Henry Ford + MSU Symposium: Advancing Neuroscience Research

On September 10, Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences celebrated its inaugural Henry Ford + MSU Neuroscience Research Symposium. With more than 200 registrations from Henry Ford and MSU team members, the symposium fostered new collaborations and sparked ideas to advance neuroscience research.

“I hope symposium participants were inspired by the depth and breadth of science in the neuroscience space throughout the MSU and Henry Ford community,” said Ellen Air, M.D., Ph.D., Henry Ford + MSU Neuroscience Planning Committee co-chair and Henry Ford Department of Neurosurgery chair. “There's a tremendous opportunity for this partnership to bring forward new science that moves health care forward, and I think this event is inspiring in that direction.”

During the symposium, participants heard from MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz, Ph.D., and Henry Ford Hospital CEO and Henry Ford Medical Group CEO Steven Kalkanis, M.D. Drawing on their backgrounds and expertise in neuroscience research, Guskiewicz and Kalkanis highlighted opportunities to strengthen the partnership’s collaborations and advance cutting-edge science.

“This symposium offered Henry Ford and MSU researchers the chance to engage in meaningful conversation,” said Michelle Mazei-Robison, Ph.D. Henry Ford + MSU Neuroscience Planning Committee member and MSU Department of Physiology professor. “We’ve held smaller events focused on different areas of neuroscience, but this symposium brought everything together to generate great ideas that will launch exciting new projects and energize the strengths of the partnership.”

The symposium presented on a broad range of neuroscience topics, including neuroinflammation, addiction, neurodevelopmental disorders, and more. Keynote speakers Jordan Braciszewski, Ph.D., and Rebecca Knickmeyer, Ph.D., expanded on these topics. Braciszewski presented on the impact of behavioral health interventions through substance abuse screening in patient care, while Knickmeyer discussed how genetic and environmental factors influence brain development in infancy.

As part of its effort to foster collaboration in neuroscience research, the symposium also hosted a poster session showcasing nearly 50 presentations.

“The new ideas that emerged from the conversations being held in between presentations and during the poster presentations will really form the seeds of future discoveries,” said Air.

View more photos from the inaugural Henry Ford + MSU Neuroscience Research Symposium here.