BHI

Neuroscience Seminar Series for Rising Scholars: Amber Howell, PhD (PI: Linden Parkes & Avram Holmes)
2026-04-27 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Room 127, Staged Research Building (SRB), Busch Campus
“Thalamic Connectivity Constrains Functional Brain Dynamics”
Speaker: Amber Howell, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow, PI: Drs. Linden Parkes & Avram Holmes
Date and Time: Monday, April 27, 2026, 12:00 PM
In-Person: Room 127, Staged Research Building (SRB), Busch Campus
Join via Zoom: Please email the host, Dr. Noelle Stiles (noelle.stiles@rutgers.edu), or check the CAHBIR Slack #General thread for the link
Abstract: Understanding how flexible brain dynamics emerge from a relatively fixed anatomical architecture is a fundamental goal in neuroscience. Mounting evidence points to the engagement of thalamic loops as a crucial mechanism by which cortical areas achieve functional flexibility. Through their dense, reciprocal anatomical connections spanning the cortex, thalamic loops are well positioned to shape brain dynamics, yet their contribution to functional brain organization remains poorly defined, particularly in humans. Here, we integrate multimodal neuroimaging and behavioral data from a large cohort of healthy adults, along with post-mortem tissue samples, to characterize how the pattern of anatomical connections within the thalamus constrains cortical dynamics at rest. We find that cortical areas with more diffuse thalamic connections exhibit greater functional variability and reorganization of thalamocortical dynamics. Variation in thalamic connectivity patterns also aligns with distinct cortical cell-type profiles and an axis of cortical organization that links cortical functional variability to cognitive performance, suggesting interactions between local microcircuit organization and long-range anatomical constraints to shape computational properties of the cortical sheet. Together, these data reveal complex thalamocortical architectural constraints on cortical dynamics, linking functional variability and underlying cellular mechanisms to interregional differences associated with cognitive function.: Understanding how flexible brain dynamics emerge from a relatively fixed anatomical architecture is a fundamental goal in neuroscience. Mounting evidence points to the engagement of thalamic loops as a crucial mechanism by which cortical areas achieve functional flexibility. Through their dense, reciprocal anatomical connections spanning the cortex, thalamic loops are well positioned to shape brain dynamics, yet their contribution to functional brain organization remains poorly defined, particularly in humans. Here, we integrate multimodal neuroimaging and behavioral data from a large cohort of healthy adults, along with post-mortem tissue samples, to characterize how the pattern of anatomical connections within the thalamus constrains cortical dynamics at rest. We find that cortical areas with more diffuse thalamic connections exhibit greater functional variability and reorganization of thalamocortical dynamics. Variation in thalamic connectivity patterns also aligns with distinct cortical cell-type profiles and an axis of cortical organization that links cortical functional variability to cognitive performance, suggesting interactions between local microcircuit organization and long-range anatomical constraints to shape computational properties of the cortical sheet. Together, these data reveal complex thalamocortical architectural constraints on cortical dynamics, linking functional variability and underlying cellular mechanisms to interregional differences associated with cognitive function.

Center for NeuroMetabolism Special Seminar (Hybrid): Aaron Wolfe, PhD
2026-04-27 10:00 - 11:00 | CHI 3209, 89 French Street, New Brunswick
“Glycolytic specialization shapes neuronal physiology and function in vivo”
Guest Speaker: Aaron Wolfe, PhD
Postdoctoral Associate, Yale University
Date | Time: Monday, April 27, 2026, 10-11 am EST
Location: CHI 3209, 89 French Street, New Brunswick
Zoom: https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/94953430999?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 949 5343 0999
Password: [REDACTED]
Hosted by: Zhiping Pang, MD, PhD, Director, Center for NeuroMetabolism

Rutgers Day 2026
2026-04-25 10:00 - 16:00
Rutgers Day 2026 will take place on Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Cook/Douglass, College Avenue, and Busch campuses. Registration is open for schools, departments, centers, and student organizations to submit their plans for Rutgers Day programming. Registration closes February 13, 2026.
To learn more, visit the Rutgers Day website, click on “Program Provider Information – Submit a Program,” and log in with your NET ID to review guidelines for creating a successful program, download marketing materials to promote your activities, and submit your program. Programs should be fun, interactive, and informative for our visitors. For programming tips, view the Rutgers Day Webinar.
Be ready to submit your Rutgers Day t-shirt order, including quantities and sizes, as part of the registration process. Each program may order up to 10 shirts.
Would your unit like to participate in the Rutgers Day R Garden? Decorate a 3-foot wooden R to be displayed on Voorhees Mall during the event. Limited R’s are available, so complete your application by February 13 to be considered.
Mark your calendar for Saturday, April 25, and take advantage of this opportunity to share all the great things that Rutgers has to offer. For questions, email rutgersday@rutgers.edu.

