This research explores how the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex communicate to support memory for sequences of events. By understanding how these brain regions track past, present, and future, the work aims to shed light on cognitive impairments seen in disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and depression.

This research investigates why women are more vulnerable to stress-related disorders. Using a mouse model of acute trauma, the study shows that estrogen levels in the hippocampus drive memory disruption after stress. Blocking local estrogen production protects memory, revealing sex-specific mechanisms relevant for targeted treatments.

This talk highlights the importance of science communication. Despite the fear of public speaking, sharing research can directly impact lives. A three-minute research presentation led to a pediatric cancer patient receiving treatment, demonstrating how communicating science beyond the lab can translate into real-world benefits.

This research explores how early-life stress alters reward motivation differently in males and females. By identifying sex-specific brain circuits and wiring patterns shaped by early stress, it reveals why individuals respond differently to reward and highlights the need for personalized approaches to mental health treatment.

This research examines how stress during adolescence produces lasting, sex-specific cognitive effects in adulthood. Using an animal model, the work replicates learning and attention deficits seen in humans and investigates cellular communication mechanisms underlying these changes, with the goal of reducing the long-term cognitive impact of adolescent stress.

Drawing on personal experience with depression and anxiety, this researcher studies synaptic adhesion molecules—key proteins that shape how neural connections form and adapt. By understanding how these molecules change across development, the work aims to uncover molecular mechanisms behind neuropsychiatric disorders and inform future treatments or prevention strategies.

This research shows that early-life oxytocin treatment can reverse key features of fragile X syndrome in mice. Brief intervention strengthens neural connections, normalizes learning and social behavior, and prevents seizures into adulthood. The findings suggest oxytocin may offer a safe, early intervention strategy for fragile X and other intellectual disabilities.

This talk presents a new noninvasive MRI method to visualize the brain’s immune response. By imaging inflammation without injections or contrast agents, the research offers new insights into Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, and traumatic brain injury, helping researchers better understand how brain inflammation contributes to neurological disorders.

This talk describes research on how the brain learns and remembers by recording neural activity in mice navigating virtual environments. By studying hippocampal and cortical neurons, the work reveals how the brain builds cognitive maps of space and experience, offering insights into memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease.

This research examines whether emotional sensitivity in women varies across the menstrual cycle by studying the interaction of sleep, hormones, and time. By tracking emotional memory at multiple cycle stages, the work aims to replace stereotypes with evidence and address long-standing gaps in women’s health and cognitive research.