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2022 Big Ideas Summit Participants

  • Amy Bastian, Ph.D., P.T.
    • Professor, Johns Hopkins University
    • Chief Science Officer, Kennedy Krieger Institute
    • Expertise in human studies of cerebellar dysfunction and rehabilitation strategies. Recent specific interest in cerebellar dysfunction during childhood.
  • Reza Shadmehr, Ph.D., M.S.
    • Professor, Johns Hopkins University
    • International leader in theory of movement control including human and animal model studies with a longstanding focus on cerebellar disease.
  • Timothy Ebner, M.D., Ph.D.
    • Professor, University of Minnesota
    • Expertise in the study of single neuron level cerebellar function in nonhuman primate models. Such models are an important consideration for RCP.
  • Mary Hatten, Ph.D.
    • Professor, The Rockefeller University
    • International leader in understanding how the cerebellum is formed during development and how that developmental program can be disrupted.
  • John Krakauer, M.D., M.A.
    • Professor, Johns Hopkins University
    • International leader in the theory of movement control and in the development of novel rehabilitation strategies, including unique immersive virtual environments.
  • Stephen Lisberger, Ph.D.
    • Professor, Duke University
    • International leader in how the cerebellum promotes learning of new skills and functions together with other brain areas.
  • Abigail Person, Ph.D.
    • Associate Professor, University of Colorado
    • Earlier career scientist with expertise in cerebellar circuits and movement control.
  • Indira Raman, Ph.D.
    • Professor, Northwestern University
    • International leader in ion channel molecules in the cerebellum. Mutations in these channels cause cerebellar diseases and are potential drug targets.
  • Sascha du Lac, Ph.D.
    • Professor, Johns Hopkins University
    • Expertise in both intrinsic and broader circuit-based understanding cerebellar function and its contribution to complex behavior.
  • Megan Carey, Ph.D.
    • Group Leader, Champalimaud Center for the Unknown
    • Expertise in cerebellum and its connection to other brain areas focusing on its role in coordinated movements. Additional expertise in quantitative behavioral analyses (e.g., advanced motion tracking).
  • Laurens Witter, Ph.D.
    • Assistant Professor, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht
    • Early career investigator focused on the formation of “output” signals from the cerebellum that influence other brain regions.
  • Justus Kebschull, Ph.D.
    • Assistant Professor, Johns Hopkins University
    • Early career investigator studying cerebellar development and using/developing cutting-edge genetic technologies to enhance understanding the diversity of cerebellar cells.
  • Javier Medina, Ph.D.
    • Vivian L Smith Professor, Baylor College of Medicine
    • International leader in understanding how cerebellar circuits use movement errors to enhance performance and the mechanisms by which these circuits also reinforce skilled movement.
  • Michael Hausser, DPhil
    • Professor of Neuroscience, University College London
    • International leader in how cerebellar circuits obtain and share information to support the computations required for efficient movement and thoughts. Strong computational expertise in addition to neuroscience.
  • Kathleen Millen, Ph.D.
    • Professor/Associate Director, University of Washington/Seattle Children’s Research Institute
    • International leader in development of the cerebellum and the genetic abnormalities that cause cerebellar malformations.
  • Chris De Zeeuw, M.D., Ph.D.
    • Professor, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Chairman, Department of Neuroscience; Vice- Director, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience
    • International leader in cerebellar function and dysfunction and more generally in movement control. Also does work exploring the intersection of neuroscience and robotics for therapy.
  • Roy Sillitoe, Ph.D.
    • Professor, Baylor College of Medicine
    • Expertise in understanding cerebellar development and the dissection of rodent models of human cerebellar disease.
  • Court Hull, Ph.D.
    • Associate Professor, Duke University
    • Expertise in dissecting cerebellar circuits with seminal contributions to understanding cerebellum role in reward.
  • Sheng-Han Kuo, M.D.
    • Associate Professor, Columbia University
    • Expertise in mechanisms whereby cerebellar dysfunction causes tremor.
  • Dagmar Timmann, M.D.
    • Professor, Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen
    • Expertise in neuroimaging and neuromodulation studies of patients with cerebellar damage relevant to movement and cognitive function.
  • Anila D’Mello, Ph.D.
    • Assistant Professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT – August 2022) UT Southwestern (Sept 2022)
    • New UTSW faculty member using advanced brain imaging in children and adults to define and dissect cognitive functions of cerebellum, including link to autism.
  • Catherine Stoodley, D. Phil.
    • Provost Associate Professor, American University
    • Expertise in human brain imaging of the developing cerebellum in typical and disease states, especially its role non-motor functions (including autism)
  • Richard Ivry, Ph.D.
    • Professor, University of California, Berkeley
    • Expertise in studies human subjects to dissect role of cerebellum in skill learning and social cognition.
  • Jörn Diedrichsen, Ph.D.
    • Western Research Chair, Western University
    • International leader in human brain imaging focused on defining functional organization of cerebellum and its connections with wider brain areas. Specific interest in cognitive functions of cerebellum.
  • Adam Hantman, Ph.D.
    • Associate Professor, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
    • Expertise in delineating how cerebellum, cortex, and basal ganglia communicate with each other and how this interaction goes awry in disease.
  • Paul Chadderton, Ph.D.
    • Associate Professor, University of Bristol
    • Expertise in studying mechanisms of neuron-to-neuron communication in cerebellum.
  • Michael Mauk, Ph.D.
    • Professor, University of Texas at Austin
    • Expertise in computational biology and theoretical models of cerebellar function and dysfunction.
  • Fekrije Selimi, DR2 CNRS
    • Group Leader/Research Director, Collège de France, CNRS
    • Expertise in how normal synaptic connections are established and maintained both within cerebellum and for other brain regions that send inputs to cerebellum.
  • Amanda Therrien, Ph.D.
    • Institute Scientist, Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute
    • Junior investigator with expertise in development of novel rehabilitative strategies for patients with cerebellar disease.
  • Jennifer Raymond, Ph.D.
    • Professor, Stanford University
    • Expert in circuit mechanisms of cerebellum control of motor learning and adaptation to sensory perturbations.
  • Jason Christie, Ph.D.
    • Associate Professor, University of Colorado School of Medicine
    • Expertise in circuit mechanism of cerebellar control of motor and cognitive functions with specific expertise in inhibitory mechanisms.
  • Phyllis Faust, M.D., Ph.D.
    • Professor, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
    • Expertise in neuropathology of cerebellar disease in humans and rodent models.
  • Erik Carlson, M.D., Ph.D.
    • Assistant Professor, University of Washington
    • Expertise in intersection between reward and cerebellar circuit, especially in relation to cognitive disorders. Rodent and human studies.
  • Bradley Schlaggar, M.D., Ph.D.
    • President & CEO, Kennedy Krieger Institute
    • International leader in pediatric neurology and developmental neuroscience with strong expertise in brain imaging.
  • Samuel Young, Ph.D.
    • Professor, University of Iowa
    • Expertise in ion channel molecules Mutations in these channels causes cerebellar diseases and are potential drug targets.
  • Detlef Heck, Ph.D.
    • Professor, University of Tennessee Health Science Center
    • Expertise in the interaction of the cerebellum with the cerebral cortex in context of motor and cognitive function. Rodent models.