UT Southwestern Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute

05/26/2026

Yogesh Tak, Ph.D., was awarded a 2026 O'Donnell Brain Institute Sprouts Grant for his research on tau amyloid toxicity. Dr. Tak is a postdoc in the Center for Alzheimer's & Neurodegenerative Diseases and in the Sanders Lab. Learn more about Sprouts Grants: https://bit.ly/42ko8UE

05/21/2026

The International Society for ECT and Neurostimulation (ISEN) honored O'Donnell Brain Institute (OBI) Investigator, Shawn McClintock, Ph.D., for his patient advocacy. Dr. McClintock, a Professor of Psychiatry, received the Mary Rosedale Award at ISEN's annual meeting on May 16. The award recognizes individuals who advocate for their patients as well as educate the public about brain stimulation and endeavor to decrease stigma surrounding chronic mental illness. In addition to his other roles, Dr. McClintock serves as Scientific Director of the OBI Perot Foundation Neuroscience Translational Research Center.

05/19/2026

Thank you to the patients, caregivers, family, and healthcare professionals who attended The Total Care Program for Parkinson's Disease Annual Symposium. Attendees heard from UT Southwestern movement disorders specialists and learned about the roles of physical, occupational, and speech therapists in caring for Parkinson's patients. Learn more about the Total Care program: https://utswmed.org/conditions-treatments/parkinsons-disease/total-care-program-for-parkinsons-disease/

05/14/2026

Congratulations to Neurosurgery Resident, Dr. Rebeka Langston, who was awarded a 2026 O'Donnell Brain Institute Sprouts Grant. The award supports Dr. Langston's research project: "Spatial-genomic mapping of human arachnoid granulations to uncover novel CSF absorption pathways."

05/12/2026

O'Donnell Brain Institute Investigator, Dr. Maria Chahrour, led two studies that shed new light on genes associated with spectrum disorder (ASD). The findings could lead to improved diagnostics and therapies that can treat ASD at its genetic roots.
https://bit.ly/3PkU0og

05/11/2026

05/07/2026

Two O'Donnell Brain Institute nurses are among this year's DFW Great 100 Nurses. Thanh Cubria, B.S.N., RN, CMSRN, and Sheena John, B.S.N., RN, are part of the UT Southwestern stroke and epilepsy teams. The DFW Great 100 Nurses organization honors nurses annually for their leadership, compassion, and community service. Learn more about Thanh and Sheena and all the UT Southwestern nurses who are being recognized. https://bit.ly/4wgCGkN

05/05/2026

Congratulations to the trainees who placed in the poster contest at last week's O'Donnell Brain Institute Annual Research Day. Jian Xue, Ph.D., Ryan McGrath, and Aleksandra Wosztyl were recognized for the research projects they are working on with OBI Investigators. Thank you to all who entered the contest and shared your research with the UT Southwestern neuroscience community.

05/04/2026

Attendees at the 2026 O'Donnell Brain Institute Annual Research Day heard from faculty and trainees on a broad range of brain science happening at UT Southwestern. The day's lineup included speakers among O'Donnell Brain Institute(OBI) Sprouts grant awardees, OBI Research Interest Groups, and OBI Scholar and Clinical Research Programs. A big thank you to our two keynote speakers, Dr. Anila D'Mello and Dr. Lu Sun. In addition, we had a record number of entrants for the poster competition. We will tell you about the winners tomorrow.

04/23/2026

A new art piece on campus may have special meaning for UT Southwestern's neuroscientists. The monumental stainless-steel sculpture by artist Roxy Paine is the latest addition to the sculpture park at UT Southwestern's Seldin Plaza. "Overgrown Neuron" is realistically shaped, but the sculpture blows up the cell to hundreds of thousands of times its size in nature.
https://bit.ly/48lwnlT