|
|
|
|
Message from our Director
Ehud Isacoff, director of the Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute and Berkeley Brain Initiative, shares the exciting new initiatives, technologies, and partnerships that have launched this year that will help us achieve breakthroughs in neuroscience. He also welcomes our new faculty members and students, and highlights our members’ achievements in neuroscience education and outreach. Read his message…
|
|
|
Research Discoveries
 Reducing brain inflammation can reverse signs of dementia
A groundbreaking pair of new studies published in Science Translational Medicine from Professor Daniela Kaufer and colleagues, including HWNI member Andrew Dillin, supports the idea that age-related breakdown of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) can cause cognitive decline due to blood proteins leaking into the brain and causing inflammation. They found that a drug that blocks brain inflammation reverses the cognitive dysfunction and brain aging triggered by this mechanism in mice. They also showed that this pathway is involved in human brain aging, and identified a related abnormal pattern of brain activity in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. These findings could lead to entirely new avenues for the diagnosis and treatment of dementia. Kaufer, along with HWNI member William Jagust, won the Radical Ideas in Brain Science Challenge last year to study the role of the BBB in age-related cognitive decline. Read more about the new findings from Berkeley News.
 New findings could lead to improved treatment of depression
Symptoms of depression can vary widely, and treatments that work for one person may not work for another. A new study from the Lammel lab, led by Neuroscience PhD student Ignas Cerniauskas, identifies several biomarkers in mice, at levels ranging from genes to circuits, associated specifically with one symptom of depression — lack of motivation. This could ultimately lead to improved diagnosis and more tailored treatment of depression, depending on the patient’s symptoms. Read the paper in Neuron and the article in Berkeley News.
Illustration by Neuroscience PhD student Christine Liu.
 New network of light-sensitive cells found in the developing retina
It was only recently discovered that some ganglion cells in the developing retina can actually detect light. A new study from Neuroscience PhD student Franklin Caval-Holme and Professor Marla Feller has shown that these cells exist in several different functional groups that form networks in the retina, in part through direct electrical connections. Importantly, they can detect different intensities of light, revealing that the immature retina has more sophisticated light responses than previously known. Read more from Berkeley News.
Image by Franklin Caval-Holme.
 A good night’s sleep can alleviate anxiety
Anxiety can keep you up at night, but new research from the Walker lab shows that a lack of sleep can also make anxiety worse, and describes the mechanisms involved. They found that a lack of sleep reduced activity in the medial prefrontal cortex — a region of the brain that “puts the brakes” on anxiety — and increased activity in areas involved in emotional reactivity. Conversely, a good night of sleep, particularly deep non-REM sleep, reduced anxiety the next day. Read the paper in Nature Human Behaviour and the article in Berkeley News.
Information theory gives insight into how birds understand each other’s calls
Songbirds use distinct vocal calls to communicate with each other, but how do their brains interpret the meaning of those calls? Postdoctoral fellow Julie Elie and Professor Frédéric Theunissen have developed a novel computational approach, based on information theory, that provides insight into how call meaning is processed over time by neurons. This innovative approach could be applied to other sensory systems, and other species, to enhance our knowledge about how the brain processes information and extracts meaning. Read the press release and the paper in PLOS Computational Biology.
 New model of neural processing could help us understand the brain and create better AI
Brain activity can be rhythmic, like brain waves, but individual neurons also generate “spikes” of activity. Postdoctoral fellow E. Paxon Frady and Adjunct Professor of Neuroscience Friedrich (Fritz) Sommer have developed a new computational model of neural processing that takes into account both spikes and rhythms to help explain how the brain performs complex computations. Their work, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, has implications for both neuroscience and machine learning. Read our Q&A with Frady and Sommer to learn more.
 Undergraduate researcher maps brain circuitry and reveals the limitations of a commonly used research method
Daniel Cardozo Pinto, a former undergraduate in the Lammel lab, is first author on a new paper in Nature Communications showing that several mouse lines genetically engineered to label dopamine or serotonin neurons vary in their specificity and number of cells labeled. Their results provide critical information to researchers who are using these lines, and also describe the organization and circuitry of a brain region rich in these cell types. Read our article to learn more about their study and about Cardozo Pinto, who is the first in his family to pursue an advanced degree, and who credits the mentoring he received in the Lammel lab for helping him develop as a scientist.
