Neurosciences Hold First Retreat

Neuroscience research took center stage June 2 as the BWH Biomedical Research Institute (BRI) sponsored its first retreat when 24 faculty members shared their research projects with hundreds of their peers. The retreat was a key part of the development of the Neuroscience Comprehensive Research Center within the BRI.

“This event was a great opportunity for neuroscience faculty members, fellows and residents to share their work with their peers and let everyone know about the breadth of exciting research on the nervous system going on here at Brigham and Women's Hospital,” said Dennis J. Selkoe, MD, co-director of the BWH Center for Neurologic Diseases. Selkoe and Peter Black, MD, chief of Neurosurgery, are co-directors of the Neuroscience Research Steering Group.

BWH researchers and physicians made five-minute presentations in seven sessions during the afternoon event in the New Research Building Amphitheater. Faculty members' presentations included neuroimaging, (neurosurgery, neurology, neuropathology and psychiatry. Presenters highlighted their work with epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, new technology for imaging and functional MRI, adult development and brain tumors, to name just a few topics.

Presentations on basic science research, bench-to-bedside initiatives and clinical trials were delivered in 30-minute cohorts, allowing question and answer sessions and discussions about basic, clinical and translational research. More than 130 people attended the event.

“This was just a small sampling of some of the remarkable and groundbreaking neuroscience investigation we have here,” said Black. “We hope that it will continue our increasing recognition of Neuroscience as a major Center of Excellence at BWH.”

Mark your calendars as a second retreat is planned for Sept. 15 when another group of faculty will share their work with the BWH-wide neuroscience community.