RP-CNBI Investigator Dr. Devignes Receives a Travel Fellowship Award!
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Dr. Devignes is the recipient of a Travel Fellowship Award to attend the TDP-43 Summit organized by the University of Wisconsin-Madison in May 2026. Dr. Devignes will present novel results from his latest research project that examines the relationship between blood-based levels of TDP-43, a protein implicated in various neurodegenerative disorders, and the integrity of the brain's microstructure in older adults with memory impairments. He will also discuss the alignment between blood-based levels of TDP-43 and autopsy-confirmed spread of TDP-43 lesions.
Posted 3/18/2026
RP-CNBI Investigator Dr. Devignes Receives New Grant!
We are excited to share that Dr. Quentin Devignes has been awarded a McKnight Clinical Translational Research Scholarship by the McKnight Brain Research Foundation through the American Brain Foundation and American Academy of Neurology. His project will examine how "normal" aging and protein buildup that characterizes Alzheimer's disease impact the integrity of neural paths that connect brain regions implicated in memory in cognitively unimpaired older adults. By combining blood-based biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease and cutting-edge diffusion-weighted brain imaging, Dr. Devignes will be first to examine whether processes associated with Alzheimer's disease, which start up to two decades before clinical symptoms, need to be taken into account when examining age-related changes in brain connections. Learn more at: https://www.americanbrainfoundation.org/researchers/quentin-devignes/
Posted 3/18/2026
RP-CNBI Student Loryn Davidson Recieves Anne Rudo Memorial Award!
Loryn Davidson, an undergraduate student in the RP-CNBI, was recently awarded the Anne Rudo Memorial Award. This award honors excellence in research contributions and community service in the fields of biology and psychology at the University of Michigan. Loryn has worked within the RP-CNBI since October 2022 and will complete her Senior Honors Thesis this spring. Her project investigates the brain activation patterns underlying spatial navigation in older adults with mild cognitive impairment using functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).
Posted 3/10/2026
RP-CNBI Faculty and Staff Present at the 54th Annual International Neuropsychological Society Meeting!
Members of the RP-CNBI team presented at the 2026 Annual Meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society (INS) in Philadelphia, PA.
Dr. Hampstead organized, chaired, and spoke during an invited symposium on “Current Evidence and Methodological Advances for Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation.”
Dr. Rahman-Filipiak presented as part of a poster symposium entitled, “The Diverse Roles of Neuropsychologists in Clinical Trials: From Design to Disclosure” with a project titled “Beyond Safety Monitoring: Future Time Perspective, Perceived Stigma, and Self-Efficacy After Alzheimer’s Disease Biomarker Testing”
Two RP-CNBI Research Technicians gave oral presentations during the conference:
Claire Pardo presented work entitled “Comparing Performances Using Standard Versus Biomarker Free Normative Data on the Uniform Data Set Version 3 in Those with Mild Cognitive Impairment”
Karen Hernandez-Reyes presented work entitled “Active HD-tDCS Improves Encoding in an Immersive Virtual Reality Navigation Task.”
Several RP-CNBI team members also presented their work in poster format.
Sophie Slyman presented a poster titled “What is “Normal” Cognitive Aging? Normative Data from Biomarker-‘Free’ Older Adults Appear More Sensitive Than Traditional Normative Data.”
Keiris Surita presented a poster titled “Psychological Impact of Amyloid Biomarker Disclosure in Individuals with Cognitive Impairment.”
Emma Hurston-Gates presented a poster titled “Informant Reported Ecological Momentary Assessment Changes Following Personalized High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Behavioral-Variant Frontal Temporal Dementia.”
Charlene Garcia presented a poster titled ‘Inter-Individual Variability in TMS-Derived Neurophysiological Measures is Largely Independent of Common Psychoactive Medications in Cognitively Intact and Impaired Older Adults.”
Risto Crouse presented a poster titled “Evaluating the Relationship between Subjective Cognitive Decline, Long Term Potentiation-Like Cortical Neuroplasticity, and Neurotransmitter Related Activity using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Cognitively Intact Older Adults.”
Loryn Davidson presented a poster titled “Exploration of Spatial Navigation in Mild Cognitive Impairment Through Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy.”
Finally, Dr. Hampstead completed his term as Chair of the INS Continuing Education Committee, a position he held since 2021 and was recognized with a service award.
Posted 2/12/2026
The Importance
The Importance
Each year, millions of Americans are left with cognitive, emotional, and behavioral deficits after sustaining a neurologic injury or developing a neurologic disease. These deficits can contribute to significant problems in everyday functioning, thereby reducing one’s independence and quality of life. Family members are often also affected by such change due to the increased caregiving needs, change in roles, and other related stressors. As many patients and their families know all too well, there are few treatment options for these cognitive and functional deficits. Although the fields of Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropsychology have made remarkable advancements in the ability to evaluate “normal” brain functioning as well as the changes that occur after neurologic injury and disease, relatively little work has attempted to directly translate this knowledge to develop more effective treatments.
Our Mission
Our Mission
The primary mission of the Research Program on Cognition and Neuromodulation Based Interventions (RP-CNBI) is to identify and provide effective treatments for those with neurologic injury and disease. We strive to bridge the knowledge gap between academic-based research and real-world clinical practice in order to enhance functioning and quality of life in affected individuals. While we primarily focus on methods to assist older adults, including those with dementia, we remain committed to other causes of cognitive and functional impairment.
We integrate neuropsychological theory, modern neuroimaging methods, and a range of non-pharmacologic treatments in order to:
1) Understand changes in brain structure and function that underlie cognitive, emotional, and functional deficits
2) Establish research treatment “targets” that guide the selection of appropriate interventions
3) Evaluate research treatment-related changes in functioning
Potential research treatments include a range of non-pharmacologic methods such as cognitive rehabilitation and non-invasive brain stimulation (e.g., transcranial direct current stimulation – tDCS). Our ultimate goal is to establish empirical support for non-pharmacologic treatments and to disseminate the resulting methods for widespread clinical use.
Support our Mission:
Support our Mission:
Participate in Research
Participate in Research
The Research Program on Cognition and Neuromodulation Based Interventions is currently conducting a range of federally- and privately-supported research studies. Click here to view our currently enrolling studies. If you, or a loved one, are interested in learning more about our studies as a potential participant, please fill out the link below:
Donate
Donate
Philanthropic support is especially important since each patient embodies a unique set of strengths, weaknesses, and needs that require an individualized approach that is not compatible with most forms of federal funding. We view each case as an opportunity to form a partnership and work to understand the needs and goal of each individual when developing the research interventions. We appreciate gifts of any amount, so please consider supporting our work.
A Place for All
A Place for All
We are committed to conducting thoughtful, rigorous research that meets the hopes and needs of the people who take part in it. We value each individual’s time, goals, and experience within our program, and we work carefully to ensure our efforts are meaningful, responsible, and grounded in mutual respect.
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