Image courtesy of Daniel Cardozo Pinto and Stephan Lammel.
 Ten simple rules for computational modeling of behavioral data
The use of computational modeling to study behavior can give misleading results if not used properly, so Anne Collins, assistant professor of psychology, has co-authored a paper in eLife that outlines how to use it appropriately and avoid common pitfalls. “We learned many of these lessons the hard way,” she says. In this paper, the authors share what they have learned to help both beginning and more advanced researchers. Read the press release to learn more.
|
|
|
News
 $106M Weill Neurohub: Philanthropy creates groundbreaking partnership to cure disease
The Weill Family Foundation, led by Joan and Sandy Weill, has given a $106 million gift to establish the Weill Neurohub — an innovative partnership between UC Berkeley, UC San Francisco, and the University of Washington to accelerate the development of new treatments for diseases and disorders of the brain. It will enable new interdisciplinary and cross-institutional collaborations and jump-start novel high-risk/high-reward projects that could transform the clinic. To do this, the Weill Neurohub will provide support for innovative ideas, postdocs and graduate students, and the development of key research infrastructure. HWNI is pleased to be at the forefront of these efforts on the Berkeley campus. Read more…
 UCSF-UC Berkeley Schwab Dyslexia and Cognitive Diversity Center launched
UC San Francisco and UC Berkeley have jointly launched the UCSF-UC Berkeley Schwab Dyslexia and Cognitive Diversity Center, thanks to a $20 million gift from Charles Schwab. The center will support research and clinical efforts on the two campuses to deepen our understanding of dyslexia and other learning differences, develop new interventions, and reduce their stigma. The interdisciplinary effort includes the fields of neuroscience, cognitive psychology, education, and public health, and will also provide support for graduate and undergraduate students. Read more…
Advanced Bioimaging Center to reveal the secret life of cells
Nobel Laureate and HWNI member Eric Betzig and his colleagues, including Srigokul “Gokul” Upadhyayula, have developed breakthroughs in microscopy that enable fast, high-resolution imaging of live cells — in real time and in real tissues. Soon, these revolutionary new microscopes will be available to researchers at UC Berkeley’s new Advanced Bioimaging Center (ABC). The ABC is led by Upadhyayula, an assistant professor in residence of cell and developmental biology. Betzig, a professor of cell and developmental biology and physics, is one of the co-founders of the ABC. Read more and watch a video about how these microscopes will give researchers an unprecedented look at the “microscopic universe” inside of cells.
 Kids are the reviewers at this scientific journal
Several years ago, Robert Knight, professor of psychology and former director of HWNI, had an off-the-cuff idea about the scientific review process: “Why don’t we just put kids in charge?” This led to Frontiers for Young Minds, a journal where scientists rewrite their papers for kids, and kids review them with the help of a mentor. The journal now has hundreds of free, understandable, kid-approved articles on cutting-edge topics in STEM, and millions of page views. Many HWNI faculty, postdocs, and students have volunteered with the journal including Neuroscience PhD student Emilio Soto Soto and postdoc Julia Kam. Read our article to learn about their experiences working with young reviewers, how Knight made his vision come to life, and the benefits to both kids and scientists.
|
|
|
PhD Program News
Berkeley Neuroscience members meet prospective PhD students at fall conferences
Berkeley Neuroscience faculty, staff, and students enjoyed talking with prospective students about our Neuroscience PhD Program at several meetings this fall. We had representatives at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS), the Society for Neuroscience (SFN) Graduate School Fair, and the NIH Blueprint Program for Enhancing Neuroscience Diversity through Undergraduate Research Education (ENDURE) meeting at SFN. Thank you to everyone who volunteered! We look forward to meeting prospective new students during interviews in February. Read more…
Left photo: Neuroscience PhD student Christiane Voufo (L) at the ABRCMS conference with her cousin. Right photo: PhD Program Director Michael Silver (L) talking with a prospective student at the ENDURE meeting, with Neuroscience Training Grant Director Dan Feldman (R).
|
|
|
Honors and Awards
 Schaffer and Ivry elected as AAAS Fellows
David Schaffer, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, and Richard Ivry, professor of psychology, have been named fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Schaffer’s work focuses on engineering stem cell and gene therapeutics. Ivry studies cognition and action, with an emphasis on how people select actions, learn skills, and produce coordinated movements. Read more...