Rutgers Giving Day
2026-04-24
Rutgers Giving Day is coming on April 24, and we invite you to mark your calendar in support of the Brain Health Institute.
At BHI, discovery does not stop in the lab. It moves research closer to real-world impact for patients, families, and communities. Your support helps fuel the work that drives brain health research forward across neuroscience, clinical innovation, education, and collaboration.
This year, we look forward to sharing more about the people, centers, and research that make BHI’s work possible—and why that work matters.
Support BHI: https://brainhealthinstitute.rutgers.edu/support-bhi/

Rutgers Network Neuroscience Interest Group: Caio Seguin, PhD - University of Melbourne
2026-04-23 16:00 - 17:00
“Advances in network neuroscience: towards connectome-based predictions and mechanisms”
Speaker: Caio Seguin, PhD
Research Fellow in Network Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne
Date and Time: Thursday, April 23rd at 4:00 PM
Zoom: https://rutgers.zoom.us/my/lp756?pwd=[REDACTED]
In-Person: SRB seminar room
Abstract: Network neuroscience and connectomics have made great advances in characterising the organisation of brain connectivity using the mathematics of graph theory. Despite this progress, the question remains: are network and graph properties merely descriptive, or do they bear on mechanisms of brain function and dysfunction? In this talk, I will discuss the recent shift away from descriptions of brain connectivity, and towards the use of network measures as tools for mechanism discovery and health outcomes prediction. I will focus on network models of brain signalling and communication, presenting evidence that simples models provide insight into how connectome architecture shapes a diverse range trans-synaptic signalling processes—from the propagation of single-neuron optogenetic perturbations in C. elegans, to the transmission of electrical pulses through the human connectome, to the therapeutic effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression. Taken together, these advances suggest general principles of how connectome wiring shapes neural signalling and open up opportunities for connectome-based interventions in psychiatry.

KKARC Chalk Talk (Hybrid): Yang Yeh, PhD
2026-04-21 15:00 - 16:30
“Modulating Macronutrient Sensing in AD Neuropathology in Mice”
Date: Wednesday, April 21, 2026, 3:00-4:30 PM
In-person Location: IFH Building, 112 Paterson Street, New Brunswick, 1st Floor Conference Room
Zoom: https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/99162883827?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 991 6288 3827; Passcode: [REDACTED]
Chung-Yang (Yang) Yeh, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral fellow in the Lamming Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Yeh’s research focuses on understanding the intersection of metabolism, nutrient signaling, and aging. His ongoing work investigates the mechanisms and effects of lifespan-extending dietary interventions, such as the restriction of dietary isoleucine, in the context of aging and aging-related diseases. These studies highlight the important role of nutrient sensing in shaping distinct molecular and phenotypic signatures. Dr. Yeh’s future works will seek to understand the role of molecular nutrient sensors in the neuropathology of Alzheimer’s disease, other neurodegenerative conditions, and healthy brain aging in general.

Eating Disorders Lecture: Kelly Klump, PhD - Michigan State University
2026-04-17 09:30 - 10:30
Join us on Friday, April 17 (9:30–10:30 AM ET) for a distinguished lecture by Kelly L. Klump, PhD, MSU Research Foundation Distinguished Professor and Co-Director of the Michigan State University Twin Registry. Dr. Klump will present “Critical Roles for Puberty and Ovarian Hormones in Genetic Risk for Binge Eating: Evidence from Human and Animal Models.” The event will be held in person at CABM with a virtual option available; light breakfast will be served for in-person attendees. RSVP required.

