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Brain Health Research Institute

BHRI Director Discusses Plans for the Next Five Years at the RED Townhall 

����Թ�’s Division of Research and Economic Development recently held its quarterly Townhall meeting on September 25, 2024. 

One of the main topics of discussion at the Townhall was the Brain Health Research Institute’s recent successful five-year review. Dr. Michael Lehman, the BHRI’s Inaugural Director, spoke about the upcoming changes to the current structure of the institute and shared the institute’s goals for the next five years. 

Dr. Lehman: “I would like to start out by thanking everyone who was involved in the BHRI five-year review process, as well as people who provided feedback for the institute review. Because of the review and discussions we have had with the senior leadership, we’ve made some significant changes. We are building upon what we have accomplished as an institute, and prioritizing goals and new initiatives for the next phase of BHRI”. 

In the next five-year period, BHRI will build upon the foundation of existing programming to focus upon selected neuroscience research areas where distinctive and nationally recognized strengths can be developed. To this aim, Research Focus Groups will be established, initially, in four areas: 

· Brain Aging and Health – cutting-edge research to prevent and treat age-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, as well as improve brain health across the lifespan.

· Stress, Trauma and Mental Health – furthering knowledge of the psychological and biological bases of stress and mental health, as well as influence of societal stressors on brain health and disease.

· Hormones, Brain and Behavior - understanding how the brain controls hormones that regulate critical body functions, including reproduction, metabolism, and circadian rhythms, as well as the influence of hormones on brain and behavior.

· Neurodiversity – Building upon the recent creation of the Neurodiversity Research Initiative. research to promote an understanding and awareness of variation in brain function in neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals, and the inclusion of the voices and views of neurodivergent individuals in that research. 

The goal of each group will be to apply for large-scale, collaborative (multi-user) external funding, including applications for shared research equipment, student training programs, pilot grant support, and/or community outreach and collaboration. 

Dr. Lehman emphasized that while developing the Research Focus Groups, the BHRI would continue all of its existing programming developed over the past five years, including its pilot grant programs, seminar series, annual symposium, and outreach activities such as “Brain-on-Tap”.  In addition, a high priority for the next few years will be the continuing development of the BHRI Collaboratories (shared core facilities) in the lower level of the Integrated Sciences Building. This will include demo workshops to grow awareness of the equipment and services offered, opportunities for graduate students to be involved in the Collaboratory research, and the development of a fee-for-service cost structure for the Neuroimaging Collaboratory along with voucher grants to allow researchers without current funding to use the facility for pilot work or start-up needs. 

Finally, BHRI will continue to develop its Undergraduate Fellows Program, extending the programming for students across the entire academic year, and increasing mentoring opportunities with alumni, including members of the BHRI Alumni Board. 

For more information, please watch the Research & Economic Development Townhall meeting here:  

Brains on Tap

Building Belonging: Recreation, Mental Health and Neurodiversity

The most recent “Brains-on-Tap” event entitled: “Building Belonging: Recreation, Mental Health, and Neurodiversity” took place on September 18 at the Bell Tower Brewing Co. in downtown ����Թ�. 

The panelists were Lisa Audet, Assistant Professor in Speech Audiology & Pathology at KSU, J.R. Campbell, the Executiv

e Director of the Design Innovation Initiative at KSU, Stacy Miner, Assistant Professor in Nursing at KSU, and Catherine Farina, Director of Administration in the City of North Canton. Each of them shared their unique perspective and their experiences with childhood and adolescent autism and neurodiversity. The topic of the discussion centered on creating inclusive spaces and environments for kids on the autism spectrum and neurodivergent kids. Jeff St. Clair, WKSU radio host and reporter, was the event emcee. “Brains-on-Tap” was also included on Ideastream’s “Sound of Ideas” program which aired on Monday, Oct. 7. 

Please listen to the audio recording of the event on  “Sound of Ideas” here: