UF Neuromedicine Research Day

In accordance with the University of Florida Department of Neurology’s commitment to research the first annual Neuromedicine Research Day was held on Saturday, January 21, 2017.

All the divisions in the department presented their research projects either as platform presentations or as posters. Enthusiasm and excitement could be palpated in the meeting room and when browsing the posters. The residents and fellows were well represented; one resident for each PGY year and one fellow from each program presented their research. Following each presentation, a healthy discussion of the presented research allowed for interaction and feedback.

Topics discussed varied from basic research (‘wet lab’ work), translational research, clinical studies and case reports. Dr. Ranum was the keynote presenter and she presented her laboratory’s leading work in understanding the genetic mechanisms behind the development of trinucleotide (and other) repeat disorders. These include disorders such as spinocerebellar ataxias. A discussion of the efforts to translate these findings into developing treatment and management strategies for these very disabling disorders followed. A full day of presentation and scholarly discussions followed. Topics were varied: driving assessments in patients with epilepsy; traumatic brain injury effects in patients with post-traumatic stress disorders and the effects of vagal nerve stimulators; development of understanding of the role of Rab protein in the pathogenesis of synuclein disorders; overview of the divisions of neurocritical care and traumatic brain injury and the ongoing research projects; rate of recanalization and the effect of place of care in the management of ischemic strokes; the long-term changes in impedance in deep brain stimulation in Parkinson’s patients; the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation in cervical dystonia and the role of botulinum toxin; and a review of autoimmune encephalitis and callosal apraxia.

Panel discussions addressed the complexities of obtaining federal and foundation grants. The discussion was geared mainly to younger faculty and residents/fellows discussing the advantages of each type of grant, the resources needed and the importance of mentorship in consolidating these efforts. Another panel discussion explained the process of managing industry sponsored trials and their role in academic neurology.

The first Neuromedicine Research Day was a great success, and we hope to see you next year!

Agenda