Please confirm your attendance by completing this RSVP form: https://rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ai93VpMy5fxySGO

BHI Plenary Seminar (Hybrid): Xiongwei Zhu, PhD - Case Western Reserve University
2026-04-16 13:00 - 14:00 | Medical Science Bldg., Room B-610, New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ 07101.
“Abnormal Mitochondrial Dynamics As a Therapeutic Target for Alzheimer’s Disease”
Date and Time: Thursday, April 16th, 2026. At 1.00 PM EST
Location: Medical Science Bldg., Room B-610, New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ 07101.
Zoom: https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/91320306423?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 913 2030 6423
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Speaker: Xiongwei Zhu, PhD
Professor of Pathology and Neurology
Clive R. Hamlin Ph.D. Designated Professorship in Pathology
Vice Chair of Graduate Education
Graduate Program Director,
Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106
Multiple lines of evidence suggest that mitochondrial dysfunction plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. Recent studies demonstrated that mitochondria are highly dynamic organelles characterized by a delicate balance of fission and fusion, a concept that has revolutionized our basic understanding of the regulation of mitochondrial structure and function, which has far-reaching significance in studies of health and disease. We found significant changes in the expression of mitochondrial fission and fusion proteins in AD brain. Both in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that mitochondrial dynamics was tipped towards fission and resulted in mitochondrial fragmentation and abnormal distribution in AD models, which likely contributes to mitochondrial and synaptic dysfunction as well as neuroinflammation in AD. Genetic and pharmaceutical methods to rescue mitochondrial morphology and distribution could effectively restore Aβ-induced mitochondrial function and alleviate synaptic dysfunction both in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, we propose that abnormal mitochondrial dynamics negatively impacts all aspects of mitochondrial function, which causes synaptic dysfunction and neuronal dysfunction that is critical to AD pathogenesis. Therefore, abnormal mitochondrial dynamics appear to be an attractive therapeutic intervention target for AD. Learn more
Hosted by Dr. Ying Xu, Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, New Jersey Medical School

Center for NeuroMetabolism Special Seminar (Hybrid): Lin Mei, PhD - Capital Medical University
2026-04-14 15:00 - 16:00 | CHI 3209, 89 French Street, New Brunswick
“Dynamic regulation of GABAergic transmission by neuregulin 1 and its receptor ErbB4, both risk genes of major depression”
Guest Speaker: Lin Mei, PhD
Director and Distinguished Investigator
Chinese Institutes for Medical Research
Chair Professor Capital Medical University
Date | Time: Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 3-4 pm EST
Location: CHI 3209, 89 French Street, New Brunswick
Zoom Link: https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/96497308470?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 964 9730 8470 Password: [REDACTED]
Hosted by: Zhiping Pang, MD, PhD
Director, Center for NeuroMetabolism

RWJ-NCB Seminar Series (Hybrid): Todd C. Sacktor, MD - The State University of New York Downstate Medical Center
2026-04-14 11:00 - 12:00 | Research Tower, Room V12
“KIBRA-PKMζ Interactions, Molecular Turnover, and Memory”
Please join us on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at 11:00 AM in the Research Tower, Room V12 for an RWJ-Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology Seminar Series featuring Todd C. Sacktor, MD, Distinguished Professor of Physiology and Pharmacology, Anesthesiology, and Neurology at The State University of New York Downstate Medical Center. The host for this seminar is Dr. Huaye Zhang (RWJ-Neuroscience and Cell Biology). All are welcome to attend.
Click Here to Join
Meeting ID: 991 8562 6685; Password: [REDACTED]

Neuroscience Seminar Series for Rising Scholars: Loïc Labache, PhD (Avram Holmes’s lab)
2026-04-13 12:00 - 13:00
“Multiscale Organization of Human Brain Lateralization: From Molecular Asymmetries to Cognitive Phenotypes”
Speaker: Loïc Labache, PhD
Postdoctoral Health AI Research Fellow, Dr. Avram Holmes’s lab
Date and Time: Monday, April 13, 2026, 12:00 PM
In-Person: Room 127, Staged Research Building (SRB), Busch Campus
Join via Zoom: Please email the host, Dr. Noelle Stiles (noelle.stiles@rutgers.edu), or check the CAHBIR Slack #General thread for the link
Abstract: Hemispheric specialization is a fundamental feature of human brain organization, yet its biological basis and variability remain unclear. Here, I combine multimodal imaging and transcriptomic data to show that cortical lateralization is supported by gradients in neurochemical and cellular architecture that define left-lateralized language and right-lateralized attention networks. Using Human Connectome Project data, I further identify distinct, heritable phenotypes of attentional lateralization and introduce a “crowding” framework capturing how language and attention co-lateralize across individuals. Together, these findings support a multiscale model in which hemispheric specialization reflects both biological constraints and flexible population-level organization.

