequencing and subtype-specific AAV tools to map maturation timelines and examine transcription factors and neural activity governing subtype identity. This work will identify disease-linked molecular distinctions, advance mature stem cell motor neuron generation, and aid therapy development for ALS and spinal cord injury. Learn more

Dr. Peter Cole Receives NCI R01 Grant to Test Metformin for Preventing Chemotherapy Neurotoxicity in Pediatric Leukemia Survivors

Dr. Peter Cole, Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at RWJMS, Embrace Kids Foundation Endowed Chair in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, and Chief of the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, has been awarded an R01 grant from the National Cancer Institute for the project “Metformin to prevent chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity among children with leukemia”. Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) survivors often experience chemotherapy-related neurocognitive deficits with no proven preventive interventions, and metformin is the most promising agent. The trial will compare metformin and placebo during ALL treatment, evaluating cognitive function, patient-reported outcomes, and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers of neurotoxicity. This low-cost, well-tolerated intervention may prevent cognitive late effects and improve quality of life for pediatric cancer survivors. Learn more

Dr. Tibor Rohacs Receives NIGMS R35 Grant for Ion Channel Regulation Research

Dr. Tibor Rohacs, Professor of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience at NJMS and vice chair of CSN FAWG of BHI, has been awarded an R35 grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences for “Regulation of Piezo2 and TRPV6/5 ion channels.” Mechanically‑activated Piezo2 underlies somatosensory touch and tactile pain, while TRPV6 and TRPV5 maintain organismal Ca²⁺ homeostasis; their intracellular signaling, lipid regulators, and pharmacology remain poorly understood. Building on findings that phospholipids regulate these channels, this project will define the molecular basis of PA/LPA inhibition of Piezo2, identify structure‑guided TRPV6/5 modulators, characterize disease‑linked TRPV6 mutations, and record native channel activity. This work may enable the development of selective Piezo2 inhibitors and TRPV6/5 potentiators with therapeutic potential for mechanical pain, pancreatitis, and nephrolithiasis. Learn more

Dr. Pabitra Sahoo Receives NIGMS R35 Grant to Study Physiological Stress Granule Homeostasis and Function

Dr. Pabitra Sahoo, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Rutgers University–Newark School of Arts and Sciences, has received an R35 award from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. The project investigates physiological stress granules (SGs), which exist in axons of the peripheral and central nervous system even in the absence of stress, suppress local protein synthesis, and inhibit axon regeneration. Using peripheral nerve injury as a model, the study will identify the molecular components of axonal SGs across axonal growth stages and explore how axonal translation and posttranscriptional modifications regulate mRNA targeting to SGs. Dysfunction in SG assembly and disassembly is linked to multiple human diseases including neurodegeneration, cancer, and viral infections; findings will advance understanding of SG biology with broad cross‑disciplinary impact. Learn more

Dr. Linden Parkes Awarded BMIHAI Postdoctoral Health AI Research (PAIR) Fellow Program

Dr. Linden Parkes, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at RWJMS, BHI Core faculty member and a Core Member of the Center for Advanced Human Brain Imaging Research (CAHBIR) within the BHI, received a seed funding grant from the Rutgers Center for Biomedical Informatics & Health Artificial Intelligence (BMIHAI). Dr. Parkes’ lab focuses on two research areas: developing mechanistic computational models to study the biological basis of large-scale neural systems and using these models to understand the developmental emergence of cognition & psychopathology. Learn more

Dr. Brian Greer Named to NJBIZ NJ Healthcare People to Watch List

The NJBIZ “People to Watch” list highlights individuals who shape, lead, and elevate New Jersey’s healthcare industry, and the selection is a testament to the meaningful impact they’ve made. Dr. Brian Greer is interim director of the Center for Autism Research, Education, & Services (RUCARES) within the BHI, a tenured associate professor of pediatrics at RWJMS, and BHI core faculty member. His research and clinical work focus on understanding and supporting individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders, like autism, and their families when safety-compromising behavior limits participation in daily life. Learn more

Dr. Ian Oldenburg Named 2026 Pew Biomedical Scholar

Dr. Ian Oldenburg, Assistant Professor in the Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology at RWJMS and resident member of CABM, was named a 2026 Pew Biomedical Scholar, supported by The Pew Charitable Trusts for research that could deepen understanding of how the nervous system shapes movement, sensation and behavior. Dr. Oldenburg uses an innovative technology he helped develop as a postdoctoral researcher: multiphoton holographic optogenetics. This lets him use light to activate neurons in a mouse brain, a few dozen at a time, by hitting them with a tiny laser beam. Learn more

Rutgers Researchers Leading the First Study to Track Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias in South Asian Americans

Researchers at the Krieger Klein Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Research Center (KKARC) within the BHI reviewed 25 years of data on prevalence and risk factors for dementia in India. The review, published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia and led by Dr. Akankshi Oberoi and colleagues, identifies the need for longitudinal research like the South Asian Middle Age Risk Tracking for brain Health (SAMARTH) study. SAMARTH is the first U.S. study tracking South Asian Americans’ brain health, led by KKARC Director Dr. Michal Schnaider Beeri to discover modifiable risks and protective factors for Alzheimer’s Disease and related Dementias. Learn more Read the news article on Rutgers Today