 Bautista wins NIH Director’s Transformative Research Award
Diana Bautista, professor of cell and developmental biology, won a 2019 NIH Director’s Transformative Research Award. The award supports exceptionally innovative, high-risk, and/or unconventional research projects with potentially transformative implications. Bautista studies the molecular and cellular mechanisms of itch, touch, and pain under normal and disease conditions. Read more…
 Landry selected as a Bakar Fellow
Markita Landry, assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, has been named one of seven new Bakar Fellows. The program helps faculty translate novel ideas into entrepreneurial ventures. Landry’s research focuses on nanomaterials, single-molecule fluorescence microscopy, and biophysics, including developing nanosensors to detect molecules in the brain. Read more...
 Yartsev wins Janett Rosenberg Trubatch Career Development Award
Michael Yartsev, assistant professor of bioengineering and the Berkeley Nanosciences and Nanoengineering Institute, won a Janett Rosenberg Trubatch Career Development Award. The award recognizes early-career researchers who have demonstrated originality and creativity in their work. Yartsev develops and applies cutting-edge neuroscience techniques to study the neural basis of spatial and social behaviors in freely behaving and flying bats. Read more...
 Knight receives Award for Education in Neuroscience
Robert Knight, professor of psychology, was honored with an Award for Education in Neuroscience from the Society for Neuroscience for his work as a Chief Editor for Frontiers for Young Minds, an open-access journal with articles written by scientists and reviewed by kids. Read more...
 Lammel wins One Mind Rising Star Award
Stephan Lammel, assistant professor of neurobiology, won a 2019 One Mind – Janssen Rising Star Translational Research Award. The award supports promising emerging leaders in the field of neuropsychiatry. Lammel’s research focuses on midbrain dopamine circuits in reward-based behaviors, and pathological changes in addiction, depression, and schizophrenia. Read more...
 Postdocs Delevich and de Jong win NARSAD Young Investigator Grants
Postdoctoral fellows Kristen Delevich (Wilbrecht lab) and Johannes de Jong (Lammel lab) both won 2019 NARSAD Young Investigator Grants from the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation. The grants support the work of promising early-career researchers studying topics related to mental illness, as they continue their training or begin faculty careers. Read more...
 Isacoff receives McKnight Memory and Cognitive Disorders Award
Ehud Isacoff, professor of neurobiology and director of HWNI, along with Dirk Trauner (NYU), has been awarded a 2020 Memory and Cognitive Disorders Award from the McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience. They will study whether light-activated molecules can restore dopamine signaling in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease, potentially alleviating motor and cognitive symptoms. This could lead to new therapies for Parkinson’s and other neurological diseases and disorders. Read more...
|
|
|
Profiles
 PhD alum Gautam Agarwal challenges the brain to understand how it works in the real world
“I'm learning at a rate that has essentially stayed the same or increased over time. There's always something new to learn and grapple with.”
After earning his PhD in the Isacoff lab, Gautam Agarwal transitioned from cell and molecular neuroscience to theoretical neuroscience by doing a postdoc in the Sommer lab. He then did a second postdoc in Portugal, and recently returned to Berkeley as a research scientist in the Sommer lab. He will soon be releasing a citizen science video game, designed to gain a better understanding of human intelligence. In this Q&A, Agarwal discusses his ongoing quest to understand human experience from perspectives as diverse as neuroscience and dance. Read the Q&A…
 PhD student Christine Liu blends science, art, and advocacy
“I've always been drawn to the fact that I can dedicate my life to creating something, whether it's knowledge or an image that has previously never existed.”
Neuroscience PhD student Christine Liu studies neural circuits involved in nicotine reward and aversion in the Lammel lab. She also creates and sells science-themed art, and uses the proceeds to give awards and grants to people working to make STEM fields more inclusive. Liu was recently featured on the website Diversity in Research Jobs, where she discusses the importance of redefining what a scientist “looks like”. Read the profile...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
