News
NIH Launches COVID-19 Funds to Accelerate Testing, Accessibility
Monday, June 15, 2020As part of NIH’s multi-faceted response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency has launched an unprecedented four-pronged initiative, entitled Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics, or RADx, to catalyze the scientific community to improve testing technologies, capacity, and accessibility for the country... read more about NIH Launches COVID-19 Funds to Accelerate Testing, Accessibility »
COVID-19: A Neuroscience Perspective
Friday, June 5, 2020COVID-19 brings new scientific and behavioral challenges every day. We asked members of the interdisciplinary DIBS Faculty Network to provide neuroscience perspectives on how the pandemic is influencing people’s decision-making, behavior, and health. Learn more HERE. read more about COVID-19: A Neuroscience Perspective »
Calakos: Puzzles Can Help People Cope with COVID-19 Uncertainties
Thursday, May 28, 2020From DIBS Faculty Network Member Nicole Calakos, MD, PhD, Neurobiology, on a recent study evaluating the positive effects of puzzles on cognition: "When you think about puzzles from the neuroscience perspective and what is going on in the brain, puzzles pack a big punch." She was interviewed... read more about Calakos: Puzzles Can Help People Cope with COVID-19 Uncertainties »
Fan Wang Team Identifies Brain Area That May Control Pain 'Off' Switch
Thursday, May 28, 2020A Duke University research team led by DIBS Faculty Network Member Fan Wang, PhD, Neurobiology, has found a small area of the brain in mice that can profoundly control the animals’ sense of pain. Somewhat unexpectedly, this brain center turns pain off, not on. It’s also located in an area... read more about Fan Wang Team Identifies Brain Area That May Control Pain 'Off' Switch »
Biomedical Engineering Team's Research Offers Promise for Parkinson's Patients
Wednesday, May 27, 2020Biomedical engineers at Duke University have used deep brain stimulation based on light to treat motor dysfunction in an animal model of Parkinson’s disease. Succeeding where earlier attempts have failed, the method promises to provide new insights into why deep brain stimulation works and ways in... read more about Biomedical Engineering Team's Research Offers Promise for Parkinson's Patients »
Cord Blood Study Provides Insights on Benefits, Limits for Autism Treatment
Tuesday, May 19, 2020In a recent study, Duke researchers tested whether a single infusion of a unit of a child’s own or donor cord blood could improve social communication skills in children between the ages of 2-7 diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Of the 180 children in the study, the subgroup of children... read more about Cord Blood Study Provides Insights on Benefits, Limits for Autism Treatment »
Neuroscience Majors Share 2020 Outstanding Thesis Award
Friday, May 15, 2020Two Neuroscience undergraduate students working in labs in the Duke Neurology Department and mentored by DIBS Faculty Network Members were joint recipients of Duke’s 2020 “Outstanding Senior Thesis in Neuroscience” award. Kunal Shroff worked in the lab of Nicole Calakos, MD, PhD, where he... read more about Neuroscience Majors Share 2020 Outstanding Thesis Award »
Expressive Writing Enhances Resilience
Friday, May 15, 2020Duke Health Humanities Lab Manager Cuquis Robledo writes about the recent workshop, "Expressive Writing for COVID-19," co-sponsored by DIBS. The five-week series, led by John Evans, EdD, Duke Integrative Medicine. Evans is a writing clinician and integrative health coach who works with groups,... read more about Expressive Writing Enhances Resilience »
Dzirasa: COVID-19 Threatens Research Workforce
Friday, May 15, 2020The COVID-19 pandemic comes at a critical time for the biomedical research workforce, threatening both older and younger scientists, said DIBS Faculty Network Member Kafui Dzirasa, MD, PhD, Psychiatry, who also serves on the DIBS Faculty Steering Committee. More federal funding is needed to support... read more about Dzirasa: COVID-19 Threatens Research Workforce »
Neuroscience Undergraduates Celebrate Graduation!
Wednesday, May 13, 2020The Duke Institute for Brain Sciences helped make Commencement 2020 special, despite COVID-19 restrictions. The special website, on the Psychology & Neuroscience site, features videos from faculty, a "word cloud" reflecting the students' experiences, and other virtual celebrations.... read more about Neuroscience Undergraduates Celebrate Graduation! »