Dr. Avram Holmes' Study Published in Nature Communications Examines Loss of Brain Flexibility in Psychiatric Disorders

A new study led by Dr. Avram Holmes, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at RWJMS and core faculty member of CAHBIR within the BHI, and by Dr. Carrisa Cocuzza, a postdoctoral fellow in the Holmes lab, was published in Nature Communications. The study finds that reduced flexibility in brain network dynamics characterizes individuals with psychiatric conditions, and dynamic brain function better explains individual mental health experiences than conventional diagnostic labels. Using transdiagnostic MRI and clinical data across multiple psychiatric diagnoses, the study confirmed that flattened brain dynamics align with personalized symptom fingerprints rather than standard diagnostic categories. The findings support a shift toward more personalized, biology-informed models of mental health for psychiatric conditions. Read the news article on Rutgers Today

Dr. Jenny Wilkerson’s Study Explores Mitragynine for Methamphetamine Use Disorder Treatment

A new preclinical study published in Psychopharmacology, co-authored by Dr. Jenny Wilkerson, Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology at NJMS and core faculty member of BHI, finds that no medications are currently approved to treat methamphetamine use disorder. The research identifies mitragynine, the most abundant naturally occurring compound in the kratom plant, reduces methamphetamine-seeking behavior in rats in a dose-dependent manner without reducing motivation for healthy food rewards. The work confirms mitragynine specifically targets drug-related motivation rather than suppressing all motivated behavior. 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!!

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

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 averaging over 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

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)

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

Multitasking Strategy Study (MUST Study): Neuroscience and Aging Study

The Rutgers Krieger Klein Alzheimer's Research Center and EngAGING Lab are recruiting older adults (60–75) for the MUST Study, a non-pharmacological research trial focused on cognitive training to support attention control and multitasking. Overall eligibility: ages 60–75, overall good health/cognitively healthy, English-speaking, and able to use a computer and the internet. Participation includes home-based online sessions (brain health education and cognitive training) and 3 in-person assessments over approximately 5–6 months. Participants may receive up to $275. 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

September 15

Brink of Pink Symposium

The symposium will be held on September 15, from 8 am–1 pm. This year’s theme is Brain Health, Burnout, and Cognitive Resilience in the Workplace, featuring four 25-minute student-led panels: Brain Health in Women – Hormones, stress, and cognitive load across a woman’s life and career; Brain Health in Men – Stigma, emotional suppression, and stress’s impact on mental health; The Aging Workforce – Cognitive longevity, neuroplasticity, and workplace support strategies; and Clinicians, Caregivers & First Responders – Burnout, compassion fatigue, and mental resilience. The symposium is seeking research staff and APPs who are passionate about brain health and interested in speaking as panelists. Learn more

September 16

5th Annual RARC Symposium

Please join us for the 5th Annual RARC Fall Symposium at the Rutgers Busch Student Center. This year’s symposium will feature keynote speaker Dr. Yasmin Hurd, Director of the Addiction Institute at Mount Sinai. Join fellow researchers, clinicians, trainees, and community partners as we celebrate five years of RARC and explore how addiction research at Rutgers is advancing toward real-world impact. Rutgers-affiliated faculty, staff, and trainees are invited to submit poster abstracts, and trainees may also indicate whether they would like to be considered for a brief oral presentation. Submissions are due August 7. Submit abstract and register now

September 24

2026 NJACE and RUCARES Conference

Register for the New Jersey Autism Center of Excellence (NJACE) and the Rutgers University Center for Autism Research, Education, and Services (RUCARES) in the BHI annual conference. Keynote speakers are Dr. Brian Boyd, William C. Friday Distinguished Professor in Education, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Director, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, and Dr. Xinyu Zhao, Professor, Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Register by September 10. Register now

September 24

2nd Annual International Brain & Spine Tumor Symposium

Save the date for the 2nd Annual International Brain & Spine Tumor Symposium to learn from national and international experts at NJ’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Medical students, residents, fellows, graduate students, and other trainees are welcome to submit abstracts. Learn more

September 24

Ira B. Black Memorial Lecture

The Ira B. Black Memorial Lecture will take place on Thursday, September 24, at 3:30 pm in the East Lecture Hall. Dr. Michelle Monje, Milan Gambhir Professor of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology at Stanford University and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, will present “Neuron-glial interactions in health and disease: from cognition to cancer”. Light refreshments will be available in the Old Student Lounge following the lecture.

December 2

12th Annual Rutgers Brain Health Institute Symposium

Save the date for the 12th Annual Rutgers Brain Health Institute Symposium. This year’s keynote speaker is Dr. Joseph E LeDoux, Professor Emeritus at New York University, where he was a University Professor, Henry and Lucy Moses Professor, Professor of Neural Science and Psychology, and Professor of Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at NYU Langone Medical School.

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!

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