The Penn State Neuroscience Institute, being supported by the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, the Penn State College of Medicine, and the Social Science Research Institute, will host the Big Ten Neuroscience Annual Meeting on July 21 and 22 at the Nittany Lion Inn in State College.
The fourth annual meeting will include panel discussions, keynote speeches and poster sessions covering core topics in the neuroscience field and showcasing research from across the country. The symposium will highlight work conducted by graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and early career faculty from all 18 Big Ten universities as well as universities in the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions.
“The theme for the 2025 annual meeting is WE ARE Building Flourishing Brains, and we’re thinking about all the things that lead to the healthiest brain possible,” said Nikki Crowley, director of the Penn State Neuroscience Institute at University Park, Huck Early Career Chair in Neurobiology and Neural Engineering and assistant professor of biology and of biomedical engineering. “We are taking a translational perspective of understanding the development of a healthy brain at all stages of life.”
Additional events are scheduled throughout the year leading up to the in-person annual meeting, such as monthly Zoom seminars highlighting work across the Big Ten Academic Alliance and partnerships with other units on campus. Penn State kicked off this year-long schedule of neuroscience events in September with seminars from Penn State postdoctoral fellows Laurel Seemiller and Steffy Manjila.
Presentations by Rutgers University and the University of Oregon took place in October and November, respectively. Upcoming presentations are outlined on the Huck website.
“The Big Ten is not only an athletic conference but a collection of 18 outstanding research institutions. Neuroscience research at Big Ten universities has been vital for advancing our understanding of brain health and related disorders,” said Patrick Randall, event co-chair and assistant professor of anesthesiology and perioperative medicine and of pharmacology. “These institutions not only undertake groundbreaking studies but also foster collaboration through events like the Big Ten Neuroscience Conference. This annual gathering promotes the exchange of ideas among extremely talented researchers, facilitating innovative approaches to mental health, substance abuse, cognition and neurodegenerative diseases.”
According to Krish Sathian, director of the Penn State Neuroscience Institute at the College of Medicine, it is a dynamic time in neuroscience with the convergence of many different approaches.
“This meeting brings together neuroscientists and trainees so that we can learn more about the fantastic work being done at Big Ten institutions and brainstorm how we can collaborate better to address major issues in neuroscience,” Sathian said.
Keynote speakers from the neuroscience communities will include Walter Koroshetz, director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke within the National Institutes of Health; Catherine Kaczorowski, Elinor Levine Professor of Dementia Research and professor of neurology, University of Michigan; Koraly Perez-Edgar, McCourtney Professor of Child Studies and professor of psychology and member of the Penn State Neuroscience Institute, Penn State; and Justin Ichida, associate professor of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine, University of Southern California.
Two evening events will highlight how neuroscience intersects with various disciplines, including an event at the Palmer Museum of Art and a panel discussion on brain health at the Penn State Pegula Ice Arena. Other planned events throughout the year include working with Teammates for Life, to connect female athletes with scientific experts in their future career fields.
“Neuroscience is inherently interdisciplinary, spanning from the scale of molecules up to social interactions at the organismal level,” said Patrick Drew, interim director of Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences and professor of engineering science and mechanics, of neurosurgery, of biology and of biomedical engineering. “Some of the most impactful discoveries are made when we can bridge across these gaps, and this is the type of work the Huck Institutes of Life Sciences catalyzes not only in neuroscience, but across all the life sciences. We are excited to host this event that will bring in so many excellent researchers together at Penn State.”
Leading the planning efforts are committee co-chairs Randall, and Emma Rose, assistant teaching professor of psychology and co-director of the Social, Life, and Engineering Sciences Imaging Center in the Social Science Research Institute. The committee also includes Janine Kwapis, director of the Center for Molecular Investigation of Neurological Disorders and assistant professor of biology; Nina Lauharatanahirun, assistant professor of biomedical engineering and of behavioral health; Anirban Paul, assistant professor of neural and behavioral sciences; Grayson Sipe, assistant professor of biology; Yang Yang, assistant professor of pharmacology; and Daniela Zarnescu, professor of cellular and molecular physiology.
“The Big Ten Neuroscience Annual Meeting will provide a unique opportunity to showcase the cutting-edge neuroscience research being conducted across the Big Ten community,” Rose said. “In bringing together this diverse group of researchers, we hope to foster novel collaborations that will further advance neuroscience research and its many applications to real-world problems.”
To learn more about the 2025 Big Ten Neuroscience Annual Meeting, including registration and abstract submission guidelines and deadlines, as well as a list of events leading up to the symposium, visit the Huck website.
The event is supported by the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, the College of Medicine, the Social Science Research Institute, the Prevention Research Center, and corporate sponsors.