Dr. Brooks Robinson
Ph.D. in Neuroscience | Formerly Assistant Professor at Oregon Health & Science University
Dr Brooks Robinson is a Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of Texas at Austin where he studied alcohol-related behaviour and epigenetic changes using the model system Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies). As a postdoctoral fellowship and was promoted to Research Assistant Professor at Oregon Health & Science University. During this time, Brooks researched the effects that opioids and psychostimulants had on neuronal excitability.
His research interests relate to investigating how drugs of abuse affect the brain. He has been involved in research projects studying alcohol, opioids, and the psychostimulants cocaine and methamphetamine. In addition to exploring cellular and molecular mechanisms of action of these substances, he is interested in studying the human behavioural and social aspects of substance use and addiction.
Ms. Natalie Aswad Boehm
President/Founder at The Defeating Epilepsy Foundation | MBA Graduate from the University of Redlands
Is a President/Founder at The Defeating Epilepsy Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to the advocacy and providing educational resources needed to the epilepsy community and society.
An MBA from the University of Redlands she has been associated with non-profit leadership and grant writing for furthering epilepsy awareness. Borne out of her personal experience as someone afflicted with epilepsy she is very committed to creating scholarship that serves those battling neurological and neurodivergent conditions to gain the tools needed to find gainful employment.
Prof Alfredo Ghezzi
Professor at the University of Puerto Rico | Ph.D. in Molecular Biology | Expert in Neural Adaptation and Molecular Genetics
Professor at the University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras. A Ph.D. from the Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin Institute his research interests revolve around the molecular basis of neural adaptation. Through the integration of molecular genetics, behavioural analyses, and neurophysiology, he is working on resolving how the nervous system utilizes a finite number of genes to carefully modulate its activity and adapt to an ever-changing environment.
Prof Alfredo has a large number of publications to his credit and is a highly cited author with expertise in areas such as Molecular Cloning, Gene Regulation, PCR, Molecular Genetics, Gene Expression, RNA Interference Transgenesis, Regulation of Gene Expression, Immunofluorescence, Epigenetics, Genetic Analysis