The latest updates in brain science at UT Southwestern's O'Donnell Brain Institute.
Joined December 2016
- Tweets 2,471
- Following 2,196
- Followers 3,071
- Likes 2,127
627 Photos and videos
Postdoctoral Researcher, Klaudia Jaczynska, Ph.D., was awarded a 2026 O'Donnell Brain Institute Sprouts Grant. Dr. Jaczynska is a member of the Joachimiak Lab. The OBI Sprouts Grant program supports trainees pursuing novel research directions.
1
3
225
UT Southwestern O'Donnell Brain Institute retweeted
Many thanks to @UTSWMedCenter Newsroom for highlighting our recent @PNASNews paper. "Why eating in the middle of the night can be a gut punch"
utsouthwestern.edu/newsroom/…
@CircadianClocks @UTSWScience @UTSWBrain
1
5
18
1,225
Congratulations to OBI Investigator, Yuuki Obata, Ph.D., on his lab's first publication! Dr. Obata joined UT Southwestern in 2021 as an Endowed Scholar. His lab studies how environmental factors like gut microbiota and diet shape neural circuits of the gut and brain.
Thrilled to share our latest publication in @PNASNews —and the first publication from my lab!
pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.26…
4
762
Kexin Yu, Ph.D., LMSW, is leading research on the impact of loneliness and social isolation, both risk factors for dementia in older adults. Dr. Yu says data suggest that combatting isolation with community and connection can make a real difference.
bit.ly/3PhLC9f
3
194
UT Southwestern O'Donnell Brain Institute retweeted
Congratulations @drpouratian, who received an @NIH #R01 grant from @NINDS for "Dissecting the Network Physiology of Pallidal Burst Stimulation", transforming discoveries in mouse models into human therapies! @UTSWMedCenter @UTSWBrain #Neurosurgery
4
21
1,081
Yogesh Tak, Ph.D., was awarded a 2026 O'Donnell Brain Institute Sprouts Grant for his research on tau amyloid toxicity. Dr. Tak is a postdoc in the Center for Alzheimer's & Neurodegenerative Diseases and in the Sanders Lab. Learn more about Sprouts Grants: bit.ly/42ko8UE
2
2
6
403
UT Southwestern O'Donnell Brain Institute retweeted
Congrats to UTSW medical student @GillianWitten, who was awarded the UTSW Dean’s Research Scholar Fellowship Program to spend a year studying the pathophysiology of depression with @drpouratian! @UTSWMedCenter @UTSWBrain #Neurosurgery
1
12
525
UT Southwestern O'Donnell Brain Institute retweeted
16th Annual @HeadfortheCure 5K! Thank you to our @UTSWBrain team for raising hope, awareness, and funds to support brain tumor patients and their families on May 2nd. impact.headforthecure.org/te… @MatthewSunMD @Lucas_Mitre_ @UTSWMedCenter @UTSWBrain #Neurosurgery
4
14
1,648
Congratulations to Neurosurgery Resident, Dr. Rebeka Langston, who was awarded a 2026 O'Donnell Brain Institute Sprouts Grant. The award supports Dr. Langston's research project: "Spatial-genomic mapping of human arachnoid granulations to uncover novel CSF absorption pathways."
6
386
O'Donnell Brain Institute Investigator, Dr. Maria Chahrour, led two studies that shed new light on genes associated with #autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The findings could lead to improved diagnostics and therapies that can treat ASD at its genetic roots.
bit.ly/3PkU0og
3
19
2,342
UT Southwestern O'Donnell Brain Institute retweeted
Team @UTSWBrain at Head for the Cure 5K
Honored to stand alongside patients, families, & advocates committed to advancing brain tumor research and support. Our team of 84 members raised more than $5,700 as part of our mission to remove barriers between discover and care.
1
5
224
UT Southwestern O'Donnell Brain Institute retweeted
May 6
What drives @MariaChahrour? Understanding the “why” behind neurodevelopmental conditions like autism. Her lab studies genes and brain development to advance understanding and inform more personalized approaches to care. Learn more: bit.ly/4rJmYeu #UTSWMeetTheMinds
8
16
1,961
Congratulations to the trainees who placed in the poster contest at the 2026 O'Donnell Brain Institute Research Day. Jian Xue, Ph.D., Ryan McGrath, and Aleksandra Wosztyl were recognized for the research projects they are working on with OBI Investigators. #neuroscience
1
4
323
Our 2026 Annual Research Day on April 29 included talks from faculty and trainees working in brain science. Speakers included OBI Sprouts grant awardees, Research Interest Groups, and Scholar Program Fellows. We also had a poster contest and will share the winners names tomorrow.
4
339
UT Southwestern O'Donnell Brain Institute retweeted
Congrats to Dr. Venkatesh Aiyagari @Neurointensive, who received the 2026 Kapil Sethi, MD, FRCP Teaching Award by the Association of Indian Neurologists in America at the AINA Annual Meeting & Dinner on April 20th. @UTSWMedCenter @UTSWBrain #Neurosurgery
ALT Medium shot photo of Dr. Venkatesh Aiyagari
2
12
895
Come talk with members of the UT Southwestern Stroke Team tomorrow in Red Bird. They will be sharing life-saving information on how to recognize a #stroke and how to reduce stroke risk.
Apr 24
Our Stroke admin team will be at Family FitFest 2026 to share important stroke education with the community:
⚡BEFAST & the warning signs and symptoms of stroke
⚡Importance of early recognition
⚡Modifiable risk factors & steps to reduce risk.
@UTSWBrain @CCGDDallas #StrokeMonth
ALT Family FitFest 2026 at the Shops at RedBird from 11am-3pm
229
Register now for this free symposium where UT Southwestern movement disorders specialists will be sharing the latest management strategies for Parkinson's patients. Healthcare providers, patients, families & caregivers are invited.
Apr 21
📅 Don’t miss this opportunity to earn CE while engaging in meaningful, practice‑relevant discussions. This symposium is designed to support evidence‑based, multidisciplinary care for people living with #PD & highlights comprehensive management strategies.
bit.ly/48DTic7
ALT image of speakers for the total care program symposium
3
376
Congrats to @BillDauerNeuro @UTSWBrain @UTSWNeurology on his induction to Association of American Physicians!
2
14
537
Each year, we award grants to trainees in brain science who are exploring novel ideas not easily covered by other funding sources. Prabha Acharya, Ph.D. received a 2026 Sprouts Grant for her work in @NapieralaLab where she is researching vision loss in Friedreich's Ataxia.
2
4
455
UT Southwestern O'Donnell Brain Institute retweeted
Two clinical trials actively enrolling today @UTSWMedCenter offer renewed hope for patients facing #glioblastoma. Learn more about SONOBIRD and ReSPECT-GBM in this article featuring Dr. Toral Patel. physicianresources.utswmed.o… @UTSWMedCenter @UTSWBrain #Neurosurgery
2
8
607