Training in Addiction Research Program (TARP) Annual Symposium
2026-04-08 12:00 - 17:00 | Center for Advanced Biotechnology & Medicine (CABM) Seminar Room 010 – 679 Hoes Ln W, Piscataway, NJ 08854
Keynote: Dr. Debra Bangasser
Dr. Debbie Bangasser is a Professor of Neuroscience, a Georgia Research Alliance Distinguished Investigator, and the Director of the Center for Behavioral Neuroscience. Dr. Bangasser is the Principal Investigator of the Neuroendocrinology and Behavior Laboratory, which investigates how stress across the lifespan alters vulnerability/resilience to substance use disorder, depression, and anxiety disorders. Dr. Bangasser’s research program received the Janett Rosenberg Trubatch Career Development Award from the Society for Neuroscience, which recognizes originality and creativity in research, and an American Psychological Association Presidential Citation.
In-Person Location: Center for Advanced Biotechnology & Medicine (CABM) Seminar Room 010 – 679 Hoes Ln W, Piscataway, NJ 08854
Join Zoom Meeting: https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/95834829230?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 958 3482 9230; Passcode: [REDACTED]

Department of Biological Sciences Biology Colloquium Seminar (Hybrid): Andreas Jenny, PhD - Albert Einstein College of Medicine
2026-04-07 13:00 - 14:00 | Life Sciences Center 130, 255 University Avenue, Newark
“Endosomal Microautophagy, Lamp1,and Parkinson’s Disease”
Speaker: Andreas Jenny, Ph.D
Professor, Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Date and time: Tuesday, April 7th, 2026; 1:00 pm.
Location: Life Sciences Center 130, 255 University Avenue, Newark
Zoom: https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/95328694284?pwd=[REDACTED]
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Host: Ching-On Wong, PhD; Jean-Pierre Etchegaray, PhD

CHI Science Seminar (Hybrid): Byungkook Lim, PhD - UC San Diego
2026-04-07 12:00 - 13:00 | CHI Conf Room 3101
“Distinct interneuronal dynamics selectively gate target-specific cortical projections in drug seeking”
Child Health Institute of New Jersey Science Seminar
Co-sponsored by the Rutgers Institute for Translational Medicine & Science and the New Jersey Alliance for Clinical and Translational Science
Guest Speaker: Byungkook Lim, PhD
Professor, Dept. of Neurobiology, School of Biological Sciences, UC San Diego
Date | Time: Tuesday, April 7, 2026 12:00 – 1:00 pm (EDT)
Location: CHI Conf Room 3101
Zoom: https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/96701610789?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 967 0161 0789 | Password: [REDACTED]
Hosted by:
Zhiping Pang, MD, PhD Professor, Child Health Institute
Presented with the Support of the Kenneth & Audrey Gould Lecture Endowment

Special BHI Seminar: Zachary Freyberg, MD, PhD - University of Pittsburgh
2026-04-06 11:00 - 12:00
“Opening New Windows into Dopamine Cell Biology in Health and Disease.”
Speaker: Zachary Freyberg, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Associate Professor of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, PA
When: Monday, April 6, 2026, at 11 AM (EST)
Join Zoom Meeting: https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/99170867330?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 991 7086 7330
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia Translational Work-in-Progress (ADRD-TWIP): Michelle Chen, PhD
2026-04-01 12:00 - 13:00
“Environmental Determinants of Sleep Disruption and Cognitive Risk in Older Adults”
Speaker: Michelle Chen, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research
Dr. Michelle Chen is a neuropsychologist by training, Assistant Professor of Neurology at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and a core member of the Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research. Her research involves utilizing digital and sensor technology in the assessment and treatment of real-world cognitive dysfunction, fatigue, and other neurological symptoms, as well as modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline among persons with multiple sclerosis and older adults at risk for dementia. Her research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers, New Jersey Health Foundation, and Rutgers University.
This is not a formal talk and discussion and critique are very much welcome.
Date and Time: Wednesday, April 1, 12-1 PM
Zoom: https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/94769804345?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 947 6980 4345; Password: [REDACTED]

