The McKnight Brain Institute of the University of Florida e-newsletter

Issue 15, Spring 2020

Message from the Director, Dr. Todd Golde

Dear Colleagues:

I hope you and your loved ones are staying healthy. These are incredibly challenging times both personally and professionally, but I know we'll emerge as a stronger and closer community.

Click here to read a recent message from MBI and Fixel Institute leadership and the MBI Executive Committee about the COVID-19 crisis.

In this newsletter, you'll find a special section with COVID-19-related news, as well as some of the regular research news that's occurred since the last newsletter.

Click here for updates on COVID-19's impact on research and sponsored programs.

Click here to access UF Health's COVID-19 site.

Please be well and stay safe and thank you for all you do for UF, UF Health and our community.

COVID-19 NEWS

workers pack up medical supplies to ship to frontlines of COVID-19

Researchers donate gloves, masks and other PPE to support frontline colleagues

UF researchers have joined an urgent effort to collect and donate PPE to support clinical colleagues treating COVID-19.

Study by UF neurointensivists details potential neurologic complications of severe respiratory viruses

Neurocritical care experts offer insight into potential neurologic complications of severe respiratory viruses, including COVID-19.

What you should know about the possible smell/taste link to COVID-19

Dr. Steven Munger discusses what science can tell us about the potential link — and what to do if it happens to you.

What Parkinson’s patients need to know about COVID-19

UF experts are leading Parkinson's Foundation Facebook Live events to answer questions from the Parkinson's community.

Tips for parents during the COVID-19 crisis

Many people are struggling to juggle work, parenting and now suddenly homeschooling their children during the COVID-19 crisis.

Identifying unhealthy anxiety during the coronavirus crisis

Experts at COARD discuss how to identify unhealthy anxiety and provide tips on how to manage it.

Engaging the elderly while social distancing

As we are encouraged to engage in social distancing during the coronavirus crisis, how do we stay engaged with our elderly friends and family members?

April 15: Zoom Into UF Neuroscience & Neuromedicine Research

MBI Director Dr. Todd Golde kicks off a new online seminar series to engage the UF neuroscience and neuromedicine research community with his presentation titled, “A new twist to the amyloid hypothesis of Alzheimer’s disease.”

Shelby Blaes is the MBI's latest Rising Star

MBI Rising Stars: Shelby Blaes

Shelby Blaes is the latest MBI Rising Star. This video series highlights up-and-coming neuroscience researchers at UF.

Graphs detailing: Processed LFP Signal; Patient-specific beta; count; duration; strength; and patient level

Research Snapshots: Dr. Aysegul Gunduz & Robert Eisinger

In a recent study, a team of UF neuroscientists and biomedical engineers compared beta dynamics in two Parkinson's disease deep brain stimulation (DBS) targets.

Brain cancer researcher embarks on new clinical trial

UF Health neuro-oncologist Dr. Elias Sayour received a $2.5 million grant from CureSearch For Children's Cancer.

UF experts featured in TBI Virtual Town Hall

Drs. Russell Bauer and Michael Jaffee discussed new progress in traumatic brain injury research.

Drs. Todd Golde and Cara Croft collaborate with trainees in the lab.

Postdocs highlighted: Key drivers in fueling discovery

In the latest edition of UF Health's The POST magazine, five MBI researchers were featured to show the important role that postdoctoral fellows play at a research university.

Leading brain tumor experts meet to advance UF Health-led ReMission Alliance

Experts collaborate in pursuit of discovering new immunotherapy regimens to improve quality of life for patients with brain tumors.

UF Health opens Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment

UF Health cut the ribbon on its new Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, a multidisciplinary, collaborative facility.

a grandfather celebrates his birthday with family.

Researchers explore why 45,000 Floridian superagers are so healthy

By studying superagers, people 90 and older in good health, researchers hope to uncover the keys to successful aging.

Two-way communication between gut bacteria and the brain may play a role in depression.

New study identifies depression by examining gut microbes

Study demonstrates novel biomarker tool designed to help identify depression via an AI machine-learning technique.

Researcher recognized by Alzheimer's Association

Dr. Malú Tansey is among five researchers honored in celebration of International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

MBI hosts 10th Annual SfN Chapter Conference

The UF departments of neuroscience and psychiatry and MBI co-sponsored the 10th annual North Central Florida Chapter of the SfN Conference.

UF Parkinson's experts co-author JAMA review

Drs. Michael Okun and Melissa Armstrong explore the intricacies of Parkinson's, including its various subtypes, diagnostic challenges, treatment options, prognosis and FAQs.

MBI researchers in the spotlight

Journalists regularly reach out to our MBI members for their expertise on many subjects. If a reporter contacts you, please alert assistant director of communications Todd Taylor, science writer Michelle Koidin Jaffee or UF Health media relations coordinator Ken Garcia so we can assist with, archive and promote your media endeavors. Here are recent examples of MBI researchers in the news:

• Dr. Carol Mathews (The Gainesville Sun) — UF Health’s new autism center to reduce waiting time

• Dr. Duane Mitchell (Orlando News 6 at Nine) — How childhood cancer research is advancing

• Dr. Malú Tansey (Medium) — Breaking through what’s holding you back

• Drs. Kelly Foote & Michael Okun (Freethink) — Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson's, Tourette's

SEE MORE EXAMPLES OF MBI RESEARCHERS IN THE SPOTLIGHT»

Put your work on the national stage

Check out these recent Conversation pieces written by MBI members:

• Drs. Steven Munger & Jeb Justice — Is the loss of smell and taste an early sign of COVID-19?

• Dr. Michael Okun — Ozzy Osbourne has a type of Parkinson's disease called Parkin

More than 100 UF faculty members have contributed to this online magazine, and it's a great opportunity to highlight your work. The Conversation reaches 5 million-plus unique readers monthly and then the articles go farther, often picked up by major outlets such as The Washington Post, Scientific American, Smithsonian Magazine and the Chicago Tribune.

Contact science writer Michelle Koidin Jaffee or assistant director of communications Todd Taylor with your ideas for The Conversation.

Reminder from the Communications Team

Please become an MBI member (if you haven’t already), make sure you have a professional headshot, update your UF Health Directory profile and let our communications team know early and often when you have big news or research coming out of your area. All of these efforts will help us shine an even brighter light on neuro research at UF.

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