We celebrated May Mental Health Month by spotlighting two researchers, Dr. Andrew Westbrook, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS), Core Faculty Member of BHI, and Member of the Center for Advanced Human Brain Imaging Research (CAHBIR), and Dr. Tracey Shors, Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Rutgers New Brunswick, and Regular Member of BHI.

Dr. Andrew Westbrook studies neuromodulatory systems regulating higher-order cognitive function, investigating the role of striatal dopamine in learning and decision-making. In the video, Dr. Westbrook introduces tools and a new state-of-the-art shared core facility in CAHBIR for conducting cutting-edge TMS and EEG studies.

Dr. Tracey Shors studies how our brains ruminate on trauma-related memories and how this process can interfere with our everyday lives, while making still more memories. Dr. Shors' lab developed an interventional therapy, MAP Train My Brain, which combines “mental and physical” training with silent meditation and aerobic exercise to decrease trauma-related and repetitive thoughts, as well as symptoms of depression and anxiety.

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Marilyn Piccirillo, a new BHI Core Faculty and Member of RARC and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at RWJMS. Dr. Piccirillo's research focuses on expanding initiatives for measurement-based and person-centered care using smartphone-based methods to improve the scope and precision of clinical assessments and treatments, particularly for those with co-occurring mental health and substance use problems.

Congratulations to Dr. Troy Roepke, BHI Regular Member and Associate Professor of Animal Sciences, on receiving "The Presidential Outstanding Faculty Scholar Award". The award honors tenured faculty members whose breadth of academic portfolios reflect outstanding research, scholarship, or creative work, as well as truly outstanding contributions to teaching and extensive service to the Rutgers community and beyond.

The new study, “Protective role of parenthood on age-related brain function in mid- to late-life”, was led by Edwina Orchard and Sidhant Chopra, post-doctoral fellows in Dr. Avram Holmes lab. Dr. Holmes is a BHI Core Faculty, member of CAHBIR, and Associate Professor of Psychiatry at RWJMS. The study represents one of the largest examinations of the impact of parenthood on brain function to date and is the first to provide evidence of parenthood-related neuroprotection in both females and males.

In the new commentary, Dr. Michal Schnaider Beeri, Director of the Herbert and Jacqueline Krieger Klein Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Research Center at BHI, shares insights on new research showing that APOE4 homozygosity represents a distinct genetic form of Alzheimer’s disease, published in Nature Medicine. Dr. Beeri describes the relevance of the new findings and highlights APOE and other Alzheimer’s disease research at Rutgers.

The RARC held its Year in Review and Social Event on May 10 at the Rutgers Club. The gathering provided an opportunity to connect with fellow colleagues from Rutgers engaged in addiction research, as well as clinical and community partners.

This year's BHI Cognitive and Sensory Neuroscience Focus Area Working Group (FAWG) Retreat was held on May 13 at Rutgers Newark. The retreat at Express Newark was well attended by faculty from across Rutgers. Attendees discussed potential program and center grant applications. The Chair and Vice-Chair of the Cognitive & Sensory Neuroscience FAWG are Dr. David Zald and Dr. Robin Davis, respectively.

The Rutgers Krieger Klein Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center in the BHI announced the 2024-25 Pilot Grants Program, via a generous gift from the “Remember Me Inc., Fighting Alzheimer’s” Foundation. This initiative aims to foster collaborative, interdisciplinary research focusing on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) within the Rutgers community. By supporting projects at the intersection of basic science and clinical research, the pilot grants aim to accelerate the development of therapies and interventions for ADRD. The application deadline is June 15, 2024.

The New Jersey Autism Center of Excellence (NJACE) led by Dr. Wayne Fisher, Director of RUCARES in BHI, aims to help New Jersey researchers connect with individuals with autism and their families who may be interested in participating in research. We anticipate funding up to four seed grants with a maximum of $2,000 per award. Please complete the request form and submit it to Hnorris@childrensspecialized.org to be considered for funding.

