UAB neuroscientist Kauê Machado Costa, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Psychology, received a Parkinson's Foundation grant to test an intriguing hypothesis: The cognitive deficits now known to occur in the early years of Parkinson's disease may be a clue that learning-oriented dopamine circuits shift gears to cover for their movement-focused cousins. If Costa’s hypothesis is correct, it could point the way to tests that speed up Parkinson's diagnoses.

U-BDS specializes in analyzing genomic and transcriptomic data, creating data pipelines, and keeping up with the latest methods and algorithms required for cutting-edge research.

Inspired by a family diagnosis and a viral video, Adeel Memon, M.D., Ph.D., is exploring the possibilities of brain-computer interfaces to treat Parkinson’s and other neurological conditions.

This year, the university recognizes 50 years of service by Jeanne Hutchison, Ph.D., and Ferdinand Urthaler, M.D., and 45 years of service by Robert Kim M.D., and Joseph Lovetto. In addition, 294 employees with 20 or more years and 904 with five, 10 and 15 years will honored for their longevity.

A new discipline sits at the intersection of neuroscience and engineering, where lessons learned from circuits, networks and chips are combined with the latest findings on brain circuitry.