BHI Plenary Seminar (Hybrid): Jeffrey S. Diamond, PhD
2026-03-26 11:30 - 13:30 | Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine (CABM), Room 010, Busch Campus, Piscataway
Speaker: Jeffrey S. Diamond, PhD
Scientific Director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Date and Time: March 26, 2026, 12 PM
In-Person Location: Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine (CABM), Room 010, Busch Campus, Piscataway
Zoom link: https://rutgers.zoom.us/s/96130532920
Meeting ID: 961 3053 2920
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Learn more: https://brainhealthinstitute.rutgers.edu/2026/02/13/bhi-plenary-seminar-dr-jeffrey-s-diamond-on-night-vision-in-the-retina/

BHI-CAHBIR Seminar Talks (Hybrid): Russell Poldrack, PhD
2026-03-25 12:00 - 13:00 | V10 RWJMS Research Tower 675 Hoes Lane West, Room V10, Piscataway, NJ
“Building Credibility in Neuroscience through Open Science”
BHI-CAHBIR will host a hybrid seminar featuring Dr. Russell Poldrack, Albert Ray Lang Professor of Psychology at Stanford University.
Date and Time: March 25, 12 – 1 PM
In-person location: V10 RWJMS Research Tower 675 Hoes Lane West, Room V10, Piscataway, NJ
Zoom:
https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/97622625390?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 976 2262 5390
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Abstract: It is now widely accepted that openness and transparency are keys to improving the reproducibility of scientific research, but many challenges remain to adoption of these practices. I will discuss the growth of an ecosystem for open science within the field of cognitive neuroscience, focusing on platforms for open data sharing and open source tools for reproducible data analysis. I will also discuss the role of the Brain Imaging Data Structure (BIDS), a community standard for data organization across multiple types of neuroscience data, in enabling this open science ecosystem, and will outline the scientific impacts of these resources.

Herbert and Jacqueline Krieger Klein Alzheimer's Research Center 2026 Symposium
2026-03-24 | Busch Student Center
Register Now: https://rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ekYL243vvDszjpA

Date and Time:
Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Breakfast and lunch will be served.
Location:
Busch Student Center Multipurpose Room A
604 Bartholomew Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854
Best Poster and Best Paper Contest:
We are excited to announce that the upcoming Herbert and Jacqueline Krieger Klein Alzheimer’s Research Center 2026 Symposium will award a $350 prize for both Best Poster and Best Paper by young investigators (PhD students, Postdoctoral Fellows, Assistant Professors).
Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your research and earn recognition for your contributions to the field. We look forward to your submissions!
Keynote speaker: Sudha Seshadri, MD, Robert R. Barker Distinguished University Professor of Neurology, Psychiatry, and Cellular and Integrative Physiology at the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, will present a talk titled “Novel Approaches to Preventing and Treating Dementias: Opportunities and Challenges”
Learn more: https://brainhealthinstitute.rutgers.edu/2026/02/19/herbert-and-jacqueline-krieger-klein-alzheimers-research-center-2026-symposium/
Please contact us at adrd@bhi.rutgers.edu with any questions.
Hosted by Herbert and Jacqueline Krieger Klein Alzheimer’s Research Center at the Rutgers Brain Health Institute

Advancing Rutgers Health AI through Research, Discovery, and Collaboration” 2026 Symposium
2026-03-23 | College Avenue Student Center, 126 College Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ
Date and Time: Monday, March 23, 2026 | 8:30 am – 6:00 pm
Location: College Avenue Student Center, 126 College Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with Rutgers Health biomedical and health AI researchers, learn about state-of-the-art advances in health AI from academic and industry experts, explore careers in AI, and lead the charge in establishing Rutgers as a national and international hub for biomedical informatics and health AI!
Register to attend and learn more about abstract submission.
Questions? Contact bmihai_symposium@ifh.rutgers.edu

