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NIH Director’s Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series

Upcoming Lectures

Digging for genes that affect behavior

November 30, 2016 -
3:00pm to 4:00pm
Hopi Hoekstra, Ph.D. , Harvard University

Understanding which genes affect behavior, and how the resultant proteins work in the brain, remains a major challenge in biology. To address this goal, we are capitalizing on natural variation in behavior within and between species of wild mice. In this talk, Dr. Hoekstra will focus on an innate behavior, burrowing, which produces an intriguing and complex animal architecture. Dr. Hoekstra will present data from both he lab and the field that allow us a first glimpse into the genetics and neurobiology of behavioral evolution.

Adventures in brain plasticity: from memory palaces to soulcycle

December 7, 2016 -
3:00pm to 4:00pm
Wendy A. Suzuki, Ph.D., New York Unversity

Suzuki’s lab studies the patterns of electrical activity in the brain that underlie our ability to form and retain new long-term memories as well as the effects of physical aerobic exercise to improve a wide of cognitive functions including mood, memory, and attention.

Using human stem cells to understand and treat diabetes

December 15, 2016 - 3:00pm
Douglas Melton, Ph.D. , Harvard University

We study how the pancreas normally develops and use that information to grow and develop pancreatic cells (Islets of Langerhans). Our laboratory focuses on the directed differentiation of stem cells to create functional pancreatic beta cells that can be used for research on the cause(s) of diabetes as well as exploring the use of stem cell-derived islets for transplantation.


The page was last updated on Monday, March 23, 2015 - 3:00pm