Brain-Body Center Researchers

Polina Anikeeva is developing new tools to examine the gut-brain connection and how gastrointestinal dysfunction can arise in ASDs, Parkinson’s disease, depression, and anxiety.

Aristide Gumyusenge, Merton C. Flemings Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, is designing soft biocompatible polymers and electrochemical transistors for real-time sensing and feedback-control of biological signals.

Alan Jasanoff is addressing higher-level aspects of interoception by applying a novel battery of
imaging approaches to map neurochemical signaling dynamics in the gut.

Fan Wang is developing novel tools and imaging methods to study autonomic responses and sympathetic-parasympathetic system balance, including how pain influences these interactions. She is also advancing techniques for documenting changes in brain and peripheral tissues induced by acupuncture.

Feng Zhang is pioneering molecular techniques to restore the equilibrium within cells affected by injury, degeneration, and other disease processes.

Annesya Banerjee

Graduate Fellow, McDermott Lab

Annesya Banerjee develops computational models of cochlear implant-mediated hearing perception with the long-term goal of guiding the development of improved stimulation strategies for cochlear implants. 

Yubin Cai

Graduate Fellow, Traverso Lab

Yubin Cai’s research leverages expertise to explore the intricate mechanisms of gut-brain communication and evaluate the effects of gastric electrical stimulation (GES) on brain health and behavior.

Kyla Nichols

Postdoctoral Fellow, Ribbeck Lab

Kyla Nichols aims to uncover how mucus facilitates estrogen metabolism and availability by the gut microbiome and how this could influence sex-based differences seen in mental health disorders via the gut-brain axis.

Jillianne Wisnewski

Graduate Fellow, Moura Silva Lab

Jillianne (Jill) Wisnewski examines how macrophages bridge communication between the brain and adipose tissue in order to control systemic metabolism.