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2018 Friends of BrainHealth Award Recipients

Center for BrainHealth

Award Winners, Pictured Left to Right: Kathryn West, Dinesh Sivakolundu, Lyndahl Himes, Susan Larkin, Katie Hinds, and Namrata Das The Friends of BrainHealth, a circle of donors supporting the Center for BrainHealth® at UT Dallas, announced five $25,000 Distinguished New Scientist Awards at the annual Friends of BrainHealth Scientist Selection Luncheon held at the Dallas Country Club. The scientists will use the funding to lead independently designed research studies: Namrata Das, MD, MPH – Friends of BrainHealth Distinguished New Scientist
  • The Role of Sleep in Brain Energy Metabolism and Cognition in Individuals at Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease 
Lyndahl Himes, MS – Katherine and Bob Penn Distinguished New Scientist
  • Neural Mechanisms of Mindfulness Meditation and Depression
Katie Hinds, MS, CCC-SLP and Susan Larkin, MS, CCC-SLP – Jennifer and Peter Roberts Distinguished New Scientist
  • Starting Strong: Using SMART to Empower College Students’ Personal and Academic Success
Dinesh Sivakolundu, MD – Linda and Joel Robuck Distinguished New Scientist
  • Identifying Biomarkers for Early Estimation of Brain Age
Kathryn West, PhD – Visionary Friend Distinguished New Scientist
  • Understanding Neural Mechanisms of Multiple Sclerosis
Thirteen graduate students, doctoral candidates and postdoctoral fellows at Center for BrainHealth competed for the awards. Other finalists included Dr. Shikha Prashad, a postdoctoral research scientist in Dr. Francesca Filbey’s lab and Mathew Kmiecik, a doctoral student and teaching assistant in Dr. Dan Krawczyk’s lab. Prashad’s proposal would examine the influence of long-term cannabis use on psychomotor skills for driving. Kmiecik’s project would analyze existing data in new ways to better understand the effects of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) on memory. “The tremendous support from our special Friends of BrainHealth propels budding brain health experts to realize their fuller potential as a researcher,” said Dr. Sandra Bond Chapman, founder and chief director of the Center for BrainHealth and Dee Wyly Distinguished University Chair. “Through the competition for the Friends Award, these early-stage scientists learn how to convey a compelling vision and the life-changing impact their work could have on humanity. The experience is invaluable to their future careers.” CONTACT Stephanie Hoefken 972.883.3221 stephanie.hoefken@utdallas.eduABOUT CENTER FOR BRAINHEALTH Center for BrainHealth®, part of The University of Texas at Dallas, is a translational research institute committed to enhancing, preserving, and restoring brain health across the lifespan. Major research areas include the use of functional and structural neuroimaging techniques to better understand the neurobiology supporting cognition and emotion in health and disease. This leading-edge scientific exploration is translated quickly into practical innovations to improve how people think, work and live, empowering people of all ages to unlock their brain potential. Translational innovations build on Strategic Memory Advanced Reasoning Tactics (SMART™), a proprietary methodology developed and tested by BrainHealth researchers and other teams over three decades.

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Sandra Bond Chapman, PhD

Chief Director Dee Wyly Distinguished Professor, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences Co-Leader, The BrainHealth Project

Francesca Filbey, PhD

Bert Moore Endowed Chair and Professor, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences Director, Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory of Addictive Disorders

Daniel Krawczyk, PhD

Deputy Director of Research Debbie and Jim Francis Chair and Professor, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences

Joel Robuck

Linda Robuck

Jennifer Roberts

Pete Roberts

Dee Wyly

RELATED INFORMATION

Friends Luncheon

The Friends of BrainHealth donor circle supports emerging researchers with seedling grants which are awarded during an annual luncheon, which also consists of energetic research presentations by finalists, and a live audience vote to decide the final award.
About Friends of BrainHealth →