9:00 AM - 10:15 AM

8th Annual BRAIN Meeting Welcome and Plenary Introduction
Dr. John Ngai

Plenary: Peripheral Neuroimmune Interactions Drive Itch and Inflammation
Dr. Diana Bautista
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and the Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley

Atopic dermatitis is a prevalent chronic itch disorder that affects ~15% of children worldwide, half of whom go on to develop food allergies, allergic rhinitis and asthma. Aberrant activity of epithelial cells, neurons and immune cells is a hallmark of this so-called atopic march. This talk will highlight our recent efforts to decipher the neuroimmune interactions that drive the development of neuronal hyperexcitability, itch and airway inflammation in atopic disease.

10:15 AM - 11:15 AM
Poster Session 1

Dedicated time to visit over 400 posters presenters who are sharing their science! This is the first of 4 dedicated hours to visit interactive virtual posters in the iPosters gallery. You can filter by topic areas, leave comments, and schedule time to have a video chat with presenters!

This is the first of 4 dedicated hours to visit interactive virtual posters in the iPosters gallery. You can filter by topic areas, leave comments, and schedule time to have a video chat with presenters!

11:15 AM - 12:30 PM

A User’s Guide to the BRAIN Initiative Cell Census Network (BICCN) Resources

The BRAIN initiative Cell Census Network (BICCN) published in 2021 the first fully annotated multi-omic and multi-species survey of the primary motor cortex. The BICCN is now being scaled to the entire mouse brain, and in preliminary surveys, the human and non-human primate. This symposium surveys the set of highly integrated datasets and tools providing scientists with an introduction to multimodal data and cell types that are essential to understanding human health and disease.

11:15 AM - 12:30 PM

Toward More Diverse Participants in Human Neuroimaging Research: Opportunities and Challenges

NIH BRAIN-supported technologies will likely expand access to MRI, ushering in the potential to address the long-standing challenge of a lack of diversity in participants in MRI research studies. This symposium brings together neuroscientists and ethicists to explore the ethical, legal, and social implications of changing the paradigm of recruitment and retention in human neuroimaging studies to increase participant diversity. The symposium will also explore the challenging ethical issues that emerge from the construction of more diverse datasets, for instance how to address concerns in using the construct of “race” in participant recruitment, data analysis, and communication of research findings.

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

BREAK / LUNCH / NETWORKING

Winners of the 2022 BRAIN Initiative Challenge

NIH recognizes the winners of a federal challenge where high school students were asked to share their perspectives, via essays or videos, envisioning current and/or near-future states of brain technologies and the ethical dilemmas they may bring.

1:30 PM - 2:45 PM

Neural Mechanisms that Generate Internal States Across Organisms

As animals navigate their environments, their nervous systems transition between a wide range of internal states that influence how sensory information is processed and how behaviors are generated. Although all animals organize their behavioral outputs in this state-like fashion, our understanding of how these states are generated has remained limited. However, recent technological innovations, including brain-wide recording methods and behavioral modeling, have catalyzed exciting progress in this area. This symposium will feature five speakers who use diverse experimental and theoretical approaches to study this topic. Discussion will seek to illuminate emerging principles and key areas for future studies.

1:30 PM - 2:45 PM

Towards the Responsible Research and Innovation of Novel Neurotechnologies across Domains: Considerations of Agency, Responsibility, and Access

BRAIN-funded neuroscience aims to improve human life through the development of novel neurotechnologies. In this panel, four BRAIN investigators will explore the neuroethical implications of these technologies for a range of conditions addressing questions of agency, responsibility, and access drawing upon narrative interviews from participants and through philosophical, ethical and legal analysis. Data will be drawn from three BRAIN Initiative studies: 1RF1MH117800-01: Brain Computer Interfaces and Human Agency; 1RF1MH12378-01: Cognitive Restoration: Neuroethics and Disability Rights; and R01MH114854: Neuroethics of aDBS Systems Targeting Neuropsychiatric and Movement Disorders. The session aims to foster an interdisciplinary conversation with the audience on key ethical, legal, social and cultural issues around the use and development of neurotechnology for different domains of application.

