Advancing team science and training in brain, behavioral and immunology research
The Ohio State University College of Medicine Featured Experts:
- Leah Pyter, PhD, director, Institute of Brain, Behavior and Immunology, professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Health
- Ruth Barrientos, PhD, associate professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Health
- Michelle Humeidan, MD, PhD, clinical professor of Anesthesiology
The recently renamed Institute of Brain, Behavior, and Immunology (IBBI) hosted its annual Research Day in November to share findings on key biological and behavior pathways taking place at Ohio State. Dr. Pyter announced the new name, explaining how it better reflects the niche interdisciplinary research in the field of psychoneuroimmunology, or how psychology and behavior intersect with the communication between the nervous and immune systems. This strategic timing aligns with its evolving mission and has delivered these results:
- Faculty membership grew from 13 resident members to 31 members and 19 resident or legacy members.
- Rebalanced institute research expertise to include members with formal training in either behavior (12), immunology (13) or brain (15) disciplines.
- Working groups to complete program project-level grant proposals, development of new seed grant policies and growth of varied expertise.
- An environment where people can feel collaborative magic.
Featured presentations included:
- John Lukens, MD, professor in the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Virginia, “Role of Innate Immune Dysfunction in Neurodegenerative Disease.”
- Ruth Barrientos, PhD, current research on practical approaches to promote brain resilience through diet and informed food-related policies and practices including findings from a comparison of high and low-fat diets.
- Michelle Humeidan, MD, PhD, “What’s in it for ‘We’? How Relationships Shape and Advance our Science,” how being open to new collaboration impacts her work as a physician-scientist.
