From left to right: Dr. Quentin Devignes, Stephen Schlaefflin, Kenny Petscavage, Dr. Ben Hampstead, Eileen Robinson, Dr. Mary Ann Watson, and Ameilia Scanio
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RP-CNBI Staff Attends the Washtenaw County Walk to End Alzheimer's
The RP-CNBI had a team of walkers participating in the Washtenaw County Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Sunday, October 26th. The walk is held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide. The RP-CNBI had a booth in the research tent, and Dr. Quentin Devignes presented a poster on “How Neuropsychiatric Symptom Severity Relate to Alzheimer’s Disease Pathology and Brain Structural Integrity in Individuals with Memory Impairment”. In the Alzheimer’s Association Promise Garden, each flower color represents a person’s personal connection to Alzheimer’s disease. The flowers are a powerful symbol of hope, remembrance, and determination to end the disease. The orange flower represents someone who supports the cause and envisions a world without Alzheimer’s. For her many decades of participating in the walk and raising money for this cause, RP-CNBI Program Manager Eileen Robinson was chosen by the Washtenaw County Alzheimer’s Association Walk leadership team to represent the orange flower during the opening ceremony.
Posted 10/30/2025
RP-CNBI Investigator Dr. Iordan Receives Another Grant!
We’re excited to share that Dr. Alex Iordan has received another new grant from the National Institute on Aging to study how changes in brain structure can help predict who develops dementia among older adults with mild behavioral impairment (MBI). MBI refers to new, later-life changes in behavior, mood, or motivation that can be early signs Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Iordan will use brain imaging and clinical data from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC) to study changes in brain networks involved in emotion and self-awareness and test whether certain patterns signal higher risk of progression toward dementia. This is the first study to use nationwide data to link brain networks involved in MBI with future dementia risk, laying the groundwork for earlier detection and targeted prevention strategies.
Posted 9/11/2025
RP-CNBI Staff Attends Michigan Medicine's 2025 Researchpalooza Event
RP-CNBI Program Manager Eileen Robinson, and staff members Stephen Schlaefflin and Claire Pardo recently attended the University of Michigan Medical School Office of Research's 2025 Researchpalooza! This event served as a great opportunity for friends and colleagues to learn more about research programs that offer services for students, faculty, and others. Our staff engaged with community members and shared about the important work being done at RP-CNBI!
Posted 9/9/2025
RP-CNBI Investigator Dr. Iordan Receives New Grant!
We’re excited to announce that Dr. Alex Iordan has been awarded a new grant from the National Institute on Aging! This multi-year project focuses on mild behavioral impairment (MBI), a condition marked by new-onset changes in behavior in later life that may be early warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease. The study combines advanced brain imaging, blood-based biomarkers, and targeted brain stimulation to better understand the neural changes behind MBI and explore new ways to improve behavioral symptoms before dementia sets in. This is the first study to integrate these approaches, and it could pave the way for earlier detection and treatment of behavioral symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease. Stay tuned for more updates!
Posted 7/30/2025
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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