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
Poster Session 2

Dedicated time to visit over 400 posters presenters who are sharing their science! Posters are organized by BRAIN Scientific Areas (Cell Type, Circuit Diagrams, Monitor Neural Activity, Interventional Tools, Theory Data Analysis Tools, Human Neuroscience, Integrated Approaches, Neuroethics, Trainee Highlight Awards, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion).

This is the second of 4 dedicated hours to visit interactive virtual posters in the iPosters gallery. You can filter by topic areas, leave comments, and schedule time to have a video chat with presenters!

3:45 PM - 4:00 PM

BREAK

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Plenary Introduction
Dr. Walter Koroshetz

Plenary: Neural Dynamics of Memory Formation in the Primate Hippocampus
Dr. Elizabeth Buffalo
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington School of Medicine

Dr. Walter Koroshetz (NINDS) will introduce Dr. Elizabeth Buffalo and moderate Q&A. Dr. Buffalo will discuss hippocampal neurons, which have been most often studied in rodents running mazes, resulting in a rich history characterizing their activity as spatial correlates. However, these neurons have recently been shown to respond in a variety of tasks without an explicit spatial component, suggesting that hippocampal activity patterns more generally reflect the progression of experience through salient task events. Dr. Buffalo will present findings from large-scale recordings throughout the hippocampus in monkeys performing memory tasks in multiple environments in virtual reality.

5:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Crafting Neuroethics Content for Brain Initiative Funding: Investigator Experiences

This session, organized by the International Neuroethics Society, a BRAIN Initiative Alliance member, will feature BRAIN-funded neuroethicists who will present on their experiences forging collaborations with investigators in the BRAIN community. After initial remarks from the speakers, attendees will be able to chat with speakers through breakout rooms.

5:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Neuroscientist Speed Dating

Are you looking to make new connections with other BRAIN researchers? This networking event uses Zohuddle, a third party platform, to connect you with the best and brightest minds in neuroscience. This is the perfect opportunity to expand your network and find new collaborators, and is open to all participants including investigators particularly trainees.  Register here before June 21, 5pm ET to participate. The event will last for an hour. After registration ends, there will be a ranking phase that lasts 15 minutes, followed by 4 10-minute "huddles". 

What is Zohuddle? Zohuddle is an app for accelerated virtual networking that helps you form meaningful connections in your community in a unique way. The app lets you submit an abstract describing your research, then rank the abstracts of other participants based on who you would most like to meet. Based on these rankings, we create a schedule of one-on-one “huddles'' and walk you through these meetings with an in-app video chat. The goal is to create a fun way to facilitate networking in large distributed communities. If you have any access needs, please reach out to us via support@zohuddle.com

Disclaimer: This networking event is entirely optional. Zohuddle is not affiliated with NIH, and NIH does not sponsor or endorse this product/service or any information shared therein. Any information provided to Zohuddle is voluntarily and at the discretion of the participant.

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

8th Annual BRAIN Meeting Day 2 Welcome and Plenary Introduction
Dr. John Ngai

Plenary: Rewiring Neural Circuits in Health and Disease
Dr. Kafui Dzirasa
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center

The coordination of activity between brain cells is a key determinant of neural circuit function; nevertheless, approaches that selectively regulate communication between two distinct cellular components of a circuit, while leaving the activity of the presynaptic brain cell undisturbed remain sparse. To address this gap, we developed a novel class of electrical synapses. We then validated these electrical synapses in vivo using C. elegans, and deployed them in mice to modify emotional behavior.

Show Us Your BRAINs! Photo & Video Contest Winners Announcement
Join Dr. John Ngai after the Plenary as he announces the top three photos and top three videos as part of the annual BRAIN Initiative Meeting.

10:15 AM - 11:15 AM
Poster Session 3

Dedicated time to visit over 400 posters presenters who are sharing their science! Posters are organized by BRAIN Scientific Areas (Cell Type, Circuit Diagrams, Monitor Neural Activity, Interventional Tools, Theory Data Analysis Tools, Human Neuroscience, Integrated Approaches, Neuroethics, Trainee Highlight Awards, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion).

This is the third of 4 dedicated hours to visit interactive virtual posters in the iPosters gallery - specifically those of our 60 Trainee Highlight Awardees. You can filter by topic areas, leave comments, and schedule time to have a video chat with presenters!