2026 Newark New Jersey Regional Brain Bee
2026-03-22 13:00 - 17:00 | Room B-552, Medical Sciences Building, New Jersey Medical School
The Newark New Jersey Regional Brain Bee, sponsored by the BHI, is a Q&A competition, similar to a spelling bee, that tests high school students’ neuroscience knowledge on topics such as brain structures, learning, memory, sleep, vision, and movement.
The 2026 Newark New Jersey Regional Brain Bee will be held on Sunday, March 22, starting at 1:00 PM in Room B-552, Medical Sciences Building, New Jersey Medical School. Please complete the Registration form. Registration closes on March 8, 2026. Registration is free and open to all New Jersey high school students interested in participating.
Register Now: https://brainhealthinstitute.rutgers.edu/regional-brain-bee-newark-nj/

Rutgers Brain Health Institute Research Seminars: Ki-Jun Yoon, PhD
2026-03-20 14:00 - 15:00
“Cell type-specific regulation of the m6A epitranscriptome in the developing nervous system”
Speaker: Ki-Jun Yoon, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, South Korea
Date and Time: Friday, March 20, 2026 2:00 PM (EST)
Location: Staged Research Building Conference Room
(661 Hoes Lane West, Piscataway NJ 08854, Busch Campus)
Zoom Meeting Link: https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/94850817008?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 948 5081 7008; Password: [REDACTED]
Hosted by Mi-Hyeon Jang, Department of Neurosurgery

Talk in RU-N Biology re Proteomics of Alzheimer's (Hrbrid): Ella Doron-Mandel, PhD
2026-03-19 13:00 - 14:00 | Life Sciences 2 ( LSC2) Room #130
Talk Title: “Complex Matters: How Protein Assembly State Dynamics Regulate Biological Function”

Speaker: Ella Doron-Mandel, PhD (She/Her)
Postdoctoral researcher, Jovanovic Lab, Dept. of Biological Sciences, Columbia University
Date and Time: Thursday, March 19, 2026, 1-2 PM
Zoom Meeting: https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/91712974762?pwd=[REDACTED]
Location: Life Sciences 2 ( LSC2) Room #130
The first room on the right when you enter the building, in front of the Aidekman Center
In this talk, I will focus on how changes in protein interactions and molecular complex formation shape biological function across physiological contexts. Rather than viewing the proteome solely through the lens of protein abundance, my work highlights the importance of protein assembly states as dynamic and regulated features that can profoundly influence cellular states.
I will introduce SEC-MX, a mass-spectrometry-based approach that I developed to systematically investigate how molecular complex formation and post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation are coordinated at the proteome scale. Using this framework, I will illustrate how assembly-state dynamics can reveal biologically meaningful regulatory events that are otherwise difficult to detect.
I will then present recent work examining the relationship between protein assembly and proteostasis decline during physiological aging in mouse tissues. Finally, I will outline my future plans to apply these concepts and tools to models of Alzheimer’s disease, with the goal of uncovering how disruptions in protein complex homeostasis contribute to neurodegeneration.

RARC Distinguished Guest Seminar: Patricia Janak, PhD
2026-03-18 14:00 - 15:00 | RWJMS Research Tower, Dean’s Conference Room, 675 Hoes Lane West, Piscataway, NJ 08854
The Rutgers Addiction Research Center (RARC) within the Brain Health Institute invites you to join us for an upcoming Distinguished Guest Seminar featuring Patricia Janak, Ph.D., Bloomberg Distinguished Professor in the Departments of Psychological and Brain Sciences and Neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Dr. Janak will present “Building Addiction Neuroscience.”
Dr. Janak is a leading neuroscientist whose work has significantly advanced our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying addiction and motivated behavior. She also serves as the incoming President of the Society for Neuroscience.
Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Time: 2:00–3:00 p.m. EST
Location: RWJMS Research Tower, Dean’s Conference Room, 675 Hoes Lane West, Piscataway, NJ 08854
Hosted by Rutgers Addiction Research Center (RARC) at the Brain Health Institute (BHI)

