UF Health Neuromedicine

08/25/2025

Congratulations to MBI researcher Dr. Michael Jaffee, named chair of Brain Injury Association of America's new Brain Injury Action Coalition, which will identify new solutions and accelerate advancements in treatment & prevention.

“For too long, brain injury has been understudied and underfunded. It is of vital importance that we have all parties at the table to advocate for a National Plan of Action that addresses the challenges that the brain injury community is facing, and I am excited to lead this effort,” said Jaffee, chair of UF Neurology.

Read more: bit.ly/4oOhChP

08/12/2025

In Pharmacological Reviews, MBI researchers Drs. Nancy Padilla-Coreano and Freddyson Martínez-Rivera examine dopamine’s role in social behaviors and how its dysfunction in neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism could influence social interactions.

“Neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders impact social behaviors, which results in reduced quality of life,” Padilla-Coreano said. “Current treatments for social dysfunctions are limited by our lack of knowledge regarding how the brain regulates and controls social interactions.”

Read more: bit.ly/4m7Hkwf

07/17/2025

Our latest MBI Researcher Highlight features Dr. Paola Giusti-Rodriguez, a University of Florida assistant professor of psychiatry who studies genetic psychiatric disorders and neurodevelopmental disorders. An investigator with UF’s Center for OCD, Anxiety and Related Disorders, Giusti-Rodriguez hopes to advance understanding of conditions including autism and schizophrenia.

Learn more: bit.ly/457XGP6

07/17/2025

MBI neuroscientists have discovered that dopamine neurons malfunction well before Parkinson's symptoms appear, opening a critical window for early intervention.
Published in npj Parkinson's Disease, the study reveals how the protein α-synuclein disrupts activity of dopamine neurons well before movement problems develop. This could transform treatment in the future by targeting the disease before irreversible damage occurs.

Read our latest MBI Research Snapshot: bit.ly/3Ug1mrO

06/24/2025

06/03/2025

The 10th Luttge Lecture, honoring visionary neuroscientist and MBI founding director Dr. William G. “Bill” Luttge, was delivered to a full house of 170+ attendees by world-renowned cognitive aging expert Dr. Ulman Lindenberger.

“I’m thrilled to be able to say today that Bill’s vision — bringing together scientists and clinicians from across campus to a hub of high-caliber impact research — has not only been realized but is truly thriving,” said MBI Director Dr. Jennifer Bizon.

Read more: bit.ly/4kFwoEH

05/15/2025

The Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute (MBI) at the University of Florida (UF) is a comprehensive and diverse neuroscience research center that houses the UF College of Medicine’s four “neuro” departments: neuroscience, neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry.

04/24/2025

For more than two decades, Michael Pasternak has worked to help find a cure for trigeminal neuralgia.

“Over the years, I have gotten to known Michael Pasternak through his passion and tireless advocacy for patients with trigeminal neuralgia,” said MBI Director Dr. Jennifer Bizon. “He has devoted himself fully to alleviating their suffering.”

Learn about his journey and how he's helped fuel research at the MBI and beyond through The Facial Pain Research Foundation: bit.ly/4cQt731

04/22/2025

Devon Borg, a University of Florida undergrad assistant in the lab of MBI researcher Dr. Habibeh Khoshbouei, is recognized in the current issue of Science magazine for taking first place in the Brain and Behavior category of the 2025 AAAS - The American Association for the Advancement of Science Student E-poster Competition.

“He works so hard and he’s so motivated,” said his mentor Leah Phan, a Ph.D. student in the Khoshbouei Lab. “It is so rewarding to see him be recognized for all his hard work.”

Learn more: bit.ly/4lH4IAC

04/21/2025

At Wednesday's MBI Insights event, Suzanne Weitzel shared her son Joshua's story of resilience after being born with a significant brain disability, while Carly Pfeiffer detailed her path to healing following a series of childhood concussions.

Read more: bit.ly/3Y3KS8S

04/07/2025

Scientists working to develop new, nonaddictive treatments for chronic pain turned out in force at the inaugural UF Pain Research and Integrated Neuroscience Symposium on Monday.

Pain “afflicts millions of people worldwide, and here at the University of Florida, we recognize this, and we are going to address it boldly through innovation, collaboration and cutting-edge research,” said Dr. Rajesh Khanna, director of the new UF Center for Advanced Pain Therapeutics and Research.

Learn more: bit.ly/4jdGjAT