The LHS Scholars Training Program aims to cultivate a new generation of leaders in Learning Health Systems (LHS) Science by providing comprehensive education, training, mentorship, and career development opportunities tailored to the professional interests of embedded investigators, clinicians, and health system personnel. Their goal is to nurture LHS Scholars who will contribute to academia, industry, and government.

The RARC is currently running a research study to evaluate a newly developed online platform that provides individuals with personalized risk profiles that combine genetic, behavioral, and environmental information. Participants will receive their personalized risk profile for free as well as up to $40 in compensation for completing research surveys to help the study team evaluate the program.

The Rutgers Krieger Klein Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center is launching a study to understand the characteristics that may place South Asian populations at heightened risk for Alzheimer's disease. This study seeks to recruit individuals with ethnic or racial backgrounds from South Asian countries, aged 45-70, who have one or more parents with AD. Participants will undergo comprehensive assessments every two years, encompassing surveys, cognitive and language assessments, motor function tasks, blood tests, physical and neurological exams, as well as brain imaging.

The RARC is partnering with the Institute for Prevention and Recovery (IFPR) to establish a streamlined process for enhanced collaboration among Rutgers researchers who want to partner with RWJBarnabas to analyze substance use disorder outcome data and/or implement new studies in the health system.

The Research Community Partnership (RCP), overseen by the RARC, is a central enrollment hub for community members to participate in Rutgers research projects, and for researchers to recruit for their studies. By signing up for the RCP, individuals agree to be contacted by approved researchers to participate in projects. Participants can choose to accept or decline any project to which they are invited. Anyone who wants to be a part of research can enroll in the RCP.

The newly established Herbert and Jacqueline Krieger Klein Alzheimer’s Research Center at BHI will serve as a hub for collaboration, innovation, and transformative research, with the mission of making meaningful strides in the prevention, diagnosis, and care of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders (ADRD). If you are interested in learning more or collaborating with the center, please submit the form to provide your contact information.

MidAtlantic Neonatology Associates and Biomedical Research Institute of New Jersey (BRInj) are recruiting scientists to lead and/or assist our Neonatology faculty with developing a research program on the effects of prenatal/perinatal stress on neurodevelopmental and behavioral outcomes. We are particularly interested in candidates with strong expertise in rodent behavior, and additional experience with immunohistochemistry, microscopy, and/or molecular biology. Applicants should submit a CV and cover letter to Dr. Elizabeth Eckman, Director of Preclinical Research, lizeckman@brinj.org

The Herbert and Jacqueline Krieger Klein Alzheimer’s Research Center at the BHI is recruiting a tenured or tenure-track faculty member at the Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor level to expand our research portfolio in the basic science of neurodegenerative diseases. We seek scholars with innovative, rigorous, and impactful basic research programs focusing on the gut-brain axis related to aging, Alzheimer’s disease, or associated dementias.

The BHI and the Dept. of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, RWJMS are recruiting a tenured or tenure track faculty member at the Associate or Full Professor level to expand our research portfolio in auditory neuroscience, broadly defined to include animal- or human subjects-based research programs. The successful candidate must have a PhD, MD, or equivalent doctoral degree as well as a research program with currently active federal funding addressing key questions regarding auditory neuroscience.

The Herbert and Jacqueline Krieger Klein Alzheimer’s Research Center at BHI seeks a neuroimaging leader for a tenure-track position at the Associate or Full Professor level, a board-certified geriatric psychiatrist with clinical experience in caring for persons with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, and a neuropsychologist with a research career devoted to the neuropsychology of Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias.

The BHI, RUCARES, and Department of Pediatrics at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS) are seeking a tenure-track assistant or associate professor for a clinical research program focused on improving interventions for young children with autism spectrum disorder. 

The CAHBIR is recruiting for multiple faculty positions at all levels (Assistant/Associate/ Professor). We seek investigators who use innovative MRI approaches to image human brain structure and function. Individuals who utilize additional approaches such as EEG, tDCS, and rTMS to study human brain function would also be attractive.