7th Annual Neurosurgery Research Symposium: Nervous System Regeneration and Repair
2026-03-18 | The Rutgers Inn (178 Ryders Lane, New Brunswick, NJ)
Registration now open! The day will feature keynote presentations from Dr. Nicholas Boulis from Emory and Dr. Michael Kaplitt from Cornell, various talks by Rutgers faculty, a clinical research review, and a trainee poster session.
Details and registration can be found on the website.
See the symposium Program. We look forward to seeing you there!
Date and Time: March 18, 2026, 8 AM – 5 PM
Location: The Rutgers University Inn and Conference Center (178 Ryders Lane, New Brunswick, NJ)
Hosted by: Dr. Detlev Boison and Dr. Hai Sun
The Department of Neurosurgery, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Jersey Medical School

Rutgers Health Artificial Intelligence Virtual Seminar
2026-03-12 17:30 - 19:00
Register for March’s Rutgers Health Artificial Intelligence Virtual Seminaron Thursday, March 12, beginning with a virtual “meet and greet” at 5:30 pm, with the seminar starting at 6 pm, featuring two fantastic speakers.
“The AI transformation of Breast Cancer Care”
T. Salewa Oseni, MD, FACS, Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School & Director, Multicultural Affairs
“Understanding human genomic variation”
Jinchuan Xing, PhD, Professor, Rutgers Department of Genetics
The Rutgers Health Artificial Intelligence Virtual Seminar Series is designed to connect Rutgers faculty, staff, and students interested in AI training and research in health and medicine. The seminar series is co-sponsored by the NJMS Center for Data Science and IFH Center for Biomedical Informatics and Health AI.
Please register in advance to attend and for Zoom information:
https://go.rutgers.edu/sx2b8xwn
Questions? Please reach out to Dr. Evan Johnson wj183@njms.rutgers.edu
Please join us for this exciting event and share with those who may be interested!

BHI Pain Research Center Virtual Seminar: Shao-Jun Tang, PhD
2026-03-11 12:00 - 13:00
“Pathogenic Mechanisms of HIV-Associated Pain”
Speaker: Shao-Jun Tang, PhD
Stony Brook Medicine Endowed Professorship in Anesthesiology
Vice Chair for Research
Director of The Stony Brook University Pain and Analgesia Research Center (SPARC)
Date and Time: Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 12 PM
Zoom Meeting: https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/96033168218?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 960 3316 8218
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Krieger Klein Alzheimer’s Research Center Virtual Seminar: Yitzhak Norman, PhD
2026-03-10 13:00 - 14:30
“Mechanisms of Neural Coordination in Speech and Memory”
Speaker: Yitzhak Norman, PhD
Senior Postdoctoral Fellow University of California, San Francisco
Date and Time: Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Zoom Meeting Link: https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/93721458482?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 937 2145 8482; Password: [REDACTED]
Hosted by Herbert and Jacqueline Krieger Klein Alzheimer’s Research Center in the Rutgers Brain Health Institute (BHI)

Seminars in Endocrinology and Animal Biosciences Spring 2026: Tara LeGates, PhD
2026-03-06 09:00 - 10:00
“Rooting Out Reward Regulation: Uncovering Latent Sex Differences in Synaptic Function and Motivation”
Speaker: Tara LeGates, PhD
Assistant Professor Department of Biological Sciences University of Maryland, Baltimore County Baltimore, MD
Date and Time: Friday, March 6, 2026, at 9:00 AM
In-Person Location: Foran Hall 138A, 59 Dudley Road, New Brunswick, NJ
For more information, contact Troy A. Roepke, PhD (tr246@sebs.rutgers.edu).

RARC Digital Health Workgroup Meeting (Hybrid): Dr. Sarah Dauber - Digital Interventions for Substance Use in Pregnancy & Postpartum
2026-03-05 15:00 - 16:00
Join us for the next RARC Digital Health Workgroup featuring Sarah Dauber, Vice President of Research and Evaluation at Partnership to End Addiction. Dr. Dauber will share insights from her federally funded research on developing and testing digital approaches to identify and address substance use during pregnancy and the postpartum period, including work in partnership with home visiting programs. Her work highlights how technology can expand access to evidence-based screening and intervention during critical windows for parents and infants.

Date: March 5, 2026
Time: 3:00-4:00 PM
In-Person: Deans Conference Room, Research Tower, 675 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854
Virtual via Zoom: https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/96605435416?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 966 0543 5416; Passcode: [REDACTED]
