News
Drs. Bajikar and Ye receive the 2022 NRI Zoghbi Scholar Awards
Dr. Sameer Bajikar and Dr. Qi Ye are the recipients of the 2022 NRI Zoghbi Scholar Award, a special prize established in 2017 by Dr.
The Cain Foundation Labs for Pediatric Neurology Research welcomes two faculty members
The Gordon and Mary Cain Pediatric Neurology Research Foundation Laboratories at Texas Children’s Hospital is pleased to announce the addition of two faculty members - Dr. Hsiao Tuan Chao and Dr.
Dr. Kara Marshall named HHMI Freeman Hrabowski Scholar
HOUSTON – (May 9, 2023) - Dr. Kara Marshall, assistant professor of neuroscience and a McNair Scholar, has been named a Freeman Hrabowski Scholar by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). She is among 31 scientists from across the country recognized as outstanding early career faculty members with the potential to become leaders in their research fields and create diverse and inclusive lab environments in which everyone can thrive.
Duncan NRI honors Henry Engel's legacy to Rett research
The balcony on the 7th floor of the state-of-the-art Duncan NRI auditorium has been dedicated to the memory of Henry Engel, son of Richard and Mary Engel, who had Rett Syndrome and passed away in Aug 2022. This condition mainly affects girls and is very rare in boys. Henry carried a one-of-a-kind mutation in the MECP2 gene, detailed studies of which have helped Dr. Huda Zoghbi and her team better understand this rare genetic condition with the eventual goal of developing therapies for patients with this devastating disorder.
The Brain & Life podcast features Richard Engel and Dr. Huda Zoghbi
In the latest episode of the Brain & Life® podcast from the American Academy of Neurology, Dr. Audrey Nath and Dr. Daniel Correa speak with Richard Engel, Chief Foreign Correspondent for NBC News, whose son Henry passed away from Rett syndrome, a rare childhood genetic developmental disorder. Richard shares Henry’s legacy and his family’s experience with the condition.
Drs. Huda Zoghbi and Maria Elena Botazzi inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame
Both are being honored during Women's History Month for their contributions to improve the quality of life for Texas women
Dr. Dongwon Lee receives an Early Career Investigator Award from National Ataxia Foundation
Dr. Dongwon Lee, a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Mingshan Xue, a principal investigator at the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute (Duncan NRI) at Texas Children’s Hospital and assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine, was recently selected for an Early Career Investigator Award by the National Ataxia Foundation.
KU Leuven awards honorary doctorate to Dr. Zoghbi
A prestigious research university in Belgium and one of the oldest Universities in Europe, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, awarded an honorary doctorate degree to Duncan NRI director, Dr. Huda Zoghbi on February 2, 2023. She was among five other leading luminaries in the fields of scientific research and arts who were conferred honorary degrees during the Patron Saint's Day celebrations this year. Learn More
Texas Children’s Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine researchers solve a 40-year medical mystery
Nicholas Lewis, a Houstonian in his forties, has struggled all his life with a mysterious neurological condition with symptoms ranging from developmental delay, intellectual disability, speech delay, and migraines to bilateral hearing loss. Despite decades of searching for answers, he and his family could not find a definite diagnosis for his mystery condition until recently.
Dr. Hsiao Tuan Chao inducted into the Society for Pediatric Research
Child neurologist and Duncan NRI investigator, Dr. Hsiao Tuan Chao, is among the 160 new members who were inducted into the Society of Pediatric Research (SPR). The Society encourages and supports pediatric research endeavors by creating a multidisciplinary network of diverse researchers to improve child health. Collaboration among SPR members creates meaningful progress for the future of children’s health. She is one of six Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital faculty who were chosen by SPR this year.
Boeynaems awarded CPRIT grant to study stress response in cells
Stress is a universal feature of life, but some organisms are better equipped to cope and thrive during stressful periods of time. That isn’t always the case when it comes to humans. Stress at the cellular level is involved in numerous human diseases, from age-related neurodegeneration to cancer. So, what exactly is at play during a successful or unsuccessful stress response, and can stress responses be modulated to treat patients?
An image from the Arenkiel lab featured on the cover of Genes and Development
The brain has a sometimes surprising capacity to adapt to the constantly changing environment. This plasticity can make it possible to recover abilities after brain injury or to learn a new task or language.
Dr. Hsiao Tuan Chao Chosen 40 Under 40 Autism Researcher
Assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine and Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute investigator, Dr. Hsiao Tuan Chao, has been chosen as 40 under 40 young researchers working on autism-related science across the globe by Spectrum, the go-to destination for the latest news and analysis about autism research and a springboard for scientists and clinicians to forge collaborations that deepen our understanding of autism. Read More
Dr. Sameer Sheth Announced as Director of The Gordon and Mary Cain Pediatric Neurology Research Foundation Laboratories at Texas Children’s Hospital
“It’s a tremendous honor to accept this important role,” said Sheth.
Dr. Huda Zoghbi named 2023 Watanabe Prize winner
The Watanabe Prize is one of the nation’s largest and most prestigious awards recognizing individuals focused on shepherding scientific discoveries into new therapies for patients.
Duraine wins an electron microscopy image contest
She won this award for a TEM image of the sciatic nerve.
Dr. Huda Zoghbi awarded 2nd Elaine Redding Brinster Prize in Science or Medicine
She is being recognized for her work pinpointing the underlying, genetic causes of a pair of devastating neurological diseases.
Global Collaboration: mapping the whole human brain
Duncan NRI and Baylor College of Medicine researchers led by Dr. Xioalong Jiang and Dr. Andreas Tolias are part of a global effort spearheaded by the Allen Institute to map the whole human brain.
Dr. Gerarda Cappuccio receives a postdoctoral fellowship from Autism Speaks
She is one of the three postdoctoral fellows selected for this fellowship in 2022.