{"id":12236,"date":"2026-04-16T10:29:17","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T14:29:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/chs\/?p=12236"},"modified":"2026-04-17T09:37:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T13:37:13","slug":"fourth-annual-uri-neuroscience-symposium-highlights-dynamic-student-research","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/chs\/2026\/04\/16\/fourth-annual-uri-neuroscience-symposium-highlights-dynamic-student-research\/","title":{"rendered":"Fourth annual URI Neuroscience Symposium highlights dynamic student research"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, Ryan Institute for Neuroscience host annual symposium in Avedisian Hall<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The University of Rhode Island\u2019s Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program<\/a> (INP) and George and Anne Ryan Institute for Neuroscience<\/a> highlighted student research in a variety of neuroscience specialties at the fourth annual URI Neuroscience Symposium on April 13 in Avedisian Hall, home of the URI College of Pharmacy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dozens of URI INP graduate and undergraduate students shared dynamic research projects in a range of areas during an afternoon poster session, many including work done under the mentorship of Ryan Institute faculty members. Students researched such topics as Alzheimer\u2019s disease, mitochondrial dysfunction, microplastics exposure, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One study compared how listening to music induces dopamine releases in the brain, versus how drugs induce release of the brain\u2019s pleasure hormone. Another examined serotonin receptors during the development of cerebral palsy. Some students also researched drug-loaded nanoparticles with the ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Students Anna Schumacher (left), Seema Alarachi, and Abbie Levinson were the top-scoring researchers, as judged by neuroscience professors.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am so impressed with the students,\u201d said Lisa Weyandt<\/a>, professor and director of URI\u2019s INP program. \u201cIt\u2019s a beautiful example of molecular neuroscience, really at the cellular level; clinical neuroscience involving humans; and medicinal neuroscience. So, it\u2019s a nice blend of all aspects of the INP. And that\u2019s what\u2019s unique about our program compared to other neuroscience programs; we have those three distinct tracks that our students are really drawn to.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neuroscience professors evaluated the projects and assigned each an overall score. The highest-scoring student researchers are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n