11:15 AM - 12:45 PM

Trainee Highlight Awards - Session 1

Trainee Highlight Awardee Finalists were selected by a programmatic review committee and confirmed by the meeting Program Committee. 30 total trainee awardees have the opportunity to present ~4 minute “flash” talks in addition to scientific posters outlining their specific contribution to a broader BRAIN Initiative project. Trainees might be scientists in high school, undergraduate or graduate programs, medical or other professional school, or postdoctoral fellows or residents. The trainees are available to network during Poster Session 3 on Wednesday, June 22 from 10:15 - 11:15 am EDT and may be available during additional times – find them in the Poster Hall!
The 15 Trainee Highlight Awardees presenting in this session include:

1. Mansi Prakash, Central Michigan University
   Interluminescence: A BioLuminescent-OptoGenetics (BL-OG) technology for selective control of synaptically connected circuit elements by all-optical synapses (820)
2. Nicole Provenza, Baylor College of Medicine
   Identification of candidate neural biomarkers of obsessive-compulsive symptom intensity in ecologically valid environments (821)
3. Jay Gill, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
   Utilization of amygdala oscillatory response to aversive and trauma-related stimuli in humans with treatment-refractory post-traumatic stress disorder (TR-PTSD) to develop and implement closed loop stimulation therapy (811)
4. Sandra Cai Chen, Penn State
   Looking through the lens of stigma: understanding and anticipating concerns for the responsible use and development of PEIs (805)
5. Shirin Shivaei, Caltech
   Viral Encoding of Acoustic Reporter Genes for in situ Imaging of Gene Expression in the Brain (826)
6. Ethan Roy, Stanford University
   Longitudinal changes in white matter properties, not static differences, predict development of reading skills (822)
7. Taylor Berger, University of Minnesota
   Deep learning based estimation of transcranial magnetic stimulation electric fields (803)
8. Chaitali Anand, UCSF
   The effects of microglia on tauopathy progression can be quantified using Nexopathy in silico (Nexis) models (801)
9. Paul LaFosse, National Institute of Mental Health/University of Maryland - College Park
   Filtering of extraneous input patterns by visual cortex measured with single-cell stimulation (813)
10. Naomi Codrington, NYU Langone
    Understanding Dendrites Activity in CA3 Region of the Hippocampus Using Neuron Tracing (806)
11. Edna Normand, Princeton University
    Connectomics-based mapping and dissection of a multisensory decision-driving circuit in Drosophila (816)
12. Che-Hang Yu, UCSB
    A 20 mm working distance air objective for multiphoton imaging (829)
13. Maribel Patino, Salk Institute for Biological Studies/ University of California, San Diego
    Transcriptomic identification of synaptically connected input cell types with Single Transcriptome Assisted Rabies Tracing (START) (818)
14. Bhairavi Srinageshwar, Central Michigan University
    Delivery of DNA Plasmids to Primary Neurons Using Surface Modified PAMAM Dendrimer Nanomolecules – an in Vitro Study (827)
15. Christopher Langdon, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
    Latent circuit inference for heterogeneous neural responses during cognitive tasks (815)

11:15 AM - 12:45 PM

Trainee Highlight Awards - Session 2

Trainee Highlight Awardee Finalists were selected by a programmatic review committee and confirmed by the meeting Program Committee. 30 total trainee awardees have the opportunity to present ~4 minute “flash” talks in addition to scientific posters outlining their specific contribution to a broader BRAIN Initiative project. Trainees might be scientists in high school, undergraduate or graduate programs, medical or other professional school, or postdoctoral fellows or residents. The trainees are available to network during Poster Session 3 on Wednesday, June 22 from 10:15 - 11:15 am EDT and may be available during additional times – find them in the Poster Hall!
The 15 Trainee Highlight Awardees presenting in this session include:

1. Desiree Johnson, University of California, San Diego
   A caged DAMGO for selective photoactivation of endogenous mu opioid receptors in vivo (812)
2. Hyeyoung Shin, University of California, Berkeley
   You see what you believe: Utilizing illusions to decipher perceptual inference (825)
3. Reuven Falkovich, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
   Inference of a Causal Synaptic Molecular Network From Multiplexed Imaging (807)
4. Michelle Land, Baylor College of Medicine
   Genetically encoded voltage indicators for deep, rapid, and prolonged voltage recording in vivo (814)
5. Rohit Bose, University of Pittsburgh
   Restoring sensation by percutaneous spinal cord stimulation in people with lower limb amputation (804)
6. Natalie Fomin-Thunemann, Boston University
   Laminar O2 Measurements reveal high metabolic activity in Cortical Layer I during active Brain States (809)
7. Carlos Orozco, UTSW Medical Center
   Insight on the evolution of pallial and vocal learning circuits from spatial and cellular transcriptomic mapping of the songbird brain (817)
8. Michel Fallah, Georgetown University
   Characterizing functional subgroups among cholinergic neurons in the pedunculopontine nucleus (808)
9. Zhongzheng Fu, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
   The geometry of domain-general performance monitoring in the human medial frontal cortex (810)
10. Landon Bayless-Edwards, Oregon Health and Sciences University
    Imaging cAMP activity at sub-cellular resolution in behaving mice (802)
11. Lamiae Abdeladim, University of California, Berkeley
    High-speed three-dimensional all-optical electrophysiology with single-cell and single-spike precision (800)
12. Mohammad Samavat, The Salk Institute
    Quantifying regional and LTP-dependent variations in Synaptic Information Storage Capacity in the Hippocampus (823)
13. Luisa Schuster, New York University
    A novel, open-source, high-throughput monitoring system for maternal behavior in mice (824)
14. Huijing Xu, University of Southern California
    Design and Characterization of a Generic Polymer Penetrating Multi-Electrode Array for Rodents (828)
15. Benjamin Pedigo, Johns Hopkins University
    Generative network modeling reveals a first quantitative definition of bilateral symmetry exhibited by a whole insect brain connectome (819)

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

BREAK / LUNCH / NETWORKING

The Brain Mappers Film Screening + Discussion

What’s it like to participate in a film meant to communicate a complex research quest — whole brain connectomics — to a public audience, and make it engaging? How would one write and direct such a film - capturing the motivation, the intricate automated technologies, the coordinated teamwork, and the enormous data processing challenge? In 2021, the Museum of Science (Boston) and Emmy-Award-winning NOVA filmmaker Larry Klein set out to tell this story about the inspired work of several connectomics teams, with first-person accounts from an array of talented BRAIN Initiative pioneers – Gwyneth Card, Kristen Harris, Viren Jain, Bobby Kasthuri, Jeff Lichtman, Mariela Petkova, and Gerry Rubin. During the first half of this session, we’ll screen The Brain Mappers, winner of a 2022 Silver Telly Award for non-broadcast educational film. During the second half, the film’s “stars” and contributors will discuss the making of the film, what went on behind the scenes, and how the quest has evolved.

1:45 PM - 2:45 PM
Poster Session 4

Dedicated time to visit over 400 posters presenters who are sharing their science! Posters are organized by BRAIN Scientific Areas (Cell Type, Circuit Diagrams, Monitor Neural Activity, Interventional Tools, Theory Data Analysis Tools, Human Neuroscience, Integrated Approaches, Neuroethics, Trainee Highlight Awards, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion).

This is the fourth of 4 dedicated hours to visit interactive virtual posters in the iPosters gallery. You can filter by topic areas, leave comments, and schedule time to have a video chat with presenters!

2:45 PM – 4:00 PM

Behavioral Quantification: from Tracking to Understanding

Open source software tools have brought to neuroscience the effectiveness of machine learning to the problem of quantifying behavior. As we move past manual scoring, how can these methods not only automate laborious tasks, but also change the way we model and understand the behaving brain? In this session we will challenge tool developers and practitioners to envision a future in which their approaches to analyzing and modeling behavior shape the way we study and understand the brain.

2:45 PM – 4:00 PM

Advancing our Understanding of the Brain and Behavior Through Connectomics

This symposium shares progress in connectomics and how tools, platforms and analyses can inform analysis of circuits from sensory processing to the control of behavior. Speakers will cover different efforts in the adult fly brain and ventral nervous system, C. elegans, and